Coachlines - April 2024

30.04.24 The Clerk

Clerk’s Notes – April 2024

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Bore da. Which as you all will know is ‘good morning’ in Welsh. A phrase that I heard often over the past few days as my beloved and I, in company with Liveryman Christopher Tate and his wife Clare, enjoyed a mini-tour of Welsh Wales on our motorcycles; and of course the Assistant Clerk came too.

Some of the hills were a bit steep, and she was carrying two of us and about 20kg of kit, but my beloved Betsie burbled and rumbled her way through the trip without missing a beat. What a hoot.

Riding to our first stop at Symonds Yat East near Ross-on-Wye, we enjoyed a delightful evening at the Saracen’s Head; a slightly damp Day 2 took us north of the Brecon Beacons to Cardigan where we stayed in accommodation attached to Cardigan Castle; Day 3 took us north up the coast to Caernarfon where we stayed in the historic Black Boy Inn; and on Day 4 we used the EU-funded Welsh National Expressway to make our way east across the north of Wales and home.

Our chosen routes were not demanding but the scenery was impressive and with little in the way of tourist activity so early in the season, the roads were relatively clear and ideal for motorcycling. At each of our stopovers we enjoyed a warm welcome, the food was good and there were enough real ales on offer to keep it interesting. I could get used to this kind of thing and am already looking forward to our next mini-tour.

Company news

Forthcoming Events

Banquet 2024 – Friday 17th May 2024

The book will close on 7th May, if you have yet to make your booking please do so without delay, tickets can still be purchased by contacting the Clerk.

Banquet 2024 – Prize Draw

The prizes in this year’s Banquet Prize Draw are spectacular and highly desirable. Full details of the Prize Draw can be found here. To enter, please contact the Clerk.

A private climb up the O2 Arena – Sunday 9th June

Commencing at 16:30, it will be followed by a pub meal/equivalent for those wishing to stay on for food. Bubbles at the top for those who want it and a non-alcoholic alternative for those who don’t, those with no head for heights need not apply. Further details are elsewhere in this issue.

The Election of the Sheriffs – Monday 24^th June

Liverymen who were clothed prior to 31^st May 2023 are entitled to attend the Election Ceremony in the Guildhall and vote.  Should you wish to attend please contact the Clerk at clerk@coachmakers.co.uk for a pass to ease your entry into the Guildhall. Lunch will be available at Tallow Chandlers’ Hall after the event for a cost of circa £75 pp inc vat; again, should you wish to attend contact the Clerk.

Shuttleworth Festival of Flight – Sunday 30th June 2024

The Shuttleworth Collection is the proud home of a variety of airworthy aircraft, including the world’s oldest aircraft and the oldest British aircraft still flying today. It is also the home of a great collection of iconic racers, warbirds, civilian aircraft, and gliders that will be on display. There will be an air display featuring not only the collection’s aircraft but also those from a number of visitors. The collection also includes early cars and buses, motorbikes, steam engines and farm machinery. There is a workshop open to view restoration in progress. Activities for the whole family include outdoor cinema, a fun fair, delicious food and drink, tours, a fly in, and more.

Coachmakers will have access to a private pod – a small marquee – which will be available as a cloakroom and meeting point. Parking is available at the venue and we will share a separate access from the general public. The price is £50 per head which includes many of the fairground attractions. Children under 15 are admitted free. The flying display starts at 12:00 and runs until 16:00. Gates open at 8:30 and everything shuts down at 20:00.

Mark the date in your diary; the book will open in mid-May.

Swan Upping on the Thames – Tuesday 17th July 2024

A date for your diary; the Coachmakers has secured a launch from Hobbs’ boatyard at Henley-on-Thames in which to travel downstream to support our fellow Livery Companies, the Vintners and Dyers and to observe the Uppers in their traditional skiffs carrying out the traditional responsibility of the swan markers catching and ringing this year’s cygnets. The centuries-old majestic scarlet uniforms are still worn and all the ancient traditions are observed. It is a sight to be seen. Mark the date in your diary; the book will open in late May/early June.

City news

The Royal Fusiliers’ Annual Lecture

Wednesday, 22nd May 2024, 6.45pm-8.30pm at the Holy Sepulchre London, Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2DQ.

Entitled: The Fusiliers in Italy, 1943-45: conventional war or a war amongst the peoples, this year’s Royal Fusilier Lecture will continue the theme of following the Regiment’s part in the Italian campaign. The Lecture will be in two parts, with a short film screened on the battles of Anzio and Monte Cassino in between.

The Lecture will finish at 8.25pm, after which there will be an opportunity to carry on a more informal conversation over drinks. Before the lecture, all are welcome to join choral evensong at Holy Sepulchre from 5.15pm-6.15pm. Tickets can be obtained here.

Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST)

The QEST and Heritage Crafts Sustainability Award is back again in 2024. Applications are now open and close on Friday 24th May.
If you know a craftsperson who is committed to improving sustainability in their practice, is innovative and an inspiration for others, spread the word about the award.

QEST is looking for makers who’ve made a change to their materials or processes or innovated in another way to measurably reduce their impact on the environment within the past 12 months.

This year, the award has been split into two prizes: ‘Material Innovation’ and ‘Improving Processes’. Each winner will receive £1,000 each and will be recognised at a Winners’ Reception at the Vicar’s Hall, Windsor Castle in November.

• To apply, click here
• For more information, click here

The Sheriffs’ & Recorder’s Fund Presents ‘Dial Medicine for Murder’

Following the sell-out show of the highly acclaimed ‘Dial Medicine for Murder’ Criminal Medical Consultation last November, the Sheriffs’ & Recorder’s Fund is pleased to present three more dates at the Old Bailey in the iconic Court No. 1, scene of many famous criminal case trials that shaped modern Britain.

Online bookings are now open to attend the Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey.  The offered dates are: Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday 4th-6th June 2024.

Timings are: 6pm arrival for Drinks Reception, Presentation 7pm, conclusion 8.30pm following a Q&A session, leaving time for a nearby supper.

Book online here: https://wcmpc.wufoo.com/forms/dial-medicine-for-murder-criminal-consultation/

Standard Court Seats £75, Premium Dock, Jury Box & Counsels’ Row £110, Rear of Court & Public Gallery £40.  Download the flyer for more details.

Reflections of Alderman Nicholas Lyons, the 694th Lord Mayor of London – 25th June 2024 at Haberdashers’ Hall

This year, Alderman Nicholas Lyons, the 694th Lord Mayor of London will impart his unique insights from his term in office. The evening will unfold within the historic walls of Haberdashers’ Hall, where we will indulge in a drinks reception followed by a sumptuous three-course dinner and a live Q&A with Alderman Nicholas Lyons.

Date: Tuesday 25th June 2024
Time: 5pm to 10.30pm
Venue: Haberdashers’ Hall, London EC1A 9HX

Expect a convivial atmosphere and an engaging and inspiring mix of attendees. To find out more about the evening and tickets, click here.

Inter-Livery Tennis Competition – Wednesday 18th September 2024 – Queen’s Club

The Feltmakers’ Inter-Livery Tennis Competition in 2024 will be held on Wednesday 18th September at Queen’s Club.

The competition is open to teams of mixed pairs, with each Livery Company allowed to enter a maximum of two pairs. The competition is designed for Liverymen and their spouses/partners/friends; one person in each pair should therefore, ideally, be a Liveryman. The competition will be run as an American tournament, with quarter-finals, semi-finals and a final. The Feltmakers’ Trophy will be awarded to the winners. There will be a knock-out Plate Competition for first round group losers. The start time will be 11am.

The competition will be followed by dinner when the Master Feltmaker will present prizes to the winners and the runners-up. The evening normally ends shortly after 9.30pm.

We will follow up with full details and application forms in mid-June. Applications cannot be accepted before then.

For more details of how to enter contact: tennis@feltmakers.co.uk

Old Bailey Playing Cards benefitting the S&R Fund

The Sheriffs’ & Recorder’s Fund charity is based at the Old Bailey to help ex-offenders rehabilitate into society. Renter Warden David Barrett has for some time now undertaken the box office, accounting and administration of its major fundraising events and this includes the recent ‘State Trials & Error Shows’ at Court No.1.

This year, to further enhance fundraising, he has developed a set of ‘Old Bailey’ Playing Cards; an idea first developed back in 2015. These tuck box packs in two colours feature a portrait decoration on all 20 of the court cards, aces and jokers. This year some of those cards feature contemporary City figures who have generously sponsored the packs by agreeing to have their portraits included. As a consequence the 1,000 pack run is fully funded allowing the sale price of £10 per pack (£20/pair) to pass entirely to the Sheriffs’ & Recorder’s Fund (not the other two charities supported during the shows).

You may be Bridge Players, S&R Fund supporters or even Collectors of playing cards. If you wish to purchase a pack, full details are here, and the mail order online link is replicated here: https://wcmpc.wufoo.com/forms/trial-error-playing-card-packs-order-form/

The Livery Sailing Challenge

I have received the following message which may be of interest to those who enjoy standing in the shower tearing up £50 notes:

An interest has been expressed by several Livery companies about the running of a sailing regatta for those involved in the Livery movement. The purpose of this email is to establish whether there is enough interest to take this further.

The Ironmongers Company began running a regatta for the Great Twelve Livery Companies 20 years ago in Seaview on the Isle of Wight. (See https://www.liverysailing.co.uk/ ). It was restricted to just 12 companies because Sea View Yacht Club (SYYC) had 12 matched Mermaid yachts and the numbers fitted. We believe that with some reorganisation we can organise an event for up to 26 Livery Companies or Ward Clubs for some competitive sailing but first need to gauge the level of interest.

Our proposal is that we run a regatta in Sea View Yacht Club Mermaids on 7th or 21st September 2024. These yachts will be sailed by a crew by four over two races. We plan to have a supper party on the Friday evening preceding the sailing and a prizegiving and dinner on the Saturday after the racing. Supporters and guests are very welcome. The cost for crew members will be £75 each. There is an additional cost of £75 for supper, the reception and dinner for both sailors and supporters. We have struck a good deal with SVYC and we believe that that will represent good value. We are therefore inviting livery companies and ward clubs to tell us if potentially they are interested.

We should also point out that the City Livery Yacht Club run a very successful regatta for those liverymen who have a yacht of their own. This is due to take place on 18th May. See https://clyc.co.uk/regattas-rallies/.

If you are interested in participating in this initiative please contact George Bastin at gab001@sovision.co.uk

In conclusion

I mentioned at the top of this piece that our chosen routes through Wales were not demanding in terms of finding one’s way from A to B, but the regular stretches of road on which the much-maligned 20mph speed limit had been imposed recently did provide a few challenges. Riding through twisty rural sections including 10% uphill gradients while doing one’s best to keep to the 20mph limit involved slipping clutches and far more revs on the engine than would have been needed to maintain the previous 30mph limits. Indeed at times, the engine of Liveryman Christopher’s poor old Honda did suffer a bit of overheating.

Not only did this make progress a bit more challenging than one would have liked, the increase in engine rpm needed to maintain progress meant that we produced more of the polluting exhaust gasses that the 20mph was in part designed to reduce. I am sure that all the routes on which the 20mph limits were applied (despite the many objections) were tested by experts in a variety of vehicles to ensure that the perceived solution was in fact proportionate and would be effective – but then perhaps they weren’t.

It was therefore great to learn that the Welsh Government has acknowledged that they got it wrong in many places and that many of the newly established 20mph limits would revert back to the previous limits. It’s just a shame that they didn’t listen to those who foresaw the folly of this particular initiative when applied in such a heavy handed fashion before they spent £34m of public money to make it happen.

Listening to those that know is always a good thing to do but the power of hindsight is not to be underestimated if it helps restore common sense, but of course now the discussion has turned to the question of who will pay to apply this reversal of policy?

Yn dda iawn.