Past Master HRH The Princess Royal was the guest of honour on Friday 1st November as the new Butchers’ Hall was formally opened at a special Court Lunch.
Her Royal Highness was greeted by The Master, Tim Dumenil and The Clerk, Major General Jeff Mason outside the Hall before a small but symbolic tree planting ceremony at St Barts The Great Garth to replace the The Queen Mother tree which had to be removed during the area's extensive construction.
A tour of Butchers’ Hall followed where HRH The Princess Royal was introduced to members of Court. From the basement with its meat ageing window, to the roof garden, all areas were showcased with further opportunities to meet and talk to staff from WCB, Life’s Kitchen as well as executives involved in the redevelopment of Butchers’ Hall and the surrounding Barts Square area.
She then attended the meeting of Court, which included the clothing of four new Liverymen: Richard Thompson, Katharine Haenelt, Darragh O Shea, and Simon Lines-Hoyland.
There was a vibrant atmosphere as Liverymen and their guests arrived for lunch, which started with a Champagne reception and sausage canapés to mark UK Sausage Week, supplied by Morgan’s Country Butchers after winning the UKSW Supreme Champion award for its Traditional Shropshire Pork Sausage.
Lunch was then served in the Great Hall, with delicious 'bowl food', including Beef Fillet Tails from Dovecote Park Ltd and Tiger Shrimp from Towers Thompson Ltd.
The standing buffet allowed Her Royal Highness to meet guests before formally opening the new Butchers’ Hall and unveiling a plaque which will be permanently displayed at the Hall.
However, there was one more special moment to come as the first members of the new Young Butchers’ Club were introduced by YBC President Lucinda Baker.
It was a fitting end to a memorable day and one that reflected on the past, but very much focussed on an exciting future.