Page 14 - A4 Journal 2020

The Company

The Almoner

The Almoner is a key member of the management team of a Livery Company. As you will know from last year’s Journal, we
were very pleased during the Master’s Weekend in Cambridge to welcome PM John Burrell’s wife Michèle as an honorary
member, thus allowing her to formally perform the duty of Almoner, a duty which she had in fact been performing through
John for some time. Late last year we were extremely sad to learn that the cancer that she had suffered from several years
earlier, and thought she had beaten, had in fact returned. We were of course even more saddened to learn that she had
th
passed away on 6 February. Michèle was a much loved and respected member of the Company, and in honour of her
immense contribution to, and honorary membership of, the Company, the Court stood in silence for a minute at their meeting
on 12 February 2020.

Like many of our Officers, Michèle worked tirelessly for the Company, dealing with all the
things that fall to the Almoner to do with understanding, sympathy and
compassion. She is greatly missed. John and Michèle’s daughters, Alicia and Alexandra,
are Freemen of the Company, and are regularly seen at our events.

A memorial service for Michèle was held on Friday, 6th March in the Church of St Mary
the Virgin, Silchester. It was attended by many members of the Company including the
Gallant Clerk, Past Masters, Wardens and others, and the Church was packed with
Michèle’s friends who wanted, with Past Master John, to celebrate her life, her enormous
impact on the local community and her unstinting work for Breast Cancer Care. The
Company members wished , in particular, to celebrate her support of the Company.

During the service the congregation learned that she had, some twenty years previously, suffered from breast cancer and had
thereafter been a tireless supporter for breast cancer charities.

Following the sad demise of Michèle, the Wardens and the Court recognised that, whilst she would be a very hard act to
follow, they needed to appoint a successor as soon as possible, and with the onset of lockdown that requirement had
become very urgent, so they were very pleased to announce that Liveryman Cheryl Moreton had agreed to act as our
Almoner.

Cheryl has taken up that mantle with commitment and has not only been in touch with all members who are over 70, but has
also been very much available for all the membership in these trying times.

The role of Almoner goes back many years. Indeed there is a Greek origin to the word. The Almoner is responsible for the
distribution of alms (support) to the needy, and it is precisely that which Cheryl will do - but not just financially—she will
supply any “need” of a member, be it mental, social or physical welfare. Members who would like assistance, or perhaps even
just a friendly chat, are encouraged to contact Cheryl. All issues are, of course, treated in strictest confidence by Cheryl, who
operates on behalf of, but independently from, the Company.

Aeternum Vale

We lost several of our long-standing members over the last year and will miss their fellowship, wise counsel and presence
in the future. We remember them and our thoughts are with their friends and families.
Keith Wilson, Honorary Court Assistant Emeritus. Keith’s funeral was on 6 January 2020
Michèle Burrell, Honorary Member and Almoner, died on 6 February after a short final battle with cancer. As PM John
Burrell’s wife she had performed the role of Almoner for many years and she was a much respected member of the WCC
family before being granted Honorary Membership in 2019.
Margaret Brown, Companion, died on 29 February 2020. Margaret was the wife of the late Kenneth Brown, a much
respected member of the Company.
The Lord Martin O’Neill of Clackmannon, Honorary Member, died on 26 July 2020 at the age of 75. He was highly thought
of as a Labour politician and backed the concept of the nuclear deterrent. During his time as a Life Peer he was considered
an ally by the British manufacturing Industry.
D Gwilym Roberts, Liveryman Emeritus, died on 31 July 2020 at the age of 95. He was an eminent civil engineer, especially
in the field of water engineering. He spent much of his time in the Middle East, and was President of the Institution of Civil
Engineers 1986 - 7.

Page 14 | The Journal of the Worshipful Company of Constructors | Autumn 2020