Master’s blog, Stardate 2014.115

The Election Court held on April 16^th marked the beginning of my count-down (so I thought) to the next Installation Court in July.  I am pleased that our Master-elect and his three Wardens have been elected, they are already planning ahead.  I am looking forward to the Installation Court on 02^nd July.  At the well-attended Election lunch in the elegant Cutler’s Hall our principal guest was Ms July Ling Wong CBE who is highly regarded in the social and environmental world and would like to help us develop our schools programme.  Leading and learning from the future as it emerges leads to many surprises, Judy is one such emergent surprise.  I hope that a good relationship will develop between the Master’s committee and Judy.

On St George’s day the Clerk and I attended the annual lunch at Watermen’s Hall when the Watermen and Lightermen celebrated the English Saint.  There were red roses for everyone.  The Masters and Clerks were seated on separate tables which was an interesting approach.  Masters of about 40 old and modern companies were well mixed up.  I was sitting between the Master Girdler and the Master Management Consultant with the Master Coachmaker and Master Wax Chandler opposite.  It was an excellent 14-hour day which left me exhausted on the day following.  We share our beadle with the Watermen so it was pleasing to here Mr Beadle’s fine voice, he looked after me throughout the day.

This Master business is tough.  At the 100 Club lunch next week I have been told that I will be the Senior Master attending since the other Masters will be from Company numbers 103 to 110.  So I will be on my feet again when I had thought that I was finished with all of that.

Master’s blog, stardate 2014.98

It has been a busy time since my last entry a couple of weeks ago.

I visited Ysgol Gogarth in Llandudno on Monday 7^th April and was pleased to learn and report to you that we will be going ahead with the classroom/observation room as a memorial to dear Marj.  The building will be called Hafan Marj  (Marj’s place) and should be completed in about 12 weeks.

Agenda, minutes, menus, guest lists, seating plans, ‘meeters and greeters’ allocated and ceremonial for the Election Court and the lunch have been settled.  3rd April found me and the Clerk at the service in St Bartholomew the Great to celebrate the presentation by HRH Prince Charles of their royal charter to the Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers followed by lunch at Haberdashers Hall.  The lunch was a fine affair and I was entertained throughout by a taxi driver who had actually shaken the Prince’s hand.  We had a lively conversation.  In the evening my bailiff David and I attended the Lord Mayor’s dinner for Masters and guests at the Mansion House; a truly memorable day.  Next day we were at St Pauls for the United Guilds Service which is always memorable too, due to the scale of the event, the address by the Dean and the singing of the choir.  The Dean focussed on leadership and fellowship amongst the Livery.  The Bishop of St Asaph attended as my guest.