63. Annual Banquet, Armourers’ Hall, 8 November 2023

What a great evening.  What superb fellowship. Everyone was amazed by the music!

Our evening started in the Gold Drawing Room where members and guests were greeted by the Master, Consort and Wardens.  On the instructions of our Beadle and Master of Ceremonies, members of the Company and guests gathered in the magnificent setting of the Armourers’ Livery Hall.  The entry of the top table was welcomed with the March from Scipio by George Handel, played with gusto by Deputy Master Colin Drummond.  We then feasted on a gourmet spread provided by Cook and Butler.  At the end of the meal we were entranced by a Grace sung in Latin and English which had been specially composed for us by Andrew Lilico, international economist and one of the international award-winning Strictly a Cappella singers.

After we had eaten we each stood in turn for the Loving Cup ceremony, carefully following the instructions on the back of the menu.  It was impressive choreography with almost no one forgetting to protect the next recipient’s back or facing the wrong way!

After the toasts we were entertained by the Strictly a Cappella singers with a selection of modern and not quite modern tunes as is fitting for a modern Livery company.  I especially liked their performance of that Bowie classic “Life on Mars” which took me back to my first experience of real (as I saw it) music.  They were received with ecstatic applause and continue to receive compliments.  Dame Fiona said “The A Capella Choir was a real find. The voices were beautifully balanced, singing in multiple parts in repertoire that lends itself well to the unusual settings! I will look out for them!”. The one I particularly liked was the observation that it was a stroke of genius to invite them.

Our very capable Walbrook Warden Tom Flood introduced our guests.  Dame Fiona Woolf then spoke to us about the contribution of the Livery to the City of London and especially the contribution of the Livery Climate Action Group.  She spoke with passion about the need for and the benefits of collaboration, and none of us could understand why she was only the second Lady Mayor of London.

After a response from me we returned for more fellowship and the Stirrup cup.

It had been a great evening and my thanks to everyone for their support.

I have attached my response to our guest below.

 

Banquet 2023

Wardens, Liverymen, Distinguished Guests, Ladies & Gentlemen

On behalf of us all, for such a fascinating and enjoyable speech, we all thank you, Dame Fiona Woolf.

Our thanks to our singers from Strictly a Cappella.

My appreciation to our impresario on the piano for such a magnificent welcome, thank you Deputy Master Colin Drummond.

I have to acknowledge and show my deep gratitude for the weeks of planning, and organisation for this evening.  All our thanks to our Clerk, Christine Duthie.

Good news, Christine told me I have only 4 minutes to speak, bad news there are three minutes to go.

As I was getting ready today I realized that we have a lot in common. None of us knows what I am going to talk about!

I was at the Houses of Parliament yesterday.  With all the important people there I got talking about waste to a very smartly dressed individual with an unusually large hat and large nose.  Launching Water Week 2024 was Womble Uncle Bulgaria.

Last Friday Eileen and I were invited by the Lord Mayor-elect Michael Mainelli and his wife Elisabeth to a dinner for all the 2023-24 new Masters or Senior Wardens and their Consorts.  It was a superb experience, meeting many new fascinating people and learning so much. Talking about global warming is always a real icebreaker.

Michael has been promoting his vision “Creating, enriching, sharing”.

2% of the UK workforce is based in the square mile but accounts for 10% of GDP.  There are more than 40 learning institutions within 2 miles of the centre of London, more than those upstart cities of Oxford and Cambridge.

He wants to “Connect To Prosper” – the City of London’s Square Mile, the world’s coffee house where people bring their dreams to be realised.

He is focused on the UN Sustainable Development Goals.  We are contributing a Coffee Colloquium at the Mansion House on Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation in January 2024 and a Knowledge Mile lecture on The Thames Barrier – Immediate Future Or Long Past? in March.  Thank you Walbrook Warden Tom Flood and Fleet Warden Carolyn Roberts for your help.

At the recent Mansion House dinner, when the Corporation and Livery welcomed the King to the City of London, he pointed out that we are living in something of a watershed age. Will we take the action that is needed, to make the sacrifices needed, to secure our planet for the future?

We are sharing knowledge through our monthly webinars and lectures. And helping young people through our Trust.  Yesterday we agreed more funding for courses at, and school visits to, the London Museum of Water and Steam.  We have now supported over 200 university graduate students with bursaries.

With our breadth and depth of technical and business knowledge we are continuing to respond to requests for help and to government consultations.  My thanks to everyone for your contributions.  Minister Rebecca Pow has publically acknowledged our work.

There has been high demand for seats for our City Water Debate on Water Liquidity - How to Finance the Required Investment in the Water Sector to 2050? on 22 November - watch out for tickets on ebay and viagogo!  I give advance notice of our private dinner with Sir John Armitt, Chair of the National Infrastructure Commission, on 28 February.  Numbers are limited.  My thanks to Deputy Master Colin Drummond for organising it.

With the Court we are working at increasing and widening our membership, and promoting a diverse and sustainable environment.  Our new web site will be ready very soon.  I have mastered Linkedin and tried to update our Wikipedia page.  Unfortunately, I was barred, as it was too promotional.

We also have fun.  After our successful sponsored walk round the Walthamstow wetlands, and visits to the Apothecaries Hall and Mansion House, we are all looking forward to the Lord Mayors’ Show on Saturday.  Thanks to Kevin Clancy for the loan of the vehicle and drivers, Thames Warden Dylan Barker for the magic tap, Past Master Peter Hall and Court Assistant Andy Williamson for organising.  The weather forecast is good! 

Finally my thanks to you all.  We have given everyone a small bag.  Please reuse or recycle it.  And just add hot water to the contents.

We share and enjoy.  Thank you for your support.