67. The WET 10 City Water Debate

The Debate – How Will London Manage a Drought took place on 22 February at the Launderers’/ Glaziers’ Hall with Contributions from Martin Baggs (CEO Thames Water) (right) and Mike Woolgar (MD environmental and water management at Atkins) (below right). The presentations were good and conclusions drawn that a mix of tools: metering, leakage control, etc would help, but to rebuild the resilience in the system, a new storage reservoir was required.

However, many of the partners to that decision appear to be looking for a water supply crisis first, after which they would act. Both speakers made the point that the drastic consequences for urban water users and the reputational damage to the companies meant that this risk should not be contemplated. There followed a lively exchange. Thanks go to the Plumbers, Launderers and the WET 10 Planning Committee for another successful water debate.

The debate was well attended and offered the chance for young people to come and hear about the issues at first hand. Pictured below three (not so young) Conservators - 2 Peters and a Rob - and two MSc students – Grant and Layla -from Queen Mary University. We offer MSc Bursaries to students at Q. Mary and Grant is the current WC bursary holder. It’s good that they take an active interest in Livery affairs.

66. …. and the Constructors Lecture 2016

Dr Uly Ma spoke on Managing Sustainability in Construction using COP21 (the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference) to improve the carbon productivity of a contractor’s supply chain, sponsored by the University of Westminster. The theme was reducing carbon emissions by better control over processes – minimise waste with embedded energy. Dr Ma had produced a framework for analysing losses. There was much discussion, some centred around the point that energy costs are not the biggest driver for cost reductions.

65. The Constructors Dinner

The Constructors Company was founded in 1976 and became the 99th Livery Company of the City of London in 1990. The Livery & Awards Dinner was held on 11 February at Haberdashers’ Hall. Graeme Montieth, Master, welcomed all present: awards were then made to prize winners from academia, the Livery and the Services. The principal guest was Alderman Andrew Parmley who after an amusing speech, proposed the toast to the Constructors Company

Graeme (right) responded and then proposed a toast to the guests. The Order of Service included a Loving Cup Ceremony, and gave full details about how it should be carried out. I must say that the Constructors coped better than we did in November!

I was placed between Middle Warden Anthony Ward and Past Master Stephen Rigden. It so happens that he is married to Sheriff Christine Rigden, who is also a Past Master of the Constructors. Complicated! My thanks to Graeme, Stephen and Anthony for their company during the evening.

64. The Lord Mayor visits Treloar

On 10 February, the Lord Mayor, accompanied the Sheriffs and Masters, Prime Wardens and Deputy Masters of 27 Livery Companies, visited Treloar. This is an annual visit celebrating Treloar’s heritage and links to its founding in 1908 by then Lord Mayor Sir William Treloar, and to thank those attending for their support. Visitors were given the opportunity to tour the campus and were able to visit classes in session where they saw first-hand how students live and learn.
After lunch we were treated to an afternoon music performance by Treloar School students. For one reason or another, I have visited Treloar five times in the last year. Each time is a moving experience.

63. The Pancake Races

The 12th Inter-Livery Shrove Tuesday Pancake Race took place on 8 February, organised by the Poulters’ Company in conjunction with The Cook and the Butler. We were there because water is an important ingredient in the making of pancakes. The races take place in the Guildhall Yard, cobblestones and all!

Our part of the race - heats and a final - was run into three groups: the Masters, the Liverymen, and the Ladies races (see right). The fourth group, the Novelty – well see below.  

We did well. I won my heat but disqualified myself in the final by losing my pancake en route. Robbie did especially well, winning his heat, and in the final he arrived first but came second because his frying pan fell off the stand. Mavis has started our recovery in the Ladies group. From being historically last-ish, she was in midfield. 

The races were also memorable for the blessing we received at the start from the Chaplain: ‘… preserve from ringers …’ and other surprising exhortations.  

Now then. The important Novelty Race. Warden Mike had won last year with in a chicken costume reflecting the Poulters’ sponsorship and the ballet interests of the LM. This year it was Sea Cadets: Mike was in the finals with his arthritic ex Sea Cadet kit plus music, but the prize went to a Young Freeman dress as a buoy – at least that’s what I thought it was. Needless to say we were robbed but we took it in good spirit (eventually).

Thanks to Robbie, Mavis and Mike (and team captain Ralph) for a fun morning with no casualties. We are already thinking of next year’s team so any Olympic hopefuls in the Company – now is your hour. Apply to Keith, the Thames Warden. Whether Mike will do another year remains to be seen; some of us are walking this way without any acting.

62. Great Fire preparations

There will be an exciting commemoration of the Great Fire of London which started on 2-3 September 1666 (as every schoolchild used to know). The Company selected for the task is Artichoke, a world leader in outdoor spectaculars. Invited to the Skinners Hall on 8 February, we were given an update on progress. Despite the long lead-time, the design/ implementation was held up, awaiting the agreement of national funding (between £2-3million). The possibilities were discussed, ranging from a commemorative conflagration (unpopular) to street pageants. All would have a strong people involvement. Artichoke asked for Livery support. This would be forthcoming but time was running out. 

61. The Myddelton Lunch

The Myddelton Lunch, held at the Drapers’ Hall is a special occasion for two reasons. It celebrates our granting of Livery in 2000 and it is our opportunity to entertain the Lord Mayor, the Lord Mountevans, and the Lady Mayoress. We actively support the Mayor’s Appeal which, this year, includes research on cures for Type 1 Diabetes and the Sea Cadet Movement. Here, Past Master Peter Matthews introduces the Lord Mayor to our Guard of Honour provided by Maidstone Sea Cadets led by PO Sam Stevens, their CO.  We support Maidstone Sea Cadets and are trying to find other donors to help pay for a replacement pier.

The procession: Master and Mistress, Wardens, the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress and other principal guests: Alderman Andrew Parmley, Doug Barrow (Prime Warden Shipwrights) and Wendy Hyde (Master World Traders). After Lunch and a warm welcome, the Lord Mayor spoke of the importance of his year and the support he is giving to the City and his charities.  Thanking him for his speech, I explained a little about our own charitable giving and said that the collection after Lunch was to support an earlier Lord Mayor’s charity, Sir William Treloar, who founded a hospital and school for sick children. Treloar today is a leading school for physically handicapped children. The collection raised £1,000 which was presented to Treloar on 10 February.


Our lunches provide a place for networking and reminiscing. They say that Past Masters never…… Here in good spirits is our own Past Master, Ivor Richards, with Past Masters from the Glass Sellers’ and Plaisterers’ Companies.

60. Re-dedication of the Company and its Cross

Each year, at the Myddelton Service, Members re-dedicate themselves to the promises and commitments made when joining the Company and the Livery. The Service, held at St Michael’s Cornhill was conducted by the Rector, Stephen Platten and our Honorary Chaplin, Rose Hudson-Wilkin. After rousing hymns and a stirring sermon, Company Members, led by the Beadle formed up to process to the Drapers’ Hall.

59. Two visits to the Tower Bridge, 20 & 27 Jan

By popular demand, two trips were arranged to Tower Bridge for a short conducted tour of the above-ground bridge and steam engines, and a special tour of the southern Bascule Chamber. These tours only run in the quiet winter months because of bridge lifting leaves visitors only about a metre space to avoid being squashed (see below). They are limited to 12 people, Assembling at the North West entrance, most of Team 1 (right) with the Shard in the background at the start of the two-hour tour.

The special tour goes by way of the high level walkways; on a good day the views can be wonderful. The brave can also lie down on a glass panel over the road way. It’s supposed to take the weight of elephants! During this part of the tour a brief history of the planning, construction, use and abuse of the bridge is given. The latter, for the curious, includes double-decker buses ‘jumping’ over the gap formed by the opening bridge and an aeroplane flying between the bridge and the walkway.
Normally out of bounds to the public, the Bridge’s Senior Technical Officer took us to the Bridge Control Room, still with the Edwardian switchgear in place, down about 100 steps into the immense Bascule Chamber below river level and the Machinery Room, which houses the impressive hydraulics that power the lifting of the Bridge. Various modern control systems and hydraulic pumps have now replaced the steam-powered lifts.

It’s big! This is the Bascule into which the southern part of the bridge counterbalance descends as the bridge opens. Right is Team 2 crossing their fingers that the bridge would not be opened – the big light grey ‘roof’ sweeps down, past the yellow barrier, when the bridge lifts, demolishing Nigel et al.
But, you have to climb out. Here, Team 1 climbs out of the bascule chamber in silence, but not for long as we reach road level and walk to the power house. Today, the bascules are still operated by hydraulic power, but since 1976 they have been driven by oil and electricity rather than steam. We visited the original pumping engines, accumulators and boilers which are now exhibits within Tower Bridge Exhibition’s Engine Rooms. The arrangements for coal fired steam are still there, complete with manufactures plates showing their UK pedigree.
Both Teams were given the option of a super Guildhall Lunch, arranged by the Clerk. Just the thing for a descent into the abyss.

58. Plumbers’ Court Luncheon, 26 January

The Plumbers’ Company has a complementary interest in wet events, including its active support to the WET 10 Group of Livery Companies. The Plumbers Company is very active in promoting standards and skills. For long-standing water people the Lunch is a place to meet friends and share concerns. Guest speaker David Harper gave a fascinating account of his work as an engineer in the investigation and control of Legionnaires Disease. Photographed after the event is the perfect partnership – Master Erica and Clerk Paul. My thanks to both.

57. Chartered Accountants host accountants

The Chartered Accountants of England and Wales held a dinner for Masters and Clerks’ connected with accountancy at their Hall (right) on 20 January. A strange thing to want to do but a very successful evening. I suppose as in all walks of life, accountants and financial advisers make a big contribution and certainly so in the organisation of Livery life, as set out by the Master. Alderman and Sheriff Charles Bowman, a chartered accountant, then spoke about the need to rebuild trust in City institutions and the steps being taken to do that. My thanks go to Master Mark Spofford for a thought-provoking evening.

56. The Creeping Paralysis of Drought

In the latest of her series for Gresham College, Professor Carolyn Roberts focused on the ramifications of drought. Pointing out that this is a world-wide phenomenon, and spared neither rich country nor poor. What really mattered was resilience and institutional arrangements if we were to avoid significant damage to the economy or fatalities. Analysis showed that given a like for like drought situation (theoretically), developed countries fared much better. In the UK context of worsening weather events, there remains the issue of sacrifice – restricting domestic, agricultural, business use – and the incentives of the private sector water companies in England and Wales to act fairly.

55. Closing date for the WET City Water Debate!

The Debate – How Will London Manage a Drought takes place on 22 February at the Launderers’/ Glaziers’ Hall. Contributions from Martin Baggs and  Mike Woolgar will make for an interesting event. For details see the link below to our website. Last year I left it too late and it was full, so get on touch soon.

http://www.waterconservators.org/uploaded_files/tinymce/THECITYWATERDEBATEFLYER2016.pdf