Dear Liverymen and Freemen,
Just to update you on how the Company has been faring during the lockdown, & to wish you all the best as we all continue to fight the good fight.
Denise & I are both working from our respective homes and the office phone diverts to my mobile. The City has virtually closed down – certainly as far as Livery activity is concerned.
Our own WCoBM events are cancelled until at least the end of June, & we will of course be following government advice as to when we can start planning for the future and confirming dates for the rest of the year. We will be holding some Committee meetings by Zoom.
The Almoner has been very busy arranging donations on your behalf, in consultation with the Trustees and Charities Committee. He has wanted to respond as quickly as possible to support charities on the front line of the current crisis, as well as those charities we normally support who are being hit by the sudden drop in their income. So, over the last fortnight, the Worshipful Company of Builders Merchants Charitable Fund has made donations to: the National Emergencies Trust, Crash, the Rainy Day Trust, the Timber Trades Benevolent Society, Lighthouse (Construction Industry charity), Building Heroes, London Air Ambulance, Cavell Nurses’ Trust, Glass Door, the Commonwealth Forestry Association, Beckenham & Penge Sea Cadets, HM Tower of London Chapels Royal Foundation, Chicken Shed, Children with Cancer, the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal, Treloar’s Trust and The Prince’s Foundation.
As you know, just before all events were cancelled, we managed to hold our City & Awards Luncheon at Haberdashers’ Hall, and I attach a photo of all the prize winners. The award winners and ‘rising stars’ present seemed to have a very good time, and we were very pleased to have been able to make the awards, just in time.
Denise is undertaking a project to call a few members every day to check on their well-being and, if you would particularly value a call, or you know of another member (or partner, etc.) who would, please let me or Denise know.
Despite the current difficult circumstances, The Master and Wardens join me in looking forward to better times to come. And, in the words of Her Majesty – we’ll meet again!
Virginia Rounding, The Clerk
