15, 24th September 2019

Staple Inn Hall Interior

This evening I attended The Worshipful Company of Actuaries ‘ Livery Lecture at Staple Inn Hall. We were privileged to hear from Olympic medallist, and Chef de Mission of Team England at the Commonwealth Games in 2018, Sarah Winckless MBE. The title of Sarah’s lecture was “What does an Inclusive City Look Like… And What Stops Us Getting There?”

Each table then had an opportunity to discuss the import of what Sarah had said in her Lecture over an excellent dinner, and we were then treated to a vigorous and wide ranging Question and Answer Session . It was a first class evening!

Sarah Winckless MBE

14. 19th September 2019

The Master and David Johnstone
at the exhibition on London’s Secret Rivers

This morning Judy and I had an early start in order to travel to a breakfast at The Museum of London Docklands with a private viewing of the exhibition on “London’s Secret Rivers.” And what an absolutely fascinating exhibition it is! The content is most interesting, particularly for a Water Conservator! And the exhibits are beautifully presented with a very clear narrative. The exhibition continues for another 6 weeks, and if you have not yet seen it, I do recommend a visit.

A Medieval Communal Toilet Seat for Three People

Victorian Brickwork at its Best , with Portland Cement

A Bazalgette Sewer

13. 18th September 2019

The Globe Theatre

Another glorious day of autumn sunshine in London , but with a chilly breeze. And Judy and I travelled to The Globe Theatre just before lunch for the Company’s annual matinee performance at The Globe . This year we had three Gentlemen’s Boxes , and thirty members of the Company and friends enjoyed a performance of “ As You Like It”,  with champagne provided by The Master during the interval .

The Master and Thames Warden outside The Globe

Then Judy and I headed up to Clerkenwell for the Autumn Networking Reception for Associate Freemen of the Company and friends .This was held in a private room at The Crown Inn at Clerkenwell Green. Around 25 guests came for a chat, some liquid refreshment and networking. The evening was given an additional focus with Siraj Tahir of Arup kindly making a short presentation on “Water and the Circular Economy “. My warm thanks to Associate Freeman Kathryn Pharr for all her hard work in organising a most enjoyable and successful event. From the Company , Rob Casey also attended , and David Johnstone attended on behalf of The Water Conservation Trust . The next Associate Freeman Networking event will be planned for the first quarter of 2020.

The Associate Freemen Autumn Networking Reception

12, 17th September 2019

Master and his Consort at the
1920’s Club Buffet Supper at Guildhall

This Evening Judy and I went to the Members’ Dining Room at The Guildhall for the last get – together of the 1920’s Club , an informal “ Club “ comprising the cohort of those becoming Masters in 2019/2020 . The purpose of the Club has been to enable all of the members of this cohort to get to know each other in advance of taking office. As the weeks and months pass, we are all now gradually being installed, and so the purpose of the Club has run its course . And what a splendid and useful initiative it has been!

Last night we had an informal Buffet Supper with plenty of time to meet up with people whom we have already got to know, and also meet some new members of the 1920’s Club .

11, 16th September 2019

The Masters’ & Clerks’ Luncheon at
Farmers and Fletchers’ Hall 

Today I attended a Luncheon for Masters and Clerks at Farmers and Fletchers Hall, kindly hosted by The Worshipful Company of Farmers. It is a characteristic of the Farmers’ Company that the food that they offer should be seasonal and locally sourced, and so it was today – with Dorset crab, Venison and Caramelised Cox’s Apples featuring in a wonderful menu. The Guest Speaker, Jonathan Gill, gave an excellent address on the topic: “Hands Free Hectare Leads to Hands Free Farm.” The Lunch was rounded off with a beautiful Scottish ballad, sung solo.

The Master and Stephen Fletcher,
Deputy Chief Executive of Arbuthnot Latham,
at the Reception held by
The Guild of St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital

The evening found me back again in the Smithfield/Clerkenwell area, as I attended a Reception entitled “Marvels of Nature“ organised by The Guild of St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital. The Reception was held at The Museum of The Order of St John at St John’s Gate, Clerkenwell.

It was fascinating to learn about the history of The Order and its settlement in Jerusalem, Rhodes and later in Malta, and also about the excellent work that it does today through their eye hospitals in Jerusalem and in Palestine.

10. 13th September 2019

The 26th Children’s Magical Tour Send Off  Breakfast
with the Royal British Legion Band

“One of the highlights of my Year” (a Master). “It’s hard to explain this to anyone who has not been here “ (a Livery Company Clerk). “It gives you goose bumps” (a Canary Wharf Security Guard ).

The alarm went off at 4.50am . I was ready to leave by the time the minicab arrived at 5.30 , and off we went to the East Wintergarden at Canary Wharf for the send off Breakfast for the 26^th Children’s Magical Taxi Tour to Disneyland near Paris. This wonderful initiative saw 120 licensed London Taxi Cabs taking sick and terminally ill children for two nights to Disneyland. One of the taxis was sponsored by the Water Conservators.

The Water Conservators ‘ Taxi

The organisation and logistics of the event are breathtaking, as is the dedication and professionalism of all those who are involved on the day in the organisation and smooth running of the send off. Within one hour and five minutes a full English cooked breakfast is served to around 600 guests, all the while with a band from the British Legion playing at the Balcony level until they came down to join all the guests just before the Lord Mayor Locum Tenens Andrew Parmley delivered the most wonderful, optimistic, humourous, enthusiastic short speech, perfectly suited to the occasion.

Then it was off to “find your cab “!

I found ours without too much difficulty although more by luck than good judgment. Our cab was number 10, so I figured that it was likely to be near the front. Having failed to find it amongst the front cab in the queue, I thought that I would renew my search, starting at the back! And there I found it!

Taxi Driver Dean Usher and our Taxi

I chatted for a while to the driver of our  cab – Dean Usher. He was not involved in this year’s Magical Taxi Tour until 36 hours before departure. One of his friends had been planning to do the drive , but had gone down with food poisoning. So Dean had stepped up to fill the driver vacancy.

And so at around 7.05am , with a wailing of sirens from the Gendarmerie Nationale , and City of London Police escorts, the convoy moved off from Canary Wharf – three miles long, 120 taxis , four ambulances ,  and Road Assistance Recovery Vehicles – all with hooters hooting and claxons sounding – so many waves from the back of each cab , and so many smiles.

Police Outriders lead the way
at the start of the 3 mile convoy

I found myself standing on the pavement next to a Canary Wharf Security Guard; I looked sideways at his face ; he was smiling with such a broad open grin . Some minutes later I looked across again; he was still smiling and waving at the taxis.

“It gives you goose bumps “ he said.

9. Michaelmas Court, 10th September 2019

The Master and Guest Speaker Cate Lamb
at The Michaelmas Court Lunch

The Company held its Michaelmas Court Meeting this morning. The Court Meeting was followed by the Company’s Michaelmas Court Lunch which took place in Armourers’ Hall .Seventy members of The Company and their guests ate an excellent lunch , and were privileged to hear a very thought provoking speech from Cate Lamb , Global Director , Water Security at CDP ( The Carbon Disclosure Project). Cate gave a wide – ranging introduction to the need for companies to be more transparent about what they take out of local water resources, invoking the old Chinese proverb “ Not only can water float a boat ; it can sink it as well .” Shareholders, from pensioners to fund managers need to think carefully about their investments as less than 2% of assets in these institutions can be classified as sustainable with 98% being at best neutral. She invited us to imagine if every loan to a company came with a water – related expectation.

The formal part of the Lunch was followed by a most convivial Stirrup Cup at which it was announced that £700 had been raised at our Lunch Charity collection for our own Charity – The Water Conservation Trust

The Master’s Consort , Judy, with Fiona Tozzi and
Andy Williamson at The Michaelmas Court Lunch

After a quick cup of tea, Judy and I were off to the offices of a certain large City law firm as guests of The Worshipful Company of Fuellers to listen to Tony Hayward, the former CEO of BP and now non- executive Chairman of Glencore, who was delivering the 15^th Ezra Memorial Lecture. 

Tony Hayward’s Lecture was entitled The Future of Energy, and it presented a somewhat disquieting view of the future up to 2050,. It is a matter of concern for example to learn that currently the nation has one and a half days supply of gas, by way of reserves, and that currently plastics consumes about 25% of the world’s oil , and that energy consumption is forecast to increase by 35% by 2050.

Tony Hayward delivering the
15th Ezra Memorial Lecture

Tony Hayward’s excellent Lecture, was followed by refreshments , and then home on an evening that had the feel about it of late summer rather than early autumn.

8. 9th September 2019

Furniture Makers’ Hall 

Monday evening the 9^th September saw Thames Warden Rob Casey and I attend The Modern Livery Companies Dinner at Furniture Makers’ Hall.

The Dinner was hosted by The Worshipful Company of Management Consultants on this occasion. These Dinners take place every six months and provide an excellent platform for Masters and Senior Wardens of the Modern Livery Companies to get to know each other and to discuss issues of mutual interest. The hosting of these Dinners takes place on a rotating basis, in decreasing order of seniority. Next March, the Dinner will be hosted by The Worshipful Company of International Bankers.

The excellent food and company was complemented by a witty and thought provoking speech delivered by Guest Speaker Lady Lenzie.

The Master and Thames Warden at
The Modern Livery Companies Dinner

7. 5th September 2019

The Worshipful Company of Engineers
Awards Dinner Drinks on the IET Roof Terrace

The holiday’s are over, and the autumn “ term” has just started.

There was no more fitting way to commence the autumn season of Livery activity than with an invitation for the evening of the 5^th September to celebrate the Annual Awards of The Worshipful Company of Engineers at their Annual Awards Dinner.

This was held at The Institution of Engineering and Technology, 2 Savoy Place .

The Master at the Roof Terrace Reception 

The Award Winners’ breadth of achievement was inspirational – everything from the resin infused advanced composite aircraft wing which is now used on the Airbus A220, to the use of sunlight to disinfect water in the presence of a catalyst within a simple plastic bottle. Needless to say, contact was established with the Winner of The Water Engineering Award!

The guests had an opportunity to reflect on the achievement of the Award Winners over pre- dinner drinks on the hidden roof terrace at the top of the IET building, which afforded wonderful views of the City to the East, and of The South Bank . As an autumnal dusk settled over London , we went downstairs to enjoy an excellent dinner. The evening was rounded off with interesting and amusing speeches .