33. Water Conservators’ Banquet

In their own ways, a visit to the Grocers’ Hall and Guy Fawkes night added tone to the Banquet held
on 5 November.

The principal guest was Professor Richard Penty, Master of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, founded in 1596. He had agreed to talk about being a Master of a Cambridge College; its most famous alumnus, Oliver Cromwell (well, next to Carol Vorderman), and current challenges facing universities.

Historically, Sidney Sussex Masters had law and order duties, inter alia, to maintain the moral fibre, but today the tasks are more prosaic. Richard is the 27th Master (like me) and claims he got the job because of a failed election strategy!

Oliver Cromwell died in 1658 during the Commonwealth. He was a signatory to Charles I’s death warrant and, as a regicide, his body was exhumed during the Restoration and his head exhibited on a pole outside Westminster Hall. Disappearing for years it is now buried in the antechapel at Sidney Sussex.

The particular style of education at Sidney Sussex is expensive and many students receive additional financial support. Our Water Conservation Trust offers bursaries to Masters students studying Engineering for Sustainable Development and Richard was very grateful for these.
I mentioned that we seemed to be in a Stuart rut at the moment. Next year we commemorate the 350th anniversary of the Great Fire as well as the death of Sir Hugh Myddelton. However, the Company does not live in the past and I welcomed our links with Corporate Member Companies and universities for addressing the tasks ahead.

Notwithstanding the erudition of the speeches, the partying went on. The Loving Cup ceremony again perplexed, but we coped. There was a sing-along. We all departed into the London night at 10.45 – as planned.  Thanks go to the Master Grocer and his staff, the musicians from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and to Richard Penty for an enjoyable evening. And, of course to the 100+ guests who struggled in the face of civil unrest to make it a very special evening.