Page 6 - A4 Journal 2020

The Master’s Year

The Master’s Weekends

The Master had planned several weekends this year, one in Singapore, one in Durham and one in France, where he has a a
residence. Unfortunately, despite his best efforts these weekends were, one by one, cancelled or even initially deferred and
then cancelled. The Journal therefore has very little to report this year. Even the Garden Party that the Master had planned
for July fell to the rules regarding the spread of Covid-19.

Social and Official Events
This year has, to say the least, been unusual, so the reports of both Formal and Informal events have been combined. There
were just two Formal Evening Events, the Installation Dinner and the Livery and Awards Dinner plus the Annual Carol Service
before the lock-down process took hold. Unfortunately, this year’s Sir Christopher Wren Banquet, which had been planned to
take place in the Great Hall of Middle Temple, was first postponed and then cancelled.
Not surprisingly, with lock-down imposed at the end of March our programme of face to face activities has been severely
curtailed, although we, like many other organisations, and thanks to Liveryman Gary Jackson, Junior Court Assistant Stewart
Owen and Liveryman Craig Harding, have developed a series of virtual events. We hope that these have successfully
substituted for our proposed programme.
We started the year in fine style on 10 October 2019 with the
Installation Service in St Lawrence Jewry, which was followed by a
splendid Installation Dinner at Grocers’ Hall. During the Service the
new Master, Sir Vivian Ramsey, was installed with due ceremony
and with no hint of the programme chaos that would eventually be
brought to bear by the pandemic. The picture on the right shows
the Immediate Past Master, Michael Parrett, greeting the Master
Elect prior to installing him as Master. Having been installed as
Master, Sir Vivian then went on to install his Wardens, seeking an
affirmation from each that they would duly serve as Wardens,
taking the post with due reverence and commitment. The Church
Service underlined the importance of this annual occasion in the
Constructors’ year and was attended by many Court Assistants and
members of the Company, as well as some of the Company Guests
and personal guests of the Master.
The service was splendidly accompanied by Catherine Ennis, the organist of St Lawrence Jewry and the singing was led by the
St Lawrence Jewry Choir. On completion of the church service the Master, Wardens and after a short walk down Gresham
Street, the congregation made their way to Grocers’ Hall for the Installation Dinner.
160 members and their guests (including 14 Company guests) sat down to a
splendid dinner. The principal speaker was the Rt Hon Sir Rupert Jackson,
whose speech was both interesting and thought provoking. As a former Lord
Justice of Appeal Sir Rupert was one of the most senior judges in the United
Kingdom, so his experience was an invaluable resource for his address. Sir
Rupert is also a legal contemporary of our Master.
In December 2019, the Company held its Annual Carol Service at St Lawrence
Jewry. We again joined up with the Worshipful Company of Chartered
Architects and the Guild of Entrepreneurs, so the Church was pretty much full
to capacity. The congregation sang several Christmas Carols lustily and
listened to some magnificent carols and other Christmas music splendidly
sung and played by Catherine Ennis and the choir of St Lawrence Jewry. The
address was given by Revd Canon David Parrott, the Guild Vicar of St Lawrence Jewry.
A collection was taken during the service and, as usual, our share of the collection was given to CRASH, the construction
industry charity that supports hospices, the homeless and other disadvantaged people. After the carol service Lucie Gillard,
the fund raising manager for CRASH wrote to the Clerk saying “Thank you for inviting CRASH to your Annual Carol Service. We
enjoyed the evening and were delighted that you chose to support us again in 2019. I am pleased to confirm that you raised
£415.20 through the collection”.
Following the Carol Service, many of the congregation joined other Constructors for a Buffet reception in the Guildhall Club
On 12 February 2020 the Livery and Awards Dinner was held in the magnificent surroundings of Drapers’ Hall. 150 members
and their guests (including 30 award winners and the other Company guests) sat down to a three course meal with wine and,
following dinner many partook of the Stirrup Cup. What is perhaps most notable about this dinner is that it may well have
been the last time that the loving Cup ceremony takes place at any of our formal dinners, since with the advent of Covid-19 it

Page 6 | The Journal of the Worshipful Company of Constructors | Autumn 2020