On 23 February, the Mistress and I attended Worshipful Company of Horners’ Annual Ralph Anderson lecture at the Royal Society of Medicine, Wimpole Street, focussing on the challenge of plastics recycling, and a most enjoyable buffet supper afterwards. Professor Edward Kosior explored how waste management sits at the heart of climate change, with global waste generating more than 1.3 billion tons of CO2e annually. He went on to explain the cutting-edge technologies that are coming on stream to help the world turn plastic waste into a valuable resource. This is a most important area of research, and shows how the Horners’ Company has evolved now that horn products are less crucial in day to day living!

On 27 February I was delighted to join Freeman Charlotte Pienaar, her family and friends, when she received the Freedom of the City of London. Here we are photographed with Charlotte’s father, Liveryman Ian Wilson and Court Assistant Keith Aldis, both members of our Craft committee. The Chamberlain, Caroline Al-Beyerty, performed the ceremony and then gave us a tour of the Courtroom and its valuable contents.

After the ceremony at the Chamberlain’s Court, we had wonderful lunch at Sweetings Restaurant. Sweetings specialise in seafood, and it’s a very convenient place to celebrate, being just a few minutes walk from Guildhall. They always greet us like old friends and ply us with excellent food, wine and service, which is much appreciated.

A couple of days later, the Mistress and I attended a screening of the film “The Duke”, at Cinema 1, The Barbican in support of the Sheriffs’ and Recorder’s fund, followed by a Q&A session with the lead actor and directors. The film is based on the true story of the theft of Francisco Goya’s famous portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery in 1961, and the subsequent Old Bailey trial of Kempton Bunton, an out of work cab driver from Newcastle. The trial was so extraordinary it forced the government to change the law. The live Q&A session with lead actor Jim Broadbent, and directors Richard Bean and Clive Coleman, was fascinating. If you haven’t seen the film, I strongly recommend it!