The Master’s Final Fling . . .
We are now approaching the end of Tony’s year as Master and, as he says, “only 5 functions to go now!”, but despite this he, and the Mistress, Jan, have been extremely busy in the last few weeks.
Whilst Tony had been expecting to do his Charity Sky Drive on 19th September, weather conditions at the airfield precluded this, so he was able to take lunch with the Farmers’ and then witness the completion of the Sheriff’s rowing challenge at HMS President. On 20th September Tony presided at our annual Common Hall, which was held at Salters’ Hall and, this year, for the first time was followed by a Livery Dinner attended by some 50 liverymen and which was greatly enjoyed by all. Salters’ Hall is a lovely venue, not often used by the Company, and also gave an opportunity for a photograph of the Court, which is on the Common Hall post, and has now also been added to the Court page on this website.
On 21st September Tony and the Mistress attended the sheriff’s fundraising Ball at Guildhall, which was followed by a memorable Treloar’s Gala Dinner at the Mansion House, where Tony, in the company of Charles Bowman, the Lord Mayor, presented a cheque for £30,000 to Tony Reid, the Chief Executive Officer of Treloar’s, the proceeds of his sky dive fund raising challenge, which eventually took place on 9th October, Tony’s penultimate day as Master and provided a fitting end to his year as Master. 
Ken Kent, the Chair of Trustees of our Charitable Trust also presented a cheque for £1,500, the Company’s annual charitable donation to Treloar’s. Both contributions were well received and the picture shows the Master acknowledging the Lord Mayor’s accolade, which was made during his speech.
Having wined and dined so much during the previous week Tony and Jan took part in the Wren Churches Walk, a more healthy option, which this year was organised by the Worshipful Company of Plumbers (it’s our turn again next year). Tony reports that it was a most interesting day, commencing with coffee and bacon rolls in the crypt of St Pauls and then taking in 10 of the 40 Wren churches in the City, some of which were hidden gems of the City, and partaking of a goodly lunch at St Lawrence Jewry, where our Honorary Chaplain officiated.
On 28th September Tony was present at the installation of Liz Green and Vincent Keaveny as the new Sheriffs and then joined twelve other Masters at the “Breakfast” (in reality it was Lunch) that followed the ceremony and on 30th September the Mistress was seen doing her “Little Bo-Peep” impression driving sheep across London Bridge in the now annual event organised by the Worshipful Company of Woolmen.
The 1st October saw the election of the next Lord Mayor, Alderman Peter Estlin. The Master was present at the ceremony, which was attended by several liverymen who were exercising their right to vote, and processed with the other Masters, all in full regalia. The ceremony was followed by the traditional pan-livery lunch at Painter Stainers’ Hall, where 16 assembled members of the Company and their guests gave a very vocal account of themselves when so requested by the Master Painter Stainer – our Master’s namesake, Tony Ward.
