Clerk’s Notes January 2023

Mark The Clerk

On 26th January 1788 Captain Arthur Phillip sailed with the First Fleet from Botany Bay into Port Arthur and so founded the city of Sydney, named after the then Home Secretary. Captain Phillip went on to become the first of four successive Royal Navy officers to be Governors of New South Wales. And so if there was ever any doubt: it was the Navy’s fault.

Forthcoming Coachmaker events

National Shire Horse Show – 11th March 2023

Join the Master and other Liverymen for lunch in the VIP enclosure at the Newark Show Ground for a spectacular display of Shire Horses and associated country activities. Full details will be promulgated very shortly.

Automotive Industry Dinner – 23rd March 2023

The book for this event will open on 9th February 2023; watch your in-box for details. Please note that the venue will be Vintners’ Hall and not Plaisterers’ Hall as previously advertised.

United Guilds’ Service – St Paul’s Cathedral – 24th March 2023

Join the Master and Wardens to attend the annual United Guilds’ Service at St Paul’s Cathedral followed by lunch at Tallow Chandlers’ Hall. Contact the Clerk for more details: clerk@coachmakers.co.uk

Forthcoming City events

Inter-Livery Bridge

The Makers of Playing Cards’ Annual Inter-Livery Bridge Tournament will be held on Monday 6th March 2023 at Drapers’ Hall. See their website for details and the booking form: www.makersofplayingcards.org

The Launderers’ Seminar

The Launderers are holding an all-day seminar on The Future of Energy in the UK, at Glaziers’ Hall on Monday 20th February 2023. Full details are here.

Varsity rugby

On Saturday 25th March, Twickenham Stadium will play host to one of rugby’s longest standing rivalries: the 2023 Varsity Matches. Oxford University and Cambridge University will meet once again for the 36th Women’s Varsity Match and the 141st Men’s Varsity Match. With two huge matches (their words) and tickets starting at just £20, it makes a fantastic day out at the home of England rugby (again their words not mine).

The women’s fixture will kick off at 12pm followed by the men’s at 3pm. Early bird tickets for groups range between £20 and £36 or alternatively, for the VIP Twickenham experience, executive box packages are available at £180pp (inc VAT). The standard box package includes the following but can be adjusted to suit your needs: access to your private executive box for the day, pastries and tea/coffee on arrival, a two-course buffet lunch, unlimited beers and soft drinks throughout the day and best seats in the house outside your box for both matches.

If you are interested in tickets for the hospitality packages or if you have any questions, contact Madeleine Osborne at madeleine.osborne@thevarsitymatches.com and you can also find more information at https://thevarsitymatches.com/

Lord Mayor’s Big Curry Lunch – Thursday 30th March 2023

The Lord Mayor’s Big Curry Lunch is a City fundraising event held at Guildhall each year. The Lunch is an event with a difference: unlimited curry and drinks, buffet service, and bench seating all create a lively, casual, and convivial atmosphere. A dedicated area for sponsors and those with groups of 10 or more allow for hosting and networking opportunities. There are Livery stalls set up throughout the event which provide excellent shopping opportunities, and auction prizes give you the chance to bid on ‘money-can’t-buy’ experiences. Added to all that, the event raises funds to support helping veterans of HM Armed Forces into employment from all three services. Tickets are on sale now – please click here.

To compliment this event there is also an associated Silent Auction. The link to the Silent Auction page is here.

Jury Trial & Error: Court No.1 Old Bailey – 12th-16th March

In support of the Sheriffs’ & Recorder’s Fund (supporting prison-leavers & families) and Pan Intercultural Arts (caring for victims of human trafficking), another new ’Trial & Error’ Show is being performed this spring.

Presented in Court No. 1 at the Old Bailey, this year’s show focuses on the trials with notable juries. I am told that you will relish the opportunity to attend this iconic court room without facing an indictment or six weeks of jury service on hard seats. Some premium seats remain (not for the Sunday performance) and a drinks reception precedes the evening shows.

All information can be found on the City Livery Committee’s website here: https://www.liverycommittee.org/book-now-trial-and-error-theatrical-shows-at-the-old-bailey/ and the online booking form is here: https://wcmpc.wufoo.com/forms/m1m6bgpz0zp56g7/

Other Livery News

100 Club

Following Liveryman John Pearl’s sudden passing in October, the Clerk’s office has been “minding the store” of the 100 Club. As reported in the previous issue of Coachlines, the Q3 Draw was made at the Aerospace Industry Dinner on 8th November, the first prize going to Liveryman David Lawman and the second prize to Suzanne Kimber.

However it was necessary to delay the Q4 Super Draw from its usual date co-incident with the Carol Service Supper to allow time to confirm the eligibility of all participants.

This was successfully achieved and the Q4 Super Draw for 2022 was made at the Award to Industry Court on 19th January 2023. The winning number was held by Dr Alex Cole (daughter-in-law of Past Master Graham Cole) and the 2nd prize was won by Renter Warden Steve-Fitz-Gerald. The fact that the Renter Warden is responsible for the Company finances in no way influenced the outcome of the draw!

And so we look to the first draw of 2023 which will be made on 23rd March at Vintners’ Hall and I would like to make an important point:

The 100 Club raises £6,000 annually for the Charitable Trust, raising circa £80k since it started, and it pays out £6,000 in prize money to the prize winning members. The 100 Club was established for the benefit of the Company Charity and the members themselves. As such it was designed to be administered by the members and therefore a volunteer is required to take over the 100 Club and manage it as the late Liveryman Pearl did so successfully for so long.

If you would be willing to take on the role of 100 Club Administrator contact the Clerk: clerk@coachmakers.co.uk

In conclusion

On 26th January, Admiral Sir Frank Twiss passed away. In his later years he had been: Commander Far East Fleet (1965-67), 2nd Sea Lord (1967-70) and Black Rod (1970-78). However in 1942 he had been the Gunnery Officer of HMS EXETER when she was sunk by the Japanese and he became a POW until 1945.

On his release he was asked what it had been like. He replied: “Oh, not so bad I suppose, if you had been to Dartmouth.”

I’m not sure the young Naval officers under training today at the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth have to endure quite such a strict regime but judging by the fine young officers who have attended various Coachmaker events of late, the system appears to be working.