Master Water Conservator

What an incredible experience.   My grateful thanks to all the sponsors for the opportunity. After watching the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress accomplish their descent with ease, it was my turn. Kitted out with harnesses and helmet I was ready to go.   All valuables were removed before ascent to the 47 th floor. I took the lift. The worst bit was waiting to descend.   I talked with my instructor about the breaking strain of the rope (3 kilo newtons) and the descenders which controlled our speed.   He had five attached to his harness including the basic one I was to use.   They are far more sophisticated since I last abseiled, two included speed controls. Then we connected up to the ropes and connected together.   This was to control my descent especially if anything should happen such as a loss of consciousness.   Then - over the edge! The worst bit as we were resting horizontally against the handrails which were not designed to be walked down...

All Livery Masters and Clerks were invited to this reception.   We were welcomed by the Committee Chairman, Common Councillor Philip Woodhouse (Grocer), who had been elected in June 2017.   The magnificent Grocers’ Hall is a very impressive building and we were very well looked after by the staff.   Not only was my request for a beer met immediately (it had already been a long day), the staff kept me topped up personally. It was a good opportunity for catching up with many of the Masters and Clerks. We had an introduction from the Chair of the Livery Committee who described recent initiatives including the new LinkedIn group to connect Livery Companies.   He recognised the independence of the Companies but also encouraged more sharing and collaboration.   He encouraged Companies to report on their activities and share events. He outlined the activities for the pending Livery Masters’ weekend, including arrangements for group visits behind the scenes to cit...

An inspiring evening. I was invited to join Water Week at the prestigious headquarters of the Royal Geographical Society. Water Week, a global environmental education campaign for children and young people, is being delivered in alignment with goals of the UN-Water 2030 Strategy as part of the United Nations Water Action Decade. “Water is precious. It is the lifeblood of this planet and connects us all. It is essential for all life. We believe in collective action to protect it and safeguard clean and safe water for all.” UN Water Action Decade 2018-2028 Their mission: “Harness the power of science and storytelling to inspire, inform and empower the next generation of water conservationists” Before the formal event started I found myself talking to a project leader at UKRI, previously known as Innovate UK. He had a water portfolio within the overall budget of £8 billion. He described the many initiatives they were supporting and the fact that, since the government has res...

Several Livery Masters are invited to join the Engineers Company for their annual Awards Dinner.   This year it was an extra special occasion as it was also celebrating 40 years of the Company. Before the formalities started there was a celebration and signing of the agreement between the Company and the various sections of the armed services that they support. The evening was funded by the Engineers’ Trust and the Company. The Services Engineering Awards were for officers and NCOs from each of the services and presented by Air Vice Marshal Shaun Harris CBE, Chief Engineer RAF. The first tranche of Civilian Awards was presented by Mark Wild OBE FREng to four sixth formers and £1500 per year each to six university students. There were then awards to mechanical and water engineering students. The water engineering award was made jointly with the International Water Association and the winner from Arup had developed a bespoke solution to flooding, drought and water pollution. ...

As a past winner of a SocEnv Award I was invited to join the SocEnv celebrations supported by Crowberry Consulting, AECOM and Jacobs. The first award was for Honorary Fellow of the Society for the Environment (HonFSE) which recognised exceptional contributions made to protect and enhance our environment.   The Fellows have a powerful voice, together influencing policy at the highest levels.   Receiving the HonFSE award was Water Conservators’ Freeman Martin Baxter. There were then awards for the 2024 Rising Star and the 2024 Environmental Professional of the Year for CEnv, REnvP and REnvTech registrants. The Employer Champion programme is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year and welcomed two more employers into the programme: Wates and RSK Group.   Martin Ballard (joining the Company as a Freeman on 3 July 2024) collected the award on behalf of Wates. To celebrate the last 20 years of SocEnv, the 20-year anniversary panel featured special guests Water Conse...

Congratulations to the Company of Entrepreneurs for another successful Entrepreneurs’ Award in Social Innovation (EASI) award evening. The Company has been operating for about 20 years and will if all goes well become a Livery Company in October. They have been well supported by the Drapers’ Company to whom thanks must also be directed for sustaining innovation and enterprise. Around ten Livery Masters attended the EASI final in the Tower Suites overlooking the Tower of London, an impressive location. While awaiting the start of proceedings I was talking to the Master Currier. I own up, I did not know what Curriers do.   They are leather tanners.   Looking across the Thames to Bermondsey, we could see where the industry was based.   Near the river for water and a supply of wood to treat the leather, near Smithfield - an import source of hides.   The industry started in about 1270 and there used to be 1605 Curriers. On the south side of the Tower Bridge Approach R...

The Masters of the Turners, the Watermen and Lightermen and the Water Conservators, and our Consorts, were guests of the Launderers at their Banquet in the historic setting of the Tallow Chandlers’ Hall.   It dates from 1672 as the previous Hall burnt down in the Great fire of London. The Launderers are one of the oldest crafts and professions in the world but were not recognised as a worthy member of the Livery until 1960.   In 1963 a charitable and education trust was formed whose aims are to give scholarships for the further education of people pursuing studies of benefit to the laundry.   In 1978, full Livery status was granted to the Company of Launderers, the 89th Livery Company of the City of London.   It now has 120 Liverymen on its roll. The Water Conservators have a close affiliation with the Launderers, as they are members of the Wet 10 group and major consumers of water.   The health service cannot operate for more than three days without a laund...