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The years rushing away like nobodys business. June was particularly hecticwith a slew of goodies. It began comparatively quietly with an evening reception

on the 4th

at Plaisterers Hall to celebrate (and collect money for) PeterboroughCathedral Choir , worthy but not outstanding. Then a Summery luncheon onthe 5 th down in Surrey at the City of London Freemans School , pleasant andrelaxing, as aperitif to the blockbusters that followed. Thusrday 6 th was awonderful day. Ann travelled up from Birmingham and I met her at Euston asthe temperature rose one of the first days of a real summer (which was notsustained). She was elegantly dressed in a floral outfit with a most becominghat; I in traditional morning dress, with the top hat in which I was married backin 1973- Ive hardly worn it since but its not too motheaten. Taxi to the RoyalAutomobile Club in Pall Mall, where Master Constructor Stephen Rigden hosted aconvivial luncheon and champagne flowed. Then hot foot to Buckingham

Palace , for what turned out to be an historic Garden Party . We had followedorders and had left out cameras and phones behind. We entered through thePalace Courtyard and swept into the gardens. Notwithstanding orders peoplewere snapping away with their phones it seemed uncontrollable andfrustrating. After we had battled with the tea queue the Royal Party emerged at4.00pm and made their way through the marshalled crowds the Queen in apale green outfit we got quite close and she was her customary self. So wasthe Duke of Edinburgh. It was only afterwards that we heard of his departurefor hospital meticulously planned in advance. Youd never have known it fromthe way he and the Monarch carried the afternoon in outstanding devotion toduty. We returned to the RAC and contented ourselves with being photographed

against an immaculate classic 1940s touring Riley.

Scarcely a pause for breath and then it was off for to the Masters Weekend inIronbridge (7-9). This was another highlight of the year, an intensive dawn todusk tour of the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, following the successfulsmelting of iron in the mid-18 th century by Abraham Darby I (who begat adynasty, all confusingly identically named from I to IV). There were almost 100Masters with their ladies, partners and consorts. We were divided into threebuses, with the consequence that we didnt see the others as they did theitinerary in differing sequences. The original ironworks, the Jackfield tile worksand Blists Hill village were highlights at the latter Christine Rigden had donned

leather breeches to give a demonstration of ale conning, which involved sitting ina pool of the liquid, to test for stickiness (and she put herself up for re-electionat Common Hall so she clearly enjoys the task). Two black tie dinners later wewere ready to choose the name for our Masters of 2013 Association. Theproposition from the floor of Great 13 could have been controversial, especiallyas Master Mercer of the number one company attended, but he went with theflow as the title was unanimously and noisily acclaimed. So great 13 it is and willevermore be.

WED 12: Garden City Lecture at Welwyn Garden City this was for theWelwyn Garden City Heritage Trust, and not a Company event, but it wascomparable in its high profile with the Milo Lecture. Hands across the Sea chronicled the Transatlantic ideas on community planning from Ebenezer Howardto the advent of the British New Towns through Letchworth, Hampstead Garden


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Suburb, Welwyn Garden City, Radburn NJ and Greenbelt MD, with the career of Raymond Unwin providing a linking thread. Introduced by Lord Salisbury of Hatfield House, whose Great Grandfather had sold some of his land for WelwynGarden City the audience included the Town and Country Planning Association aswell as local dignitaries. It all went smoothly and was enthusiastically received.

Two days later, on FRI 14 we had the Canterbury Cathedral visit , scaled downfrom the original weekend possibility, but a full day, arranged by John Burton,Surveyor to the Fabric and just about to become Master of the Masons Company. Its so easy to reach Canterbury from St. Pancras. We began with ageneral briefing and a session in the Masons Workshop with Heather N ewton,Head of Stone Conservation, followed by an architectural tour from the Cryptupwards. After lunch two excellent guided historical tours, a wander round thePrecinct in beaming sunshine, and Evensong, to which we were officiallywelcomed. A pause for an ale in an historic hostelry (plastered with noticesabout the consequences of drug taking on the premises), then a smooth, swift

ride back to the smoke, rounded off an excellent day.


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The end of June was nothing if not manic. THU 20 : Lunch with the DrapersCompany was the first of to a twosome featuring outstanding hospitality fromthe great twelve. Ive always liked drapers Hall which is one of the mostopulent livery halls in London. Our banquet there in 2009 was down scaled dueto the riots in the city, when the G8 economic Forum was held in London. The

master, Lady Victoria Leatham, was reaching out when she spoke of thecontribution made by the modern companies to livery life. Perhaps Im beingcynical but it sounded a little like the hug a hoodie campaign embarked upon byDavid Cameron when visiting Wythenshawe, a multi-problem Manchestererstwhile Garden Cityhousing estate, while he was leader of the opposition.Perhaps a little of the revolutionary zeal of Ironbridge had rubbed off on herpresentation and who are we to spurn the hand of friendship, sincerely deliveredin the context of outstanding hospitality. That evening there was a LiveryConcert hosted by the Mercers Company , with musicians from the musicfoundation at Prussia Cove. Their concert, especially Beethovens Archduke Trio,was absolutely outstanding-I doubt whether I ll ever hear a fine performance of

the Beethoven! It was followed by supper, outstanding hospitality from thenumber one company which Ill always remember after the fast approaching endof my year. A hectic but outstanding day! There was no let up as next day, FRI21, I journeyed to south London for the Masters Reception and Luncheon,for the Firefighters Company , held at Winchester House in Southwark BridgeRoad. This had been the home of an outstanding 19 th -century firefighter whohad been poached from Ulster to become the first systematic organiser of theLondon Fire Brigade. Some of the plush Victorian ambience of his homeremained, but its main purpose is now the Fire Brigade Museum. This graphicallyrecords its development from its origins when the practice of firefightingevolved, ranging through the early 20 th -century and two world wars. The images

of the burning buildings of the 1940s still remain icons of the tragedy of conflict.Peace time did not bring up any let up in the serious impact of fire, both onbuildings and people, not least the firefighters themselves. A photograph of theburnt out ticket hall at Kings Cross underground station reminded me that I hadwalked through less than an hour before the tragic 1987 fire erupted. That wascaused by massed litter beneath the wooden escalators of the 1930s. Shortlyafter it was terror that stalked the London streets and stations, particularly thehorrors of seventh of July 2005. We forget the significance and sacrifice of theFire Brigade at our peril, and this museum is a timely reminder and realitycheck.

MON 24 dawned brightly as I hurried to catch an early train to reach the Breakfast Club for Common Hall held at Haberdashers Hall from 8.00 am.These events are really promotions for catering companies keen to engage thepatronage of the Livery for their events. Nevertheless a full English breakfast iswelcome for the start of a busy day. By mid-morning we were all assembled inthe crypt beneath Guildhall searching for our ground and regalia, dressed by theclerks and marshalled into order of precedence to possess into Guildhall at theopening of Common Hall . This was my second and last experience of activeparticipation in the panoply and splendour walking slowly down the centre aisleat the start of the proceedings. Shortly after the Lord Mayor took his seat at thecentre of the dais, the Shrieval Election began. As the two posts were notcontested the voting was by acclamation. Although every Liveryman is eligible tovote, in practice it is limited to as many of the livery who can crowd intoGuildhall. Voting over I walked across to Farmers and Fletchers Hall for an


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