Page 8 - A4 Journal 2020

The Master’s Year

was literally life saving training, and is operational report highlighted his selfless
commitment to the mission and a willingness to go the extra mile time and again.
Despite having recently returned from Operation SHADER, Sapper Benjamin immediately
deployed with 101 Regiment to Cyprus. On that exercise Sapper Benjamin used the skills
he’d perfected in Iraq to instruct and mentor un-trained search personnel in the Regiment.
His performance, enthusiasm to shoulder increased responsibility and his command
presence were far more in keeping with that expected of a junior non-commissioned
officer. His passion and enthusiasm are infectious.
Intelligent, dynamic and resourceful Sapper Benjamin’s dedication to service is inspiring. A
shining example to all in his Regiment; his efforts and effect over the past 18 months make him a truly worthy candidate for
the Shafting and Shoring Cup.
The third award, the Air Commodore Dow Trophy, was awarded to Corporal Jack Nelson, 5001Squadron RAF.
His Commanding Officer wrote: “Corporal Nelson is a member of 5001 Squadron,
Expeditionary Airfield Facilities Flight (EAFF), where he fulfils the role of Deputy Team
Leader for Facilities Installation Team (FIT) No 1. During 2019 he deployed on numerous
occasions across the world in support of Technical Working Environment (TWE) and
Deployable Rapid Assembly Shelter (DRASh) infrastructure. He has consistently
demonstrated his commitment to engineering excellence through outstanding
leadership and professionalism, ensuring operational capability was maintained.
In summary, throughout 2019 Corporal Nelson has been deployed abroad on numerous
occasions and has set a shining example of engineering excellence in the Royal Air Force.
He has proven to his peers and management that he is an engineer of the highest calibre. His commitment to high standards
and exemplary engineering skills are an inspiration to those around him. A Senior Non-commissioned Officer in the making,
Corporal Nelson is a worthy recipient of the Air Commodore Dow Trophy.
The Livery and Awards Dinner was the last of our formal occasions before lockdown. However we did manage to squeeze in
some informal and civic events before the City bowed to the inevitable demands of lockdown. Until Lock-down the
Worshipful Company of Constructors had, as usual, run a very successful programme of informal events for our members.
As far as informal events are concerned, we started the year with an informal lunch at Ironmongers’ Hall on 28 October 2019.
This was attended by 21 people (including 8 guests) and by all accounts was enjoyed by all. Then, on 9 November 2018
several members of the Company, some with their families, assembled, as is the tradition, outside St Mary-le-Bow Church in
Cheapside to witness the Lord Mayor’s Show - the longest and best parade on earth (or at least so we are told). The Company
was represented by the Master and Senior Warden together with our banner carrier, Apprentice member Edd Hornby, in the
“Modern Livery Companies” section of the parade. Following the parade we adjourned to a Ironmongers’ Hall where splendid
fare and a good time was enjoyed by all.
Our next informal event was on 2 December 2019, when 45 people (including guests) attended our informal festive lunch at
Ironmongers’ Hall. The festive spirit was consumed, and diners enjoyed a ‘Christmas’ lunch prepared by the staff at
Ironmongers’ Hall. Then, on 3 February 2019 we again met at Ironmongers’ Hall for one of our, by now, regular lunches,
although, sadly, this proved to be the last lunch before lockdown.
Shrove Tuesday (25 February) saw
the Constructors’ team of pancake
-tossers assembled for the annual
Inter-Livery pancake races in
Guildhall Yard. We have taken part
for several years now, and we
hoped to build on our success in
2019, but despite the best efforts
of Freeman Georgina Walker, who
only just failed to win her race in
what really was a photo-finish, we
were unable to repeat the success Freeman Georgina Walker in her “photo-finish”
The WCC 2020 Pancake Tossing Team - Georgina Walker;
Derek Farrow; Ben DeSanges and Dragan Krstevski of 2019.
In the meantime, the events committee recognised that we were not providing the networking facilities that our younger
members desired, so a series of fortnightly informal networking sessions was instigated at the “Barrow Boy and Banker”, a
hostelry at the southern end of London Bridge. These proved to be very successful, but at the end of March lock-down was
imposed, and our face-to-face programme of events was effectively terminated.
However, recognising that we needed to keep up the informal impetus Liveryman Gary Jackson and Junior Court Assistant
Stewart Owen instigated a series of Virtual Informal Networking Events using the “Zoom” remote video platform and
Liveryman Craig Harding organised a series of Member’s Zoominars, both of which have had a considerable following.

Page 8 | The Journal of the Worshipful Company of Constructors | Autumn 2020