Installation of New Master

The new Master, Arthur Seymour, at St Lawrence Jewry

On 8 October the new Master, Arthur Seymour, was installed in St Lawrence Jewry in front of a limited number of his friends who afterwards joined with Arthur and Tina in a private supper.  Due to the current Covid-19 restrictions the church service could not be attended by the Company, but courtesy of the Clerk’s outside broadcast unit, all were able to join in the occasion by Zoom.

In particular, the Wardens for 2020-21 were installed by the Master, again using Zoom.  They all confirmed their willingness to serve the Company as Wardens with the due diligence that is required by such a high office.

Over 40 people, both members and family/friends of Arthur and Tina watched the proceedings by Zoom, and the screenshot on the right (kindly provided by Liveryman Gary Jackson) shows how wide the remote representation was.

It would have been good if we could have held the Installation Service as usual, but the current coronavirus restrictions did not allow it.  The small congregation was, as you might expect, not treated to the usual pomp and circumstance of the Organ and singing.  However, as Canon Parrott said, “City Livery traditions must be upheld” and the Worshipful Company of Constructors did just that by using a scaled down procedure and modern internet technology.

The Installation Dinner, which normally follows on from the Installation Service, also fell foul of the Covid-19 regulations.  However, it is hoped to hold it later in the Master’s Year, on 11 February in Carpenters’ Hall and the Clerk will ask for bookings in the New Year, by when we all hope that the Covid-19 regulations might have been further eased.