Thursday 4 October.

 Here we are 10 months into the calendar year and just setting out on a new year for the Company. The Installation Court meeting was held at Carpenters' Hall in their splendid Court Room and the ceremony was observed by those members of the Livery who were able to attend. The outgoing Master, Piers Nicholson, opened proceedings with the announcement that David John Cole-Adams had been elected to serve as Master for the ensuing year. The oath taken by the Master notes, among other things, that 'You shall well and truly and honestly behave yourself in all things that belong to your office while you be Master to the utmost of your power, cunning and knowledge'....' I suppose I might have known that good behaviour was called for but the call to resort to low cunning when the occasion calls for it makes for an interesting year.

 Following the administration of the oath by the Clerk there is the ritual dance involving the Immediate Past Master being stripped of his chain and Gown of office and the accoutrement being transferred to the new incumbent with as much haste as is decent and, given the curious fixings of the chain, possible. This done the Master was escorted to his seat and presided over the admission of the Upper Warden- Andrew Herbert Stroud and the Renter Warden George Harold Leyland Bird. These procedures are easier as their respective badges and gowns have been liberated from their predecessors. 

The Master advised that the Deputy Masters will be Past Masters Michael Christopher and Piers Nicholson beforepresenting his predecessor with his Past Master's badge In response Piers Nicholson made his valedictory address to the Court and Livery touching on the highlights and considerable achievements of his year. Piers concluded by presenting the Company with the splendid hour glass (shortly to be adorned with a silver plate commemorating the donation) and passing on the Master's cufflinks.

 In his address to the Court and Livery the Master paid tribute to Piers for what had been a excellent year for the Company in which its profile in the City had been considerably boosted. He also paid tribute to Past Master Philip Parris for the work he had done in chairing the Strategic Review Implementation Committee which had happily been wound up on the completion of its work and to Past Master Nick Carter for his long-term stewardship of the wine committee. His expertise is not to be lost - Nick will remain on the Committee.

On the grounds that a tradition these days is something that has happened at least once before, a new tradition was born- that which requires the presentation of a copy of a book written by a member of the Company as an addition to the Company's possessions. The book illustrated here is written by Liveryman George Clark. As might be expected from a work by a hi9ghly experienced bricklayer, the subject matter deals largely with the input by a number of his fellow master craftsmen into the brickwork on the completion sections of St Edmundsbury Cathedral. It is a splendid and scholarly work by an author who has, in the course of acquiring a Master's degree taken to the written word with considerable style.

Photo to follow when new Master masters old tricks

 At this stage the Livery were invited to leave the Court while the remainder of the business of the day was concluded. This included, most importantly, the installation of new Assistants Michael Holliday, David Armitage and Michel Saminaden. They are admitted for a three year term in the first instance.

While all this was happening the consorts of the members of the Court and Livery were, while partaking of coffee upstairs, witnessing the transfer of the Master's Lady's brooch from Gillian Nicholson to Mary Cole-Adams. Some thought is to be given to the logistics of this ceremony over the coming months.

 At the appointed hour a procession led by Steward Donald Slade set off for the Church of St Margaret Lothbury where the Company's annual service was, after an introduction by the Vicar, The Rev Prebendary Jeremy Crossley, led by the Honorary Chaplain Rev John Cook. The select preacher was The Rev Canon David Parrott - the Guild Vicar of  St Lawrence Jewry. Using a text from Exodus which was stuffed full of references to bricks David tied his excellent sermon firmly to the Company motto - In God is all our trust - let us never be confounded. As usual there was excellent music - two Introits from Rachmaninov  and Tomas Luis da Vittoria and a selection of Hymns that the congregation could get their vocal chords around.

 On return to the hall behind the indefatigable banner carrier138 members and guests were received by the Master and Wardens and their Ladies before sitting down to an excellent meal with some good wines. The Master's decision that a dessert wine might be drunk in place of the customary port was generally welcomed.

 Photos to follow

The toast to the guests (including the Master and Clerk of the Carpenters' Company, Mr Martin Samuel and Brigadier Tim Gregson, the Master Plumber Mr Anthony Paterson-Fox and his Lady and Dr Stephen Rigden - newly installed Master Constructor who was present with is wife, Liveryman Christine Rigden was elegantly proposed by Assistant Roger Westbrook CMG and responded to with great style and wit by the Clerk to the Chamberlain's Court Murray Craig. Murray related a series of anecdotes based on his experience as Clerk to the Court in which role he has admitted various personalities to the Freedom of the City over the past ten years. 

The Master responded to the time honoured toast proposed, not by the Junior Liveryman but by  Liveryman and Steward Donald Slade. He added his own welcome to the guests, reiterated his thanks and congratulations to his predecessor for an excellent year and was pleased to present him with a copy of the book (a photographic and written work) put together by some of his fellow pilgrims to Santiago de Compostella to commemorate the trip.

In noting his pride at being installed as the 433rd Master, expressed his sadness that neither of the two Past Masters John (Dan) Mathews and Basil Holliday who had proposed his membership of the Company 28 years earlier had lived to see the day. Thanks were expressed to those who had participated in the Company Service and there was a brief canter around the programme for the coming year.

Following the Lunch the usual custom of the Company - to retire to a local watering hole for a debrief and a further glass of wine, many members and guests repaired to the Tokenhouse wine bar in Moorgate from which venue the Master and his Lady finally departed at approaching 7.00pm leaving, it must be said, a number of others pondering the contents of their glasses and the bar snack menu.

All in all, an enjoyable day for the Master