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Some time ago the Water Conservation Trust was asked for help because the pond at Hillside Primary School in Orpington was to be put out of bounds or filled in because it represented a risk to the pupils. Through Trustee Rob Casey, the Trust recommended and paid for a safety grid, and encouraged the school to extend its science teaching. I have received news that, through its Charities Programme, Thames Water has agreed to fund half the cost of the grid. This is thanks to the great work done by Rob in developing our links with Thames Water. I will say that this is just a simple but significant example of how starting off in Ruislip High School with a pond has led on to greater things. This is an example of where ‘Leading from the future’ can take us and I do hope that the message gets home that ‘Leading from the future’ will happen if we use our heads to identify an opportunity and get involved: that means taking the project to heart, and then taking some immediate action that is using the emotion to develop some momentum.

I know from experience of long ago that this approach works and we have heard about Hugh Myddelton and John Snow. In the same vein, I would like Company members to support the work of the Trustees in the knowledge that with your involvement we can go to places unimaginable at the moment. That this means becoming Globally Useful can be our Future Possibility and not just a pipedream.

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Last week broke into life with the Banquet on 05 November and a Trust meeting on the following day.  Friday saw me back in London with David in readiness for the Lord Mayor’s Show.

I was told by everyone that the banquet in Vintners Hall was most enjoyable, well I enjoyed it and from where I was sitting the whole atmosphere seemed relaxed.  Our principal guests were Alderman and Mrs Andrew Parmley and Andrew provided one of his masterly and witty performances.  I had decided not to match Andrew’s ready wit so my contribution was personal and heartfelt.

I was thrilled and surprised that Mr Beadle introduced the Master in Welsh.

The entertainment was provided by friends from Ruthin, the ap Owen family.  The twin girls Manon and Lleuwen stole everyone’s hearts with their beautiful playing of the harp and then singing to their father’s accompaniment on the piano.  The performance was quite exceptional and especially praised by Andrew.  I was delighted when Hedd their father told me a day or two later that they had had no idea what to expect at a Livery function and were overwhelmed by the friendly and family-like reception.

The Vintners Company looked after us very well indeed.

The Lord Mayor’s Show was marked by a morning of steady and heavy rain from the moment that we set off.  I was delighted that David and I were joined by Thames Warden Roger North who, along with Christine had spent Friday making a new signboard for us; many thanks to you both.  The excitement of the crowds dispelled any discomfort caused by the rain.  I found the last half mile on the return journey tough going.  I ‘completed the course’ and a few minutes later in London Wall I met familiar faces in the form of the Renter Warden of the Glass Sellers and then our Chaplain.  When you take part in the parade you see little of what is going on except at the start in the marshalling area when there is plenty to see and friends from other Companies to talk to.

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I attended the Founder Members’ lunch at Butchers Hall on 16^th October which was a most pleasant affair arranged by Past Master Colin Bland.  It was good to renew acquaintances with people I had not seen for some years, it would not be appropriate to say ‘old faces’ which would easily slip off the tongue.

On 17^th we held a Master’s Committee in Atkins office at Euston, thank you Roger, in the discussions which were ‘wide ranging’ we did make progress with developing Global Usefulness.  David Lloyd Owen joined us and made a welcome contribution to what I hope will be seen as an emerging future for the Company.

In the evening I attended the dinner celebrating the installation of Master Dennis Woods of the Fuellers Company.

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As Master I was a guest of the Worshipful Livery Company of Wales on Saturday, attending the Installation Service in St John’s in the centre of Cardiff and then the Installation banquet at the City Hall.  I am a liveryman of the Livery Company of Wales.  It was a fine event in an ancient church and a magnificent City Hall.  Marj and I used to go dancing there on Saturdays so it was a trip down memory lane as well.  I was very well received.  The Welsh Livery has developed a style of its own, which is to be expected and for which they should be congratulated.  A number of London Masters were present.

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On Monday I was down in the Central Criminal Courts as a guest of Sheriff Sir Paul Judge for lunch with the judges.  Having never been inside the Old Bailey for any reason, innocently or otherwise, I was intrigued by the invitation and had a most interesting day, including a couple of hours in Court No. 4 listening to the prosecuting counsel making his opening address in a murder trial.  I was most impressed with the care and clarity, to my mind, with the way in which the counsel presented his opening description of the case against the defendant.  The counsel made it clear that the the case would be gone through in great detail in the subsequent stages of the trial.  I was equally impressed with the amount of information that we all scatter world-wide when we use our mobile phones.  I was sitting on a bench in the well of the court, which is very small, with the judge sitting on high and the defendant directly opposite him, I never saw the defendant since I was so low down on my bench and could not see into the dock.  Not a day to be missed.

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Along with my bailiff I visited Ysgol y Gogarth today, Friday, to meet the head master and the Willmott-Dixon contract manager to discuss progress on the construction of Hafan Marj which is the outdoor activities room that will be dedicated to Marjorie.  The base slab has been laid as part of the school’s total redevelopment and the details of the building have been finalised so progress is being made.  The head and staff at Gogarth are very excited about Hafan Marj even though the whole school is being re-built under a £multi-million project.  The building is located in a well landscaped area, a short distance from the main building but will be fully equipped with data and power.  More later.

An appeal has gone out under my name for contributions to the publication fund for ‘Reflections on water’, please respond positively.

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Monday found me and the Fleet Warden involved in the election of the Lord Mayor for the ‘ensuing year’.  This year we have elected Fiona Woolf, only the second woman to be elected as Lord Mayor.  Our day began in Carpenters’ Hall for breakfast courtesy of Mark Grove and the Cook and Butler.  This was a great start to the day; as well as having an excellent breakfast it was good to be able to meet Masters, Wardens and Clerks of many Companies.  After gowning up in the Guildhall crypt, which was an event in itself, all hustle and bustle, the Masters processed in order of seniority, juniors first, to attend a service in St Lawrence Jury (in which the singing of the choir was magnificent) and then back to the Guildhall for the election.  The whole ceremony is managed in the greatest detail and was all over by 1.00pm.

Tuesday I was back in London with my bailiff to attend the Autumn Dinner of the Plaisterers’ company as the guests of the Master, De Bradshaw; this was another magnificent Livery evening.  Gosh it’s hard.