Master Water Conservator

Claire Pocock, Consort to the Master Cutler Michael, invited fellow Consorts on a tour of the Cutlers’ Hall, followed by lunch.   This was a generous non-reciprocal invitation.   The group of Consorts included the Lady Mayoress and the Sheriffs’ Consorts. After a welcome cup of coffee on arrival, Master Michael greeted us briefly.   The Pocock family have been involved with the Cutlers’ Company for several generations.   Michael’s great-great-grandfather had been an apprentice cutler 150 years ago, and became Master (although he later “defected” to Sheffield!).   Michael was the 14 th Pocock to become Master, although not all were in direct line of descent. The company initially provided swords, daggers and knives, and were awarded their Charter after the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 (despite the fact that it was the bowyers and archers who had really won the battle!). This was the only charter granted by Henry V.   After the use of swords diminished, t...

The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress hosted the Bavarian Ball at Mansion House in aid of the Lord Mayor's Appeal, and reflected the heritage of the Lady Mayoress, Elisabeth Mainelli. Dress code was either black tie or national costume.  There had been weeks of agonising chat on the Bavarian Ball Whatsapp group as to who was going to dare to bare their knees with lederhosen.  In the end about one-third of those present wore dirndls or lederhosen. The evening started with a beer and bubbles drinks reception.  It was a refreshing change to be served good German beer, and even a non-alcoholic one.  There followed a Bavarian Feast created by Franz Schinagl, Executive Chef at the Austrian Embassy.  Eileen particularly appreciated the spinach dumplings, pretzels, mushroom schnitzel, cucumber salad and what might have been a creamy turnip carpaccio. We were regularly entertained by a rousing foot stomping five-piece band, the Bavarian Strollers.  The Master of Ce...

Livery Masters were invited to the lecture entitled “Getting an Edge: How vocational qualifications enable members of uniformed youth groups to rise above their peer groups”. The evening was introduced by the Master Educator Janet Reynolds for whom this was her last event as Master. The speaker was welcomed by Brigadier Anthony Lamb MBE DL VR, Head of Youth and Cadets at the Ministry of Defence.   Brigadier Lamb was also the Deputy Head at Eastbourne College.   He had a unique perspective into the value of participation in uniformed youth groups and the importance of vocational qualifications. The lecturer, Michele Parry, Deputy Chief Executive of the Cadet Vocational College, presented the fascinating findings of two independent research reports which found that vocational qualifications are seen by many employers as more positive indicators of employability than academic awards.   Moreover, vocational qualifications are increasingly used by universities and furt...

Jackie Bagley, Consort to the Upper Bailiff of the Worshipful Company of Weavers, very kindly invited a small group of consorts to accompany her on a tour of the Hyde Park Barracks in Knightsbridge.   The barracks house officers and soldiers (and horses) of the Household Cavalry, which comprises the Blues and Royals and the Lifeguards.   This visit was organised by courtesy of James Gaselee, Clerk to the Weavers, who is Colonel-in-Chief to the Lifeguards; the Colonel of the Blues and Royals is the Princess Royal. We arrived in time for the inspection of the Blues & Royals prior to their parading out to replace the Lifeguards at Horseguards Parade.   They were an impressive sight.   They formally received the standard before trotting out on duty, just as they would have done when going to war, preceded by a trumpet call.   Trumpeters are not necessarily musicians when they join the Army; they tend to learn on the job.   The soldiers’ horses are black; ...

Livery Masters with a connection to construction were invited by the Master of the Worshipful Company of Paviors to join in the celebrations. The London Construction Academy (registered charity number 1205290) was created to help people in the community not in education, employment or training (NEETS) to develop the knowledge and skill they need to enter the construction sector. The training course delivers a comprehensive range of skills and procedures for the exacting demands of working in the construction sector including technical delivery, health and safety and customer service. On graduation the students are introduced to a variety of construction sector companies with suitable opportunities to help give them that first start in the industry. The London Construction Academy provides fully funded courses to enable people not in employment, education or training to receive transferable skills for employment. Travel expenses up to a maximum of £90 during the ten day course are m...

Livery Company Masters, Clerks and Trustees were invited to the conference.   It was an opportunity to hear from charity experts on current issues, to see how fellow Livery Charities are responding to challenges and opportunities and to meet each other. After opening remarks by Deputy Philip Woodhouse (above), we received the Livery Charity Chairs Group update from Dr Hilary Lindsay. A hot topic was Objects and Objectives: Every charity has specific objects and must work within these objects Older charities tend to have more specific objects: more modern charities frequently have objects specifying “any charitable purpose” Familiarise yourself with your objects – if your proposed grant or activity is outside your objects you simply can’t do it! We then had a presentation on the Importance of Philanthropy from Orlando Fraser KC, Chair of the Charity Commission.   Then followed two presentations on “Changing What Your Charity Can Do” from Philip Reed, Withers LLP and Steph...

Wendy Mitchell, Consort to the Master Plaisterer, organised a lunch for fellow Consorts, members of the Plaisterers’ Company, and friends.   As a former ballet dancer and current ballet teacher, Wendy chose as her theme Costume, Uniform and Memorabilia. We were welcomed by cadets from the 282 (East Ham) Air Cadet Squadron. Harpist Cecily Beer, Resident Harpist at the Waldorf Hotel, Covent   Garden, a most delightful accompaniment throughout most of the proceedings, with quite a varied repertoire, from the classics to Mary Poppins, and had a solo slot after lunch with a virtuoso piece The Hummingbird, which brought tears to my eyes as the music was so representative of the hovering flight of a hummingbird. The guest speaker was Major Robert Quain TD, a Pikeman.   The Company of Pikemen and Musketeers is a ceremonial unit of the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC). Major Robert was emphatic that the Pikemen were a royal warranted body, not just a re-enactment society...

This was a further event in the series organised by the Lord Mayor, Alderman Professor Michael Mainelli, under his mayoral theme “Connect to Prosper” and focused on Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water.   It was organised in partnership with the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). Sheriff Alderwoman Dame Susan Langley DBE introduced the event.   She explained that she was particularly keen to introduce this colloquy as she trained in oceanography as part of a degree at the University of Southampton.   We heard a range of UK-based experts from industry, science, government and NGOs explaining the steps their sectors are taking in the fight against unsustainable fishing and damage to the marine environment. Each speaker made the case for positive change on water, by working together, protecting the ocean and safeguarding seafood supplies and livelihoods for future generations. Speakers Mike Park OBE, CEO, Scottish Whitefish Fishing Association Bryc...

The Master, Wardens and Deputy Master and Clerk had the pleasure of the company of ten new/pending new members at an informal dinner in the Private Dining Room at the Guildhall.   It was an opportunity to get to know each other better away from the time limitations of our formal meetings.   Each of the officers of the Company took it in turns to speak for four minutes about themselves and their involvement in the Company.   Deputy Master Colin flagged up the city water and environment debates, private dinners and consultation responses on water and environmental issues.   Fleet Warden Carolyn Roberts described the social side of the Company’s activities including opportunities with our Cutter.   Thames Warden Dylan Barker mentioned forthcoming formal events. Our Clerk Christine Duthie outlined the role of the Clerk and the many things that go on behind the scenes preparing for everything the Company does. In between the talks we all discussed the Com...

The Mudlarking event in July 2023 organised by my predecessor Consort, Georgina Drummond, was so popular that I realised I should really run a similar event during my year as Consort.   When I put out tentative feelers in February 2024 for numbers I was inundated with enthusiastic responses, such that I was obliged to book two leaders from the Thames Explorer Trust to cope with the numbers. So on Monday 10 June the Mudlarking day dawned, disappointingly chilly and damp.   At least the rain had stopped before our event began.   We assembled on the Thames Path, at the bottom of the steps down from the Millennium Bridge, dressed appropriately. (“At last – a Livery event where I can wear wellies!”)   We were accompanied by the Master, Martin, and by Sharon, the Consort of the Thames Warden, who has begun to get to know some of her future fellow Consorts. Our guides were Marilyn and Elowyn, who spoke to us about two thousand years of London history, and the human acti...