Mercers’ held their Associated Companies Dinner

The Mercers’ held their Associated Companies Dinner on 29th May and it was a great pleasure to attend along with the Warden, Renter Warden and Clerk.  The Mercers are most generous hosts and to receive a ‘Royal Flush ’ (In this instance is the Master the King and the Clerk to Ace or is the Master the Ace and the Clerk the Knave?) of Broderers was very kind. Fortunately I was not called upon to speak; that honour fell to the Master Mason who delivered a very eloquent perspective on our Association and its origins.  The Master Mercer also recalled his Northern Irish experience with the Associated Companies on a visit to Gullion Link.  Apparently the march around Slieve Gullion proved more of a test of stamina than expected.  I forbore to tell him the last time I visited the place was by helicopter in the company of a number of heavily armed men who were prepared for a week or two in the open, so a walking tour was not really a novelty for me.