Liverymen, I wish you all a Happy New Year and I hope you had a great Christmas, celebrating it with family and friends.
So, we welcome in a new decade, with a breath of fresh air, a new Hall, a new Government, and a Court that is keen to bring about the changes promised on the day I took up this wonderful role. Many people ask me, “what is it like to be Master?” It is simple for me to explain the great honour and privilege it is to represent this company.
Over the last couple of months, the Hall was officially opened by the Past Master, HRH the Princess Royal, we’ve had some very successful Court lunches, we’ve started the Young Butchers’ Club, seen the beginning of the new successful Carveries, and I’ve managed to read a lesson at the 9 Lesson Carol Service at St Bartholomew the Great on the Sunday before Christmas. A great honour.
First was the official opening of the Hall. This included The Princess Royal unveiling a plaque, now hanging in the Lobby next to her Grandmother’s Bust, and what an honour it was to host her for the day, walking her through the complete rebuild and meeting everyone involved. Having attended the second part of the November Court Meeting; we moved to a fantastic buffet lunch, where she met nearly everyone, no mean achievement given over 170 people attended lunch that day. She planted a tree in the Church Garden, through the replaced Arch replacing a tree her Grandmother had planted many years before. It looks amazing. I was so proud to host that day and to show off the amazing Hall and be able to give credit to all the key people involved it making it all happen.
After HRH had left, I was so pleased to present the first Young Butchers’ Certificates that Warden John Allton Jones designed and which the President of the Young Butchers Club, Lucinda Baker, had organised. In fact we now have a growing movement of youth, with enthusiasm, and we are building a great programme of events to which the YB faction can get involved. Please keep tuned to any flyer that your President and her team publish.
The Carveries are proving immensely popular and everywhere I go in the City, in Halls and at other events, people ask have we started our carveries again. You need to book in early, but it is great to have one of the City of London’s famous institutions back for everyone to enjoy.
Now, please allow me a small advertising opportunity; to mention our Summer Party being held at the Hurlingham Club in South West London, on the 19th June. I didn’t want to organise yet another City based event for this year’s Master’s Charity Dinner, I want us to have a fabulous evening Garden Party, a dinner/dance and a chance to raise funds whilst enjoying all the fellowship and friendships we are so famous for. Please save the date.
Lastly as we say goodbye to 2019, we must remember those who have left us and friends whose health may not be as it used to be. Please put them in your thoughts as in our fellowship they are all so very important.
Again, I take this opportunity to wish you the very best for 2020, and I know it will be a great one for us all.
The Master, Tim Dumenil