Despite the pandemic, we are not short on news to report for our Summer newsletter!
We start this issue reflecting on events pre-Covid, with our City & Awards Luncheon in March just managing to get in before Lockdown. Our Master, Dame Fiona Woolf DBE, DL, had lined up a number of exciting social events for members and guests, but it’s unlikely we’ll see any return in their traditional form this year. However, plans are underway in making up some of the void ‘virtually’ and in July we held our first virtual event with new Liverymen and Freemen, hosted by Junior Warden Andy Williamson. Other Livery Companies in the City are doing the same, with wine & cheese evenings, gin tasting and more. We have are very own Gin tasting evening arranged for 7th September.
Other news includes an update on the Livery initiative ‘No Going Back’, set up to support the rehabilitation of offenders through funding and job offers. I interviewed Chelsey Mitten, a returning citizen who has been working at the Wandsworth branch of Lawsons Timber, Building & Fencing Supplies since 2019. Her journey back to work from prison is inspirational and a superb example of what is possible when people are given a chance in life.
We welcomed 10 new Freemen this year, 5 of whom were admitted in a first ever ‘virtual’ ceremony for our Company – pages 16-17. We also report on the sad loss of two longstanding members – Past Masters John Faulder and Robert Cope.
Our Almoner John Poore has been extremely busy in recent months organising additional donations to support businesses, individuals and other organisations affected by the pandemic. Read John’s update on page 22, and a detailed breakdown of donors and donations is listed on pages 23-26.
Download it here.
A huge thank you to our sponsors of the Master’s year: Marsh Industries, H+H, ACO, Akzo Nobel, NMBS, C&S Builders Merchants, Homeleigh Timber & Building Supplies and PTL
