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.