Page 17 - A4 Journal 2019

The Master’s Year

On 22 March 7 people joined in a visit to Skanska’s K1 construction site in
Knightsbridge. We discovered just how compact a site like this is in London, and just
how difficult it was to perform major construction activities alongside and above an
Underground station. The visit was an informative experience for all who attended
and it was considered that our informal programme should contain more of these
site visits in future (note that there are two more included later in the year).
25 March saw another of our informal lunches at Ironmongers’ Hall. This was attended by 14 people, including one guest,
and again, seemed to have been considered an enjoyable occasion by all who attended.
Whilst not really an “informal event”, mention must be made here of the Mistresses’
event on 28 March. Several members of the Company assembled with other
Mistresses (including the wife of Aldermanic Sheriff Vincent Keaveny and the Mistress
Grocer) in the hall of the Dutch Church in Austin Friars and were treated to both a
demonstration of Chinese Cookery and an excellent Chinese Buffet by Master Chef
Andy Chu. This was undoubtedly a landmark event as it brought a pan-livery flavour
to the Master’s year and furthered his avowed intent to improve diversity in the
Company and to foster international relations. The tricks of the trade and advice
given by Andy were to be remembered by all who practice the art of cookery.

Looking back, April seems to have been somewhat fallow, probably because of the Master’s Weekend in Hong Kong, but
th
things picked up again in May, when on the16th we took part in the annual Inter– Livery Clay Pigeon Shoot and on the 20 we
held another of our informal lunches at Ironmongers’ Hall. We were only allowed to field 4 guns for the Inter-Livery Clay
Pigeon Shoot, and our team of Matthew James, James Sizer, Simon Parker and Stuart Alexander did us proud, even though
they didn’t win. The informal lunch was attended by 15 people including 5 guests, and again reports were that it was
considered to be a very enjoyable event.
At the end of the week, on Friday 24 May, 15 people took an evening boat ride on the River Thames.
The journey started and ended at Tower Pier, but we went both upstream and downstream, viewing
the sights of London and passing under Tower Bridge whilst being entertained by drinks and canapés.
The weather just managed to hold until we made our way to the Sherlock Holmes pub where we took
further refreshment. The event was considered successful by all, even though we were only a small
party on what was a public evening cruise.

There were no informal events during June, but on 2 July we had a most interesting
private tour of the World War 1 Galleries at the Imperial War Museum. The guide
could not have been more knowledgeable and it was most enjoyable to have a
glass of wine in the Museum before we went on to a nearby hostelry for further
refreshments. The visit to the museum was attended by 15 people (the limit
imposed by the IWM), of which 4 were guests, and received very positive feedback.
Then, on 10th July, we visited another construction related project, albeit one that had
been completed, and was now occupied. The Bloomberg Building won a Stirling Prize and
we were very lucky to have been able to organise a visit (through one of our members) to a
well known City institution which does not normally allow visits. All who attended found
the visit most interesting and recognised the knowledge and skill of the guides from the
building services team. After the visit, some of the party took refreshment in a nearby
hostelry and then visited Mithraeum, the Roman temple that has just been splendidly
relocated to the basement of the Bloomberg Building. So in one visit we were able to see
not only one of the newest buildings in the City but also one of the oldest!

The 18th July saw the golfers amongst us descend on Croham
Hurst Golf Club for the Annual Company Golf Day. The day was
expertly organised by Past Master Alan Longhurst, and the weather
held good. After the golf the players were joined by others who
enjoyed a splendid three course meal with wine prior to the prizes
being announced by Alan and presented by the Master.
The winner of the Company competition (the Ken Brown Trophy)
was, believe it or not, PM Alan Longhurst, and the winner of the
Guests competition (the AET Rose Bowl) was Richard Oakes (who
won it last year).

Autumn 2019 | The Journal of the Worshipful Company of Constructors | Page 17