Page 18 - The Constructor A5V24 V1

The Company Officers

THE CLERK

Our Clerk is Kim Tyrrell, who spent most of his working life with the Royal Marines.
Thus we have “Gallant” Clerk – ie one who is serving or has served within the
armed forces. Any Livery Company Clerk who has attended a University is
described as the “Learned” Clerk and if they have been a Member of Parliament
they are described as the “Honourable” Clerk.
Kim’s view of life as a Clerk is that for most of you the Clerk is simply the chap who sends you an
almost unending stream of flyers and Clerk’s notes. For those of you who attend the Company’s
major functions the Clerk is the man wandering around in a black gown beforehand like some
malevolent bat, and, who, at the end of the Stirrup Cup is inviting you to occupy the road outside, just
when you’ve settled into a great chat with your Guests.
All of this is so, but Kim hopes that this short article will give you a better idea of what he does and
how you can help him make his role more efficient. He writes as follows:
“All Livery Companies have Clerks. Their job is to be the servant of the Court and to assist the Master
of the day. Some people like to equate the relationship between Master and Clerk to Chairman and
CEO – The Master & Wardens set policy and the Clerk enacts it.
I prefer to think of it as more of a partnership where both the Master & the Clerk are working for the
benefit of the Company.
That’s all rather formal, and, in some circumstances (particularly Court) the role remains formal and
rightly so. I also act as Secretary to the Court and the principal Company Committees — Privileges
(which confirms the succession and reviews membership of the Court), General Purposes (which
runs the Company), Election (which arranges interviews for prospective new Members) and Charity
(which is the interface between the Company and the Charitable Trust).
Yes, all right I hear you ask, that’s all very well but what do you really do? My task is to:
 run the Company day to day, which means answering the 30 to 40 letters and 200 plus e
mails each week;
 ensure the Company complies with its responsibilities to the City;
 ensure that Masters are made aware of those people who wish to invite them to a dazzling
collection of functions;
 ensure our own major functions are well advertised, efficiently costed and managed and
that seating plans and special menus take account of Members wishes.
Oh and of course I pay the myriad day to day bills. I also send out the flyers for the Events
Committee’s informal events.
As those of you who have contacted me know, I try to be available to answer e mails most days and
to answer all questions from Members.
How can you help me? It’s pretty simple – if I e-mail you, please answer, hopefully with 24 hours.
Please also read any flyers. The information requested by Members approaching a big event is
usually already on the flyer or Pour Memoire Card. Lastly, be proactive. If you haven’t heard from
me in over a month, e-mail me and check that my sausage like fingers have not accidently removed
you from a mailing list!
I look forward to seeing as many as possible of you in the year to come.”

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