Master’s blog, Stardate 2014.170

Preparatory work is now focussed on the Installation Lunch at Carpenters Hall; I would say that from my now relatively detached viewpoint everything is in hand.  I attended the Master’ Reception at the Firefighters yesterday at Winchester House which was the former home of Sir Eyre Massey Shaw who was the first Chief Fire Officer of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade.  A goodly number of Masters enjoyed a short presentation on the history of the house, followed by a tour of the firefighters’ museum where their interesting display includes an elm water conduit.  I suggested to our guide that this might well be a ‘Myddelton’ pipe from the early 17^th century.  It looked to me as if it was a complete pipe.  The Master of the Firefighters, Mrs Beryl Jeffrey, completes her year just 2 days after I complete mine.  We have met a great many times during the year.

Master’s blog, stardate 2014.160

After a quiet couple of weeks, which I needed after a hectic spell a week earlier, I attended the Past master’s lunch on 28th along with our Master-elect.  I presented my report on the year that has quickly passed by.  The Master-elect also presented his report as plans for the year ahead.  The past Masters report on meeting the will be received by the Court.

This last week I attended the FM&GP meeting at the ASE offices and followed this up with a meeting of the Master’s Committee.  My FM&GP was thanked for their work and then dismissed because the Master-elect will re-form a new FM&GP of his choosing.  The Master’s Committee intends to continue its work. 

On Thursday I had a working lunch with Judy Ling Wong , I am very hopeful that development in London schools with come about, but we must be patient though; since time passes quickly and memories do fade then records of activities along with persistence will prove to be important.  This programme will need to be joined by volunteers.  Judy and I have a project in mind that we hope will excite and get some involved so the need for organisation and help is fast approaching. 


Thursday evening saw we with Gown Hat and Pendant boarding our Cutter, ‘The forget me not’ and along with my cox (thank goodness) and the 4 ladies who are our team of rowers.  The Bargemaster recommended that I did not wear the gown since if I did fall then my retrieval would be made more difficult.  The gown stayed in the safety boat.  It was essential that I took a passenger with me so I was accompanied by Maister Plaisterer, Ms De Bradashaw.  Lining up across the river with the competing boats took quite a while, all allowed for in the programme, quite a crowd of guests attending the Palace Of Westminster were given an interesting start to their evening.  At the start we were off like a shot, led the whole way, and ended up comfortable winners of the Ladies event (as we are expected to!).  The evening was rounded –off with prize presentations, photographs and an excellent buffet.  Once again a thoroughly enjoyable event attended by many Masters. 





Friday morning it was back from London to the office very briefly to collect my Bailiff and head off to Ironbridge along with some 80 other Masters.  I could only stay for the Friday night because I had to be in Cardiff the following day to join in the celebrations of the Company of Wales receiving its Royal Charter; this involved a service in St John’s Church and the a parade through the city lead by a military Band and mounted police.  The traffic was stopped for quite some time as we walked slowly towards the City Hall, it was quite a spectacle. We then all needed a drink which was follows by an excellent banquet in the admirable style of the Welsh Livery.