Newsletter - July 2024
Dear Fellow Loriners,
Welcome to this month's newsletter. It has been a quiet month for myself and the Mistress, I’m pleased to say. The big events, as you will see below, were the King's Birthday Parade and the Livery Weekend in London; two complete contrasts in weather. At the former we were completely soaked while, at the latter, we were baked in bright sunshine.
Please enjoy reading this newsletter and let us hope the hot weather continues. My thanks as ever to our Gallant Clerk and our Beadle, as well as to our Communications Committee for all their publicity work on the Company’s behalf.
George Anderson, Master 2024/25
Apothecaries host Masters in ancient surroundings
On Friday 31st May, the Master and Gallant Clerk attended a Livery Lunch at Apothecaries' Hall in Black Friars Lane. This is the oldest existing hall in the City, having escaped both the Great Fire and the Blitz. It has a lovely central courtyard, which is a fine setting for pre-lunch drinks. All around the hall is a maze of very narrow lanes between Blackfriars Station and Ludgate Hill.
An excellent lunch, good company and a chance to talk to other guest Masters and their Clerks. Their Under Warden informed me that he had just been elected Mayor of the London Borough of Bromley. He is going to be a very busy man!
Master, George Anderson
Celebrating the King's Birthday Parade
On Saturday 15th June, the Master and Mistress were guests of the Household Cavalry Foundation (HCAVF) at the ceremony of Trooping the Colour (King's Birthday Parade) on Horse Guards Parade. HCAVF is a charity supported by the Loriners and its aim is to support members of the regiment after injury on service.
Number 9 Company Irish Guards trooped its Colour through the ranks in the presence of HM The King. The precision of the marching and counter-marching was quite amazing and must have taken many months of rehearsal to achieve. The music was provided by the Massed Bands of the Household Division and the Mounted Band of the Household Cavalry.
Finally, the Guards marched past His Majesty and saluted, followed by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, with their guns and limbers, and then the Household Cavalry came by on the Riding Past. By this time, thanks to British summer, we were all completely soaked and thunder was looming in the background! But, it was a wonderful and colourful occasion and a great pleasure to be present.
Master, George Anderson
Loriner Focus
Every other month, we like to include a Loriner Focus, in which we feature details of a member of the Company. They may be very new, have been enclothed a while, are on the Court of Assistants or even a Paster Master. This month, we hear from Dr. Paul Mycock who became a Liveryman last year.
"I am a retired Information Technology specialist. My degree and doctorate were both in mathematics and I started my career working for Honeywell Information Systems as a programmer. Over the next six years, I specialised in database design. I then moved to a small company, which specialised in providing software to the financial services industry and, after a few years, I moved into a sales role. I had several customers in the City, including Lloyds of London. I then started my own consultancy as an independent negotiator, where I specialised in negotiating IT contracts in South Africa in the banking sector.
'I am now enjoying retirement and have become a very active Freemason, which brings me to London a great deal. Not surprisingly, charitable activities are close to my heart. My grandmother was a Loriner in Walsall and so the Company seemed a very natural fit for me. I have not been in any way disappointed! I have owned horses in the past and have a particular fondness for Arabian Hunters. As I am new to the company, I am still finding my way. So far, I have attended a number of dinners and particularly enjoy the Mansion House events. I would like to become more involved with the company, but wish to walk before I can run."
Freeman, Dr. Paul Mycock
All Smiles at Royal Ascot!
Widely considered to be one of the highlights of the Flat Season in Britain, Royal Ascot took place from 18th to 22th June. A total of 35 races were completed over five days and a number of Loriners joined in the celebrations. Whether they went home with clean sweeps or empty handed is yet to be revealed!
Liveryman Lauren Morton and her guest Scott Jones, Liveryman Ivan Healy, Past Master Patrick Clyne and Liveryman Charles Jenkins.
UKAFEA Loriners' Cup - Round 2
The 2nd leg of the Loriners' Cup the Royal Tournament (Army Equestrian Championships) was held at Melton Mowbray on 21st June. The Loriners were represented by the Senior Past Master, Lady Harriett Milnes-Coates, who very kindly stood in for The Master, the UKAFEA Steward PM Chris Walton and his wife Helen and Assistant Nick Athienitis and his wife Cate. The weather was glorious and perfect for the events to take place.
The Loriners were met and welcomed by the new Chairman of UKAFEA, Col. Stuart Nasse and, after a welcome coffee, Col. Nasse and the Loriners walked both the show jumping and the cross-country courses.
The main event for the Loriners, which forms part of the overall annual Loriners' Cup then commenced. This was a combination of show jumping, followed immediately by the short, but challenging, cross-country section. All three services, Army, Navy and RAF, had entered full teams for the day, with four riders each. A tough challenge for all riders and horses, particularly as the weather was rather hot.
The final results were based on the best the riders from each team. After some very complicated calculations and checking, the RAF team won the day, with the Army 2nd and the Navy 3rd. SPM Harriett then presented rosettes to all riders, prizes for the top riders and a special prize and sash to the best rider of the day.
The Loriners were then treated to a wonderful lunch, joined by many riders and officials, before departing. All three services were very appreciative of the support The Loriners have given to the UKAFEA and all look forward to a continued relationship between the two organisations.
Past Master, Chris Walton
Celebrations at City Freedom Ceremony
On Friday 21st June, the Upper Warden, Nicholas Bensted Smith CC and the Immediate Past Master, Colin Gurley were delighted to attend the City Freedom Ceremony of our newly admitted Freemen Marcus Capel and Michael Bacon at the Chamberlain's Court, Guildhall. During the same ceremony, our Gallant Clerk, Col. Crispin Lockhart also received the Freedom of the City (by Nomination).
We now look forward to our October Court meeting at the Saddlers' Hall, where our two Freemen are scheduled to be enclothed as full members of our Company. New members are our Company’s lifeblood and are always most welcome. Please see our website for further information or contact our Clerk.
Immediate Past Master, Colin Gurley
Masters and Mistresses enjoy London Livery Weekend
Each year, the Lord Mayor organises a Livery Weekend for all Masters and Consorts in post at the time. Usually, it is held outside London but, this year for the first time, it was held in the City. There were about 220 people present over the weekend, which took place on 22nd and 23rd June.
On Friday evening, we had an informal barbecue in the courtyard of Haberdashers' Hall and were entertained by two 'Singing Waiters', who performed opera excerpts during the meal. On Saturday, breakfast was taken at Guildhall Library and then we were split into small groups and taken to our various activities. Our group started at a City of London Police exhibition in aid of officers' dependents. The Lady Mayoress gave a very convincing representation of 'The Mad Axe Woman of Old London Town', while dressed in full riot gear and wielding a baton and riot shield.
We then moved to the Tower of London and saw some recently restored plaster wall paintings. Lunch was hosted by the Director of the Tower in the New Armouries.
After a short walk along the river front, we arrived at HMS President, which is a shore-based establishment (not a ship), and we sat on their pier to watch Tower Bridge open to allow the passage of a yacht. In the evening, we all attended a formal Gala Dinner, hosted by the Lord Mayor in Guildhall Art Gallery.
Sunday started with a meeting of the Masters to organise our year group to be called Domini XXIV and Clive Grimley, Master Glover, was elected Chairman. While this was going on, the Mistress went on an organised Mudlarking Trip on the Thames, during which she was fortunate enough to find a piece of a medieval bowl and part of a jug from Tudor times, complete with the thumb mark from where the potter had pressed the handle into the base.
Our final event was the Livery Church Service at St Lawrence Jewry, where our own Guild Priest, Father James Titley, was in charge and the Bishop of London gave the sermon.
Master, George Anderson
Annual Vote for the new Sheriffs
Monday 24th June saw Common Hall summoned by the Lord Mayor for the election of the Sheriffs, Bridgemasters, Auditors and Aleconners (don’t ask about the latter - it involves wearing leather breeches and sitting down on wooden benches soaked in beer and seeing whether you stick!).
As Master, I was enclothed in my gown and chain in the crypt and process in with all the other Masters after the Lord Mayor. A very enjoyable lunch with the other Loriners attending Common Hall was taken at Barber Surgeons' Hall afterwards.
Master, George Anderson
Messages from The Clerk
Dear Loriner,
As we head into the summer, I thought I would highlight all those activities that we have lined up over the next few months. There are some spaces for most visits, so do please keep an eye out for more fliers publicising the events:
July – visit to Badminton Stables
July – attend Ceremony of the Keys
July – informal lunch in the City (Coq d’Argent). For more information, please join the Loriners' WhatsApp Group
September – Woburn Abbey carriage ride and picnic
September – lunch at Guards' Polo Club with plenty of polo to see
September – visit to the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment
I hope one or two of these bespoke events will catch your eye. The next Company event is on 17th October, with the Autumn Court Dinner at Saddlers’ Hall. The flier for this will go out shortly after 11th July so do, please, keep an eye out for this.
Slightly longer term, we have:
December – Carol Service and Awards Ceremony
January 2025 – Installation Dinner
I do hope to see many of you at one of these events. In other news…
Livery Climate Action Group:
The Livery Climate Action Group (LCAG) has been set up in response to the City of London Corporation’s own Climate Action Strategy that sets an ambition for the whole Square Mile of the City of London and aims to have all its occupiers, residents and businesses committed to having net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. Details of the strategy can be found here and it includes Livery Companies and their City-based activities. Whilst the City Corporation’s strategy focusses on achieving net-zero carbon emissions and building up resilience to climate change, the purposes of the Livery Climate Action Group encompass these as well as wider environmental issues, climate change, energy and food.
The Worshipful Company of Loriners will join the LCAG, which comes at nil cost. Liveryman Jane Bransgrove has very kindly agreed to be the point of contact. Whilst clearly not being a hall-owning Company and therefore unable to directly action much of what is outlined in the LCAG, there is still much that we can do; split largely between what we can do directly and what we can encourage others to do.
Pollinating London Together
Partially linked with the previous note is Pollinating London Together (PLT), which is an initiative that aims to raise awareness of the importance of biodiversity and pollinators and their substantial recent decline. PLT was created by a group of livery companies of the City of London and is now comprised of a network of non-profit, academic and private sector collaborators. Their mission is to enhance green spaces in central London, where all native pollinators can thrive and their green space habitats that can be enjoyed by everyone, starting in the City of London. Their vision is to create a template for change and action through leadership, that can be implemented in urban environments across the UK. Please see the leaflet in the link above, which explains this in more detail.
In this case, the Worshipful Company of Loriners would like to join this group (at no cost) and is therefore looking for a volunteer to be the point of contact. If anyone wishes to volunteer, please contact the Clerk.
And finally:
Here are details of the Distillers’ Company Inter-livery Pétanque Competition, which will be held on Friday 1st Aug at 6 pm. Each team should consist of three members per team. If there are members who wish to take part but are unable to form a team, please contact their Past Master, Chris Porter. He will place you on a list to create a Mixed Livery Team (or teams).
If there is a Loriner out there who wishes to act as the point of contact to raise a team, please let the Clerk know, They should also note that:
Teams should bring their own boules if possible, although a limited amount will be available to hire from LPC if required.
Please advise if you require equipment to be provided at the time of booking.
There will be a refreshing glass of rosé to welcome you, but please bring your own picnic, refreshments and chairs.
After a welcoming introduction and recap on the rules from the LPC Team, teams will play in heats, with the group winners moving forward to a semi-final and then the final.
The winning team will be presented with a perpetual trophy of the bespoke mini-cask Trophy, kindly produced and donated by the Coopers’ Company. The winners will also receive bottles of whisky, donated by the Distillers’ Company.
The dress code should, of course, be 'comfortable and appropriate' for what will hopefully be a warm summer’s evening.
All profits will go to the Lord Mayor’s Appeal. Last year's event raised a grand sum of £1,000.
To register, teams should please contact Distillers' Past Master, Chris Porter, who will confirm the registration and send through details for payment. The final date to register a team is 17th July 2024.
Communications Committee
July 2024