36. 18th December 2019

Off to Guildhall this morning to attend the Company’s Christmas Court Meeting.

The Meeting was followed by the Company’s Christmas Court Lunch which this year took place in the Alderman’s Dining Room. This is always a most enjoyable occasion, and this year was no exception. We were 31 in number, including a good number of consorts and some Guests of the Company, and we had a really great time – plenty of laughter and seasonal humour!

Judy and I left the Guildhall as the afternoon loosened its hold on daylight, and as the dusk gathered , we walked to Eastcheap, through streets buzzing with the pre-Christmas anticipation of the City. Some were, like us, leaving extended celebratory lunches; others were off to start late afternoon parties , and some were no doubt using the walk to a meeting as an opportunity to pop into a shop or two en route.

We had time for a coffee before walking down to St Mary – at – Hill for the Carol Service in which the Company was taking part. As in previous years, the choir was outstanding, and when the chorister began the “ Once in Royal David’s City “ solo , it seemed that the season of Christmastide had really and truly started. The candlelit Carol Service was beautiful, and the choir sang like angels.

After a mince pie and refreshments that followed the Service, Judy and I caught the bus back to Islington; and thence the following day to Dorset.

35. 6th December 2019

Just after dusk, I wandered down Garlick Hill to St James Garlickhythe. In the evening lamplight it was easy to imagine the ships bringing their garlic to the pier that existed at the end of the lane for so many centuries. I entered the church to celebrate Choral Eucharist on The Feast of St Nicholas. We enjoyed some lovely anthems in the course of the Service. Thence it was to Vintners’ Hall for the Feast of St Nicholas as guest of The Worshipful Company of Parish Clerks.

White tie was the dress code of the evening, and it was a splendid and elegant evening with around 140 attending the Feast. I was delighted to have either side of me highly entertaining and convivial company, and the evening was most enjoyable. Of particular note was the cross toasting session which I had been warned about in advance! After the main toasts were completed, there followed a period of some minutes when members of the Company toasted other members of the Company at will by rising when they wished to and calling out the name of the Parish that they wished to toast, rather than the name of the Parish Clerk! As several members are on their feet at any one time, and as the recipient of the toast might well be at the other end of the Hall,  a loud voice, even a very loud voice,  is necessary. What ensued was singular indeed, and most entertaining to watch and listen to! After several minutes, the hubbub was brought to a close by the Beadle and the speeches ensued, and excellent they were too.

My thanks to the Parish Clerks for their warm hospitality and a memorable evening.

34. 28th November 2019

The Master and the Master Spectacle Maker
at Mercers’ Hall

This evening Judy and I went to Mercers’ Hall to attend a Livery Concert as guests of The Mercers’ Company.

A substantial number of Masters and their Consorts gathered at 6.30pm for some pre- performance refreshments. Following this we went upstairs to enjoy some beautifully sung arias from the repertoire of Ian Storey and Ros Evans. These ranged from Mozart to Wagner with a detour through the Italian composers, with a dash of Britten added for good measure. In between each performance, the singers kindly answered questions from the audience.

It was a wonderful concert graced with some truly inspired singing.

Following the concert, we enjoyed a delicious supper in the Large Court Room.

33. 26th November 2019

This evening, Judy and I went to “A Night of Poems and Poets Inspired by Our Great City” at the Mansion House.

The event was curated by Helen McCrory, Allie Esiri and Kate Birch, and also featured poetry readings by Damian Lewis.  It was organised in aid of The Lord Mayor’s Appeal.

After a refreshing glass of fizz, we were ushered in to The Egyptian Room for the poetry reading, which was very well crafted, featuring excerpts and poems written by poets over the centuries who have lived in the City of London.

This part of the evening was followed by a reading of poems by composers from the Onside young people of the Barking and Dagenham poetry project.