Jonathan Grosvenor

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.

Our splendid Social Sub-Committee have arranged a real treat for us at the Oriental Club. Founded in 1824 by British officers and officials posted overseas, the Club is a well-known private members' club located in Stratford House, an impressive Grade 1-listed mansion house just off Oxford Street. The Club has been home to many famous members, perhaps most notably its first President - the Duke of Wellington. It is still a thriving Club, housing a library and art collection, as well as a well-stocked bar and restaurant, and it now counts almost 3,000 members. Thanks to our contacts at the Oriental Club, they have kindly provided their Library and anteroom for a private dinner and drinks reception, limited to 40 of our members and guests. Over the years, the Oriental Club has built an enviable reputation for its extensive curry menu. We have therefore designed a special curry menu for the evening, providing a choice of meat and vegetarian dishes. The price for our three-course special menu, accompanied by three drinks, has been capped at £65. This is sure to be a popular event, so tickets have been limited to four per member.

This is the second major Dinner of Master Estlin’s year and he is taking us to the lovely Vintners’ Hall, with its splendid interior and fine cuisine. Our speaker for the evening will be Sir Jeremy Fleming, a member of our profession, who is currently moonlighting as the Head of GCHQ, the government’s signals intelligence and listening service, based at Cheltenham. This should be a fascinating evening, and of great interest to guests. Dress is black tie or Livery uniform.

Glaziers’ Hall is unique – not because it actually stands outside the City boundaries, as Gunmakers, Distillers and Architects do so too – but because it is the only one shared by three Companies. Quite how the Glaziers, Launderers and Scientific Instrument Makers got together, much less co-operated on something as potentially contentious as the purchase and maintenance of a Hall, remains a subject of debate. However, it really is an amazing building, with some spectacular rooms looking north across the river towards the Square Mile, and the stunning engineering of London Bridge on its right flank. The Master is holding our Common Hall at Glaziers’ Hall from 6pm to 6.45pm, and then we are moving on to a drinks reception (very necessary after the stress of our AGM!) in the stunning River Room, before enjoying a buffet supper, complete with a performance by the well-known London band: Lady and the Dukes. This will be a fun event and by tradition is confined to Members and guests who are themselves prospective Members. Places cost just £54, so come and enjoy an evening of good food and drink, plus some fine music, with your fellow Members and other CAs whom you think might be interested in joining our ranks.

This is the occasion each year when the Master entertains members of our profession who have risen to serve as Masters that year of other Livery Companies and Guilds. By tradition, the Dinner always takes place in the beautiful Large Reception Room at CAH, and it is a lively and convivial occasion.

We have a fantastic opportunity to dine at the famous Merchants’ Hall, courtesy of the Society of Merchant Venturers of Bristol. The Hall is located on the Clifton Promenade, with lovely views over the river Avon. The evening will start with drinks on the terrace, followed by a black tie dinner. Our guests will include Professor Mark Clatworthy, Head of the award-winning School for Accounting and Finance at the University of Bristol and serial education technology entrepreneur, and Merchant Venturer, Heather Frankham. Places cost £88. The next morning, there is the option to enjoy (1) a two-hour free walking tour in Bristol of Banksy’s murals and artwork, or (2) a guided tour of the SS Great Britain (£16). A pub lunch may be arranged after those tours. This visit should be great fun, and teach us about a famous Guild beyond the City.

This enjoyable and fairly relaxed evening is to be held in Guildhall this year. It gives new Members, who come for free, as guests of the Company, the opportunity to meet and chat to the Master, Wardens, Almoner and other senior officers, and thereby gauge how best to engage with the Livery and make the most of their membership. Dress is smart business attire.

By kind permission of the Master Cutler, Mr James Tear, we will enjoy the splendour of Cutlers’ Hall for a black-tie dinner on the evening of Thursday, 9 June, followed by an optional tour of Sheffield Forgemaster’s the following morning. As you may know, the 2022 UK Livery Masters' Weekend is being held in Sheffield that weekend, hosted by the Lord Mayor, so this is a sneak preview. The evening will start with a guided tour of Cutlers' Hall, with its extraordinary grandeur and many fascinating artifacts (Knives feature heavily!), followed by a drinks reception and a three-course dinner with wines in the lovely Drawing Room. Book here, or email or ring me.

This year the Master is delighted to be holding this always-enjoyable event in the lovely Members’ Private Dining Room, up on the third floor of Guildhall. This panelled room boasts a splendid silver collection, some fascinating documents on the walls and fine views across Guildhall Yard to the Art Gallery opposite. As you know, the Dinner is traditionally held straight after our June Court Meeting, begins with a drinks reception, and is an opportunity for our Livery’s key leadership group to dine together, discuss the issues of the day and enjoy each other’s company. Dress is Livery Uniform/Black Tie and the equivalent for ladies. By custom, badges of office are not worn.  Pour Mémoire cards will also not be sent out this year, as part of the Company’s support for decarbonisation. Tickets are £95 each and will be invoiced after booking. Please book in by noon on Friday 10th June. Equally, it would be helpful if you would let me know if you cannot come. (Access on the night will be via the West Wing entrance, which is on the corner of Gresham Street and Aldermanbury, where the staff will show you up to the Reception.)