Master's Blog

A short round up of this year’s lunch and to hear the fantastic news that they have got over the £1m barrier in 6 years!

Spoke at lunch meeting for Freeman Group and went through history of Livery, Company and what we do.  Need to market activity to Freeman on what we do and join up on diaries. Also interest in re-launching Focus on Changing City seminar and co organising.

A very pleasant lunch at Guildhall private dining rooms hearing more on the activities of Freemans School and their plans.

From being a piscatorial virgin I have finished the day at Avon Springs
Fishery a fully-fledged fly fisherman!  A very enjoyable day in the company of 20 fisherman ably organised by David Marsh and I was generously tutored by Past Master Michael Baker.  After a cold frustrating morning with no bites while others were pulling in fish a plenty, I was generously assisted by Philip Hunt who cast for me and allowed me to catch my first fish and then buoyed by that I set about casting and catching my second!  They now sit gutted and waiting my culinary skills.  A big thank you to the generosity of the all but particularly Michael for the loan of his rod and his tutorial in casting.

A fantastic evening organised by Ralph Charlwood which has raised around
£15,000 for CSTT.  Hosted by Mark Lawrenson and Ray Stubbs it was a truly gala football evening enjoyed by all.  Although I have to say being told by Lawrenson to the room I look like Harry Redknapp’s brother will not be a
highlight of the year!

For those that don’t know this is the largest amateur one day competition all competing for same trophy.  Played at Walton Heath with 240 golfers hacking and slicing their way round.   A truly dreadful performance from the Surveyors Team where a 2 inch put wasn’t a certainty!!!!!!  Although two of the team had only got back from Portugal at 1am on the morning.  Will we be in next year, we wait with interest!

A fascinating lecture from a director of HS2 company that set out clearly the benefits and the how’s and what’s for it to happen.  The amount of rhetoric in the media at present could probably do with a bit more of a balanced perspective in our papers – but that may not encourage readership!

The 359^th festival to celebrate the work of a charity that supports Clergy fallen on hard times.  A procession of majority of Masters leading full Clergy and Mayoralty procession added to the occasion.  A very pleasant service with an admirable sermon from the Bishop of Norwich.

Well what can we say? The most fantastic, marvellous and memorable weekend in the Company of our three affiliates.  We were hosted aboard HMS Echo for the weekend and looked after in the most generous and warm way by the Ships company and their CO Matt Syrett.  For the first time since we adopted HMS Echo to replace HMS Herald we had our three affiliates together.  We met up in Plymouth with 135 and 7010 aboard Echo.  The wardroom was given over to our disposal and the bar was complimentary to affiliates for the duration – very generous.  Friday evening was free time and the Livery bonded over a curry and we enjoyed the camaraderie of the affiliates when back aboard attempting to drain the ship of liquor!

Saturday was an early start with breakfast at 7am and lunch at 11.30am – some strange timing her Majesty’s Navy has!  We set off to Falmouth and saw first-hand the ship manoeuvrability and capabilities of the Ship.  The morning was spent with a guided tour of the vessel exploring every nook and cranny with no restriction.  I had the delight of being dressed in body army, life jacket and helmet.  After lunch we embarked on the competition which saw the affiliates rotate around activities which included repairing a leak; donning full fire suit and equipment; using fire hoses; donning one time survival suits.  The fire suit and one time survival suits being timed and the basis of the competition.  I am delighted to report that in complete contrast to our previous venture where we came last in everything we managed to win although magnanimously awarded the win to HMS Echo as they piped us by 1 second on the fire suit dressing!  Having got soaking wet and had enormous fun we then enjoyed the delight of seeing the ship dock at Falmouth.  The evening saw us host the affiliates for a dinner at the Falmouth Hotel and prize giving with mutual appreciation.  135 who had won when the affiliates had last been together in 1992 and turned up with the trophy awarded then.  So we have lasting trophy that will look slightly odd with a 20 year gap between competitions.  A fine evening cementing the friendships formed over the weekend.  After the night on the tiles in Falmouth, 7010 had organised for us to be able to look over RFA Lyme Bay which was docked alongside Echo.  Lyme Bay is one of a fleet of auxiliary support vessels which transports equipment and troops.

We departed for our homes mid-morning with great memories and a very successful weekend.

A huge thank you to Mark Larrard who took on the initiative, to Echo for their hospitality and to 7010 and 135 for joining in.

135 have offered to host the next gathering in a couple of years.  If it becomes a regular feature it will only be good for all parties in increasing our understanding and support for each other.

The 890^th anniversary of the Priory and Hospital, the View day is a tradition going back years and reinforces the link between City and St Barts.  The splendour of the Priory Church and the Great Hall are a delight and provide magnificent surroundings, and tradition to compliment the change of the Hospital into a 21^st Century medical facility.

What more could you want than an hour’s fascinating debate about the
idiosyncratic craft of gin followed by 10 gins to sample! Very interesting
evening and one enjoyed by all!

A truly inspiring evening spent in the company of the pupils in what we
know as lower and upper 6^th form. Some tremendous achievements and whatever happened at Resi Awards last night they cannot have been as rewarding!

A fascinating lecture on the 70 year history of the Test Pilot Training
Centre held at the Royal Aeronautical Society on Hamilton Place.  Fortunately we had one of the few pleasant Spring days and could enjoy wine on the splendid terrace.

Evening dress at the Mansion House is always special but made more so to
celebrate Master Actuaries year, although being of Scots origin the irony of
being on St Georges Day did not go amiss and indeed he still sported the red
rose from lunch!  We were joined by Mr Assistant Waugh and his wife, a  delightful evening.

A marvellous celebration of St Georges Day with red roses given to all
attendees. The lunch is to thank all Masters and Prime Wardens who give
hospitality to the Master Waterman over the year, they do not invite Master’s
to any other function so it is a one off mass get together and great fun.

Hosted in the pleasant surroundings of Carpenters Hall the assembled gathering were entertained by RICS singers who went above and beyond in their renditions and the speeches were from Brandon Lewis MP and Lt Gen David Leakey CMG CBE (aka Black Rod).

The dinner held at Skinners Hall was convivial and fun with fine performance from Sea Cadets band.  Well entertained by Past Masters Lelliot and Laing and a fine evening.

A splendid occasion with the best curry ever.  In the presence of HRH Duke of Kent and the Lord Mayor.  Surveyors were well represented and hopefully masses of money raised!  A must for all to support next year.

A strange coincidence that my last two dinners have been at Carpenters Hall, the scene of our dinner on 22 April.  A very pleasant evening in the Company of the Past Master of Accountants who also happens to be immediate Past Master of Gunmakers and Lord Mackenzie of Luton.  Interesting that the Accountants have Company Jackets (maroon velvet smoking jacket style) reportedly because one of the first Masters persuaded the Livery it would be a good idea – purely coincidence that he had a client with large amounts of liquidated maroon velvet cloth!  Also found out Gunmakers had to move their Hall outside of City after blowing up their Hall, for the second time in the 1600’s!

A hot dash from joining in the Thanksgiving Service for the Huguenots to
the Blacksmith Ladyday lunch.  Slightly delayed because of Easter’s proximity to Ladyday did not detract from an enjoyable, unch in convivial company with the Blacksmiths.  The current Prime Warden was on fine form and we heard from Lady Wootton on life in the Mansion House.