109. Beating the Retreat

Raising money for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, the massed bands of HM Royal Marines (about 250 musicians and another 80 Colour escorts) entertained us on Horseguards Parade on 25 June. After some remarkable manoeuvres (while playing) it all came together for the Beating Retreat. Beating Retreat is traced back to manuals written in 1554, where it is called ‘Watch Setting’. Admiral Sir Phillip Jones, First Sea Lord, took the Salute.

108. Buckingham Palace

A boring picture (?) for a Garden Party because photography is forbidden at the Palace. Although, looking around, you wouldn’t think so. Anyway, here are the Master Hackney Carriage Driver, Launderer and me, more or less properly dressed for the event. The dress code is more relaxed these days so Livery Masters (I suppose 20 of us) stood out. Some even wore the correct (City) black waistcoat. The weather was good on 24 May and the Royal Party, including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, spent time talking to many of their guests – but not us (of course).

107. The Chartered Architects Milo Lecture 23 May

I thought that plonking skyscrapers around the City of London was one of those random events you find in any planning system. But no! Thanks to the Chartered Architects’ Company’s Milo Lecture, I now understand that City towers are planned. At their heart there are sightlines to the dome of St Paul’s (right) – one, some 17 kilometres away. These sightlines leave segments in between, which is where towers cluster – by design. Two other important features associated with planning permission for towers are visitor access to the roof and the creation of public space at street level by raising the building off the ground. Interesting, and many thanks to the Master Chartered Architect

106. Ceremony of the Keys

The locking up of the Tower of London has taken place every night for the last 700 years. On 18 May a large party of Water Conservators and their guests were received by Yeoman Warder Colin Smith (right) who conducted us around the Tower, pointing out many features of historical interest. Then, after supper, he explained the background to and procedures for the Ceremony of the Keys.

Her Majesty’s ‘Palace and Fortress’ at the Tower is really a large village with the usual facilities: village green, church, execution place (!), but, it closes at 22.00 each night with the locking of the gates. The Yeoman Guard with the Keys is protected by armed escort, this time drawn from the Coldstream Guards. The escort is challenged (loudly) at the gate to the inner court and is allowed to pass with Queen Elizabeth’s Keys to lock the main gate. Thanks go to Colin and his colleagues at the Tower of London Club.

105. The Water Conservation Trust

The Trust met on 17 May and agreed to evaluate its Bursary Programme for MSc students in our subjects at a special event on 19 September. The last event of this sort was in 2013 when five students set out what they were doing and why the Bursary for fees had made a difference to them and to us as Water Conservators. Pictured right from 2013 is speaker Caroline Hepburn, then Sheffield University and, in the background, Master of Wadham, Lord Macdonald, and
Master Ivor Richards

104. The Launderers’ Ladies’ Banquet

We have close working relations with the Launderers’ Company and its Master and Lady, and meeting them is like a reunion. The Launderers’ Company is a member of the WET 10. On 13 May they held their Ladies’ Banquet at Drapers’ Hall and Georgina and I were invited. It was a super evening, people didn’t want to leave. There was the usual struggle with the Loving Cup and the sung Grace, but we were made very welcome by the Senior Warden.

The Master Engineer responded for the guests, dwelling on her experiences as a leading mechanical engineer and somebody very interested in metrology. Entertainment included ‘Songs from the Shows’ which was well received. Our thanks go to the Master and his Lady for the invitation.

103. Red Cross Flag Day at Mansion House

The City has always been supportive of the Red Cross and the Livery Companies lend a hand during Red Cross week; Thus, on 13 May together with colleagues from the Educators, Basket Makers, Framework Knitters, we spent a long lunchtime collecting on the approach to London Bridge. We provided a ‘presence’ for the Red Cross, collected some money, but were reminded that, these days, putting your hand in your pocket means pulling out your
mobile phone!

102. The Royal Choral Society 12 May

City Livery Companies were well represented at the evening of music held at Central Hall, Westminster, to mark the 80th birthday of its President, HRH The Duke of Kent. Conducted by Richard Cooke and accompanied by the English Chamber Orchestra, the programme included works by Haydn, Schubert, Gounod and Tippett.

101. Professor Carolyn Roberts

Concluding her lecture series on Britain’s Troubled Waters for Gresham College on 12 May, Carolyn reviewed the adequacy of our planning law and administration to deal with projects such as the Old Oak Common development in London, assessing its impact on the water environment and how it might be accommodated. Inevitably, this led to a discussion about the strength of environmental protection legislation and where it came from.

Many credit the EU for leading the way, many people accepting that by implementing the various directives, the UK moved away from sobriquets such as ‘the dirty man of Europe’ prevalent in the 1980s. Amongst professionals, the EU platform had achieved a great deal, although most agree that it is not efficient in delivering the changes. Returning to whether environmental concerns had been quantified in decision making, the answer was negative. One view was that if you couldn’t cost the issue (for example, the elimination of a species) it was worth anything. However, new ways of thinking were being developed, such as through a Natural Capital Committee, which may ensure that nature is dealt with in line with the majority of citizens’ wishes.

100. The 362nd Festival of the Sons and Friends of the Clergy

The origin of the Sons and Friends of the Clergy goes back to 1655, difficult times for destitute clergy under Oliver Cromwell. Nowadays, the charity is widely supported and holds an annual Service/ Festival at St Paul’s Cathedral, this year, on 10 May. The Lord Mayor, Sheriffs and some 80 Livery Companies were present.

The Sermon was given by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, drawn from readings from Deuteronomy and 1 John, which set out the care God has taken to ensure His people are looked after.

99. St. Magnus the Martyr – Ascension Day

Being Ascension Day, I was invited to St Magnus the Martyr for Choral Eucharist. The Church was built where people crossing the old London Bridge used to enter the City. The church was one of the first buildings to be destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666 as St Magnus stood less than 300 yards from the bakery of Thomas Farriner in Pudding Lane, where the fire started. Farriner, a churchwarden of St Magnus, was buried in the Church in December 1670. Michael Cooper (right), speaker at our Election Court Luncheon, is a Churchwarden and also Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Parish Clerks, who attend the service. The Sermon was delivered by the Bishop of Fulham, following which we processed to the Vintners’ Hall for Dinner, celebrating the Day itself, and the election of the incoming Master and Wardens.

98. The 100+ Companies’ Luncheon

Every year Livery Companies’ Masters and Clerks numbering 101 and onwards meet over lunch, taking it in turns to host the event. This year, the Master World Trader, Wendy Hyde, welcomed us to the Information Technologists’ Hall on 5 May. Most of the Masters (by this time) know each other very well so it was an occasion to exchange notes. Wendy talked about her recent visits to livery companies in Switzerland and the almost total absence of female members, let alone women Masters!

I was invited to respond for the Guests, explaining something of our history, and why we number 102 when water sellers were common in the middle ages. Other Companies, for example, the Hackney Carriage Drivers, also go back a long way. On behalf of the guests I thanked the World Traders and their Master for their hospitality and good company.

It being Ascension Day, Wendy had to shoot off to ‘beat the bounds’ for her Parish, which involved a boat trip because the boundary went half-way across the Thames!

The Worshipful Company of Information Technologist (100) are unusual in group of recent Companies in that they have their own Hall near the Barbican, following a gift by Dame Stephanie Shirley.

97. Trial of the Pyx

The Trial of the Pyx is an examination by a jury of the specification of coins made by the Royal Mint. The earliest recorded date for the trial is 1248 but, certainly, the checking of the fineness of silver and gold currency has been going on since ancient times. The 2016 Trial was presided over by the Queen’s Remembrancer and carried out under a Direction issued by the Treasury. The jury consists of Liverymen of the Goldsmiths’ Company. After a series of tests the jury returned a verdict of compliance on 29 April.

Being a Court, photography was forbidden, but this was followed by a fine Luncheon in the Hall, decorated by some of the Goldsmith’s Plate: the mirrored plateau (above) and the Buffet Plate. We were welcomed by the Prime Warden, and The Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt. Hon George Osborne MP responded. Thanks to the Prime Warden of the Goldsmiths’ for being able to witness such an historic event.

96. Wadham annual lunch

The Water Conservation Trust has supported Wadham College students on Oxford University’s MSc course: Water Science, Policy and Management for a long time. We meet each year: Trustees, Wadham College staff, including the Master, Lord Macdonald QC, and our 2015-16 Scholar, Anna Robotham, seen here with Lord Macdonald and me on 28 April. Anna has just been awarded a ‘full Blue’ for rowing for the lightweight women. Wadham are appreciative of our relationship and, through Liveryman David Johnstone, we are kept up to date.

95. Obesity at Brunel University 27 April

The Company has supported the Environment, Health and Societies Research Institute at Brunel for a decade – offering post-graduate bursaries and co-sponsoring lectures. Its Director, Professor Susan Jobling spoke at our Michaelmas Luncheon. The event was – The Big Question – What is really to blame for the obesity epidemic. The Panel Profs. Sir Stephen Bloom, Gerard Hastings, Juliette Legler BS Jonathan Secki’s contributions were moderated by BBC News’ Helen Briggs.

Arguments included: that evolution was to blame – we had not had time to adapt to our 21 Century life style, exacerbated by the marketing of fatty, sugary and salty products to children; endocrine disrupting chemicals put by us into the environment had contributed to our failure to stop eating at the right time, and other factors, such as low birth weight, was linked to childhood obesity. Managing eating was very difficult and exercise only partly compensated for the body’s determination to consume. A good lecture and worrying outcome.