Dinner

Trinity House is not just an interesting and attractive venue on the eastern edge of the City, overlooking the historic Tower of London, but also a beautiful building containing many treasures. Though not exactly a Livery Hall (though in some ways the Brothers of Trinity House function like a Livery), the venue is not only a fascinating place to hold any social event, but also a working office, because TH is responsible for the management of all lighthouses and lightships around the shores of both the UK and the whole of Ireland. One other fact is, however, also relevant here, and that is that it was at Trinity House that our new Company held its first ever Dinner in October 1977, and as a naval chap, and with a Father who was Dock Master of the Pool of London, our Master has always wished to return there. In a year such as this, where our Company is once again emerging from darkness into the light, this seems most appropriate. This Dinner replaces our Spring Dinner, which was a casualty of Covid, and as it will be Spring in Australia on the 6th, and given that his intended Spring Dinner speaker was from "down under", the Master insists we can still use that descriptor! Our principal speaker for the evening will be Mark Dowie, the CEO of the RNLI, who will be speaking to us about their work on the Tideway and their wider plans in the immediate future. So come and enjoy the company of your fellow Members and guests, and take the rare opportunity to see inside this amazing building, with its beautiful and fascinating artefacts.

Our Master-elect, Sir Peter Estlin, is also a Member of the Ironmongers’ Company and so it is entirely natural that he should choose their lovely Hall for his Installation Dinner next month. Ironmongers’ is reached via a short causeway off Shaftesbury Place, on Aldersgate Street, EC2Y 8AA, which is in the south-west corner of the Barbican complex, hard by the Museum of London. The Hall is generously sized and well-known for its beautiful panelling, stained glass windows and excellent catering. So all-in-all, it represents an excellent and welcoming choice, as well as an event which will greatly impress any Members’ guests. Our Principal Speaker will be Dame Jayne-Anne Gadhia, FCA, previous CEO of Virgin Media and Chair of Women in Finance, and now Chair of Snoop. Jayne-Anne will share some thoughts on the Master-Elect's theme for his year: “Fit for the Future”. So come and join your fellow Members and guests in saying farewell to our outgoing Master Gordon, who has shown great leadership during his year, and in welcoming our new Master Estlin. Peter will also be telling us more about the Hall and its history, as well as sharing his exciting plans for 2021/22 with us. Places cost £109 and you can book on the website, or if you can’t do that, then email or ring me.