Page 12 - The Constructor A5V24 V1

The Master’s Year

The last formal dinner of the year was the Sir Christopher
Wren Banquet, which was held in June. By kind permission
of the Lord Mayor, 322 Members and their guests attended
the banquet at the Mansion House. We were honoured to
have the Lord Mayor as our Principal Guest and Lord Justice
Jackson as the most entertaining Principal Speaker. Music
was provided by the Royal Marine Association Concert
Orchestra whose mobile rendition of the Post Horn Gallop
was greatly appreciated by all.

On 2 July, the Court met on board HQS Wellington.
Following that session there was a drinks reception on the
quarterdeck and the Master entertained Mr Graeme Groom,
Master Innholder, Air Vice Marshal Patrick O`Reilly, CB
Master Engineer, Mr Neville Chamberlain CBE, Master
Fueller, Mr Bryan Spearman, Master Firefighter, Mr Robert
Potter, Master HR Guild, Dr John Moore-Gillon Master
Apothecary, Mr Mark Hardy, Master World Trader, Brigadier
Charlie Hobson, Master of Charterhouse, and Alderman Sir
Paul Judge Master Entrepreneur to Lunch. We were also
pleased to have with us Dr Christine Rigden Past Master & Sheriff Elect together with our newly
admitted Freeman and other members of the Company and their guests.
Having taken a short respite in August, the formal programme for the year ended with a Gala
Banquet at the Tower of London.
One of Her Majesty’s Royal Palaces and Fortresses, the Tower of London was founded in 1066 and
the White Tower was built by William the Conqueror in 1078. Since then, the Tower has served
variously as an armoury, a treasury, menagerie, the home of the Royal Mint, a public records office
and latterly, the home of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom. As such, it was a very impressive
location for our Gala Event which was, without doubt, the ‘Bling’ event of the Master’s year.
So it was then that on a splendid evening on 10 September some 240 members and their guests
converged on the Tower of London, to be met by the Clerk and escorted through the Tower to the
Jewel House by a Yeoman Warder where they were given a private viewing of the Crown Jewels. The
assembled company then progressed to a drinks reception in the White Tower before being escorted
to the New Armouries, where they were wined and dined in style.
A raffle and Auction in aid of the Charitable Trust were held during dinner, with auction lots and
prizes being graciously donated by both Company members and corporate supporters.
It was a fitting and stylish celebration of the Master’s Year raised over £16,000, net of Gift Aid, to be
donated to the Charitable Trust.

Our final formal event was Common Hall, which was held on 23 September with 32 members in
attendance. The Master thanked all the members who had supported her during her year and
announced (God Willing) the Officers who had been elected for 2015/6. They were the Master –

12 | Autumn 2015 | The Journal of the Worshipful Company of Constructors