Thursday 16 May
An enjoyable evening in The Mansion House
The policy of getting the calling notice our very early for what we had hoped would be a well attended event showed results when nearly 320 members and guests (just about the maximum that the House would allow) turned up at the appointed hour to be greeted by the Master, Wardens and their ladies. There was, inevitably, a small number of last minute drop outs but all the available spaces available for the reception were fully utilized. It is always a pleasure to see the Mansion House fully occupied and an even greater pleasure to have the Pikemen and Musketeers from the Honourable Artillery Company on parade around the Salon as the guests mingled and had their photographs taken as a record of their visit to what the Lord Mayor refers to as his town house. The Company owes a great debt to Past Master Jeremy Stokes for his generosity in arranging the presence of the Lord Mayor's ceremonial guard. Having stood duty in similar circumstances on many occasions in the past, Jeremy felt that the guard was an essential element of any Mansion House banquet. He was right - they added considerable lustre to the occasion.
Once summoned by the dinner gong and the Beadle, the guests assembled in the Egyptian Hall to receive the Master, Wardens, thier ladies and the Company's principal guests - Representative Lord Mayor Alderman Sir Michael Bear and Lady Bear (The Lord Mayor was elsewhere in the City), Sheriff Nigel Pullman, City Marshall Col Billy King-Harman and the Recorder of London His Honour Judge Brian Barker QC. They were played in by the Drummer from the HAC.
A very good meal accompanied by good wines (including n excellent Chateau Beaumont 2006 from the Company's own cellars) was universally enjoyed before the traditional grace was sung, the rose water bowl circulated (to the slight amazement of many present) and the Loving Cup ceremony partaken of (ditto). The Master had circulated some guidance notes prior to the occasion but amazement still persisted. Following the Loyal toasts, the toast to The Lord Mayor, the Sheriffs and the City of London Corporation was proposed by Past Master Philip Parris and responded to with great wit by Alderman Sir Michael Bear. Sir Michael presented the Master with a gift from the Lord Mayor in the form of a signed copy of the Lady Mayoress's book on the Harold Samuel Collection of Dutch and Flemish Masters which adorn the Mansion House. He also presented a gift to the Clerk - two packs of playing cards showing a number of the paintings on their non-playing sides.
The Master proposed the toast to the guests who included the Masters of The Painter Stainers', Joiners' and Ceilers', Spectacle Makers', Chartered Architects' and Marketors' Companies and their ladies and General Sir Mark Mans and his wife Jane. General Sir Mark is a Colonel Commandant of the Royal Engineers. There were a large number of other dignitaries among the guests of liverymen - Bishops, Deans, Generals and Air Marshalls abounded. A special welcome was given to Liveryman Christopher Bull who was present with his family celebrating his 91st birthday.
The toast was responded to by the Recorder of London who, while being relatively new in post, charmed his audience with a witty speech which included a self-effacing story about his early day on the bench when he referred to himself at a gathering as a criminal judge only to hear the rejoinder - 'that's the most honest assessment of a member of the judiciary I have heard for many a year!'.
The evening was rounded off by Freeman Richard Townend on the Queen's organ (see the post for 25 January which gives the background to this splendid instrument) and his colleague Simon Sturgeon-Clegg on trumpet. They had also played during the reception (on the grand piano in Richard's case), for the procession in, the grace, National Anthems and during the loving cup ceremony. The musical diversion was charming and drew a great number of compliments - Sheriff Pullman noted that 'it was as brilliant as it was original', and the Master Chartered Architect felt that 'there had been magic abroad in the air'.
After thanks were given by the Master the official party was played out of the Hall and, in the short time available, there was a chance to chat with guests and friends before the journeys home were taken.