Page 23 - A4 Journal 2019

The Company

PM Captain Ronald (Ron) Taylor Honoured by WCC plaque

Captain Ron Taylor was our Master in 1985/6 and was the subject of
an article in the 2017 issue of this Journal. His exploits in World War II
have become legendary, particularly in Italy, where much of his work
was located.

On a sunny Saturday in July (July 6) in Brighton, the Company joined
with the Secret WWII learning network to unveil a plaque honouring
the late Captain Ronald Taylor, who was born near the spot where the
plaque is situated and was a sabotage agent working with the Special
Operations Executive during World War II.

The special commemorative plaque was unveiled by the Master, Mike Parrett.
The ceremony was attended by several
current members and Past Masters of the
Worshipful Company of Constructors, who
gathered in front of the plaque after the
unveiling. Pictured on the right they are PM
John Robson, Tricia Tyrrell, Michèle Burell,
The Mistress, Jessica Parrett, MW Arthur
Seymour, The Master, PM John Burrell,
Mareth Robson, PM Ian Mason, PM Michael
May and PM Roger Adcock.
Ron was born in Brighton in 1916, and
attended Varndean Grammar School before
graduating from the University of London
with a degree in engineering. He was a
structural engineer by profession and during
the second world war he joined the Royal
Engineers and was parachuted into occupied
France, working as a key member of the
Special Operations Executive mission.

As the Master, Michael Parrett said, “We are extremely proud of our association with Captain Ronald Taylor and are pleased to
be part of this important unveiling ceremony”.

Also present at the ceremony were many of Captain Taylor’s
surviving relatives (see the picture on the left), and his daughter
Diane subsequently wrote to the Clerk as follows:
“I wanted to ask you to forward a huge thank you to the
Worshipful Company of Constructors for their kind and generous
input to my Dad’s Plaque ceremony on Saturday, 6 July in
Brighton. I was very impressed how many of your members
travelled to the event, turning up and looking so smart in the
heat! The family enjoyed themselves and we all had a wonderful
day being blessed with glorious weather. The ceremony was just
the right length of time followed by a toast to my Dad with Italian
wine etc under the shade of the trees as it was so hot! I love
“your” plaque, and actually prefer it to the original one! I know
none of this could have happened without the Constructors’ help.
Please send a special warm thank you to [the Master] for his kind words about my Dad and for his generosity. It was certainly
a day for the memory books.
Once again, thank you all so much”

Autumn 2019 | The Journal of the Worshipful Company of Constructors | Page 23