Associated Companies Dinner 2013

Fishmongers Hall 17th October 2013

The annual Associated Companies Dinner was this year held at Fishmongers’ Hall, a palatial building on London Bridge overlooking the River Thames. The champagne reception was held in a room overlooking the river. The dinner commemorates 400 years of the Associated Companies friendships which followed the call for finance from King James I in order to assist with his proposed colonisation of the Northern part of Ireland between the Mercers, Masons, Cooks and ourselves.

The dinner for the Associated Companies is normally attended by the Masters, Wardens and Clerks of the Mercers, Masons and Cooks and this year there were additional Masters and Clerks from the Innholders (one of the original Associated Companies in the 17th Century), the Upholders and the Needlemakers.  The Master Glover and his Clerk attended as guests of Liverymen Ann Esslemont and Elizabeth Elvin.

The Company’s new relationship with the Royal Irish Regiment was further cemented by the attendance of the Commanding Officer, Lt Col Ivor Gardner and the Regimental Sergeant Major WO1 Richard Spence.  Also from the Royal Irish Regiment was Lance Corporal Lewis who played bagpipes on the grand staircase leading up to the Livery Hall and during the meal played various tunes suited for such pipes.  He then drank a toast with the Master from a traditional quaiche; the toast was Irish whiskey and to prove that the vessel was empty it had to be held upside down at the culmination of the toast.

In addition to the Company guests 21 Court Members attended together with Liverymen and a new Freeman who had been awarded the Freedom of the Company earlier that evening.  The Court and Livery entertained  a number of personal guests.

The principal speaker was Major General Simon Lalor CB TD who like our Master, Peter Lumley, is married to an Australian lady and is a great friend of the Master provided and entertaining response for the guests.

As ever the Master sang the Master’s song with gusto and enthusiasm which was enjoyed by all. (One of the visiting Clerk’s was heard to be changing the words slightly and was singing “tra la la la lee – oh give us your hard drinking Masters!)

From the left Major General Simon Lalor CB TD, Acting Honorary Chaplain Liveryman The Revd Canon Dr Anthony Phillips, Second Master Cooks’ Company Bryan Baughan, Renter Warden Nicholas Bagshawe, Master Mason John Burton MBE, Warden Lt Col Hugh Toler MBE, Master Mercer Simon Wathen and Master Broderer Peter Lumley

The Master and Wardens awaiting their guests

Renter Warden welcomes His Hon Judge Richard Hone QC KStJ

The Master and Wardens

The Master with his son, Edward