Coachlines - May 2024
31.05.24 The Clerk
Clerk’s Notes – May 2024
“An excellent evening.”
“It really couldn’t have been better. Well done!”
“What a splendid, perfect evening- one of the best banquets!”
“Truly memorable and enjoyable.”
“A terrific evening.”
These are just some of the kind words that have been received in the aftermath of the Coachmakers’ Banquet 2024. However, it is thanks to the hard work and enthusiasm of everyone involved in the planning and delivery of the original concept that made the event so successful, and yet again one of, if not the most spectacular Livery events of the year.
Marking 100 years of the Fleet Air Arm in partnership with Navy Wings from RNAS Yeovilton, the event was described by one guest as: “The perfect balance between formality and fun”. It also served to highlight the Coachmakers’ support to young people who are working, or aspire to work in the aerospace industry using heritage skills, a concept that is fundamental to an organisation such as Navy Wings.
For more detail from behind the scenes, see the Assistant Clerk’s report in a separate article in this edition.
To see photographs of what you missed, follow this link: https://philmccarthyphotography.smugmug.com/The-Worshipful-Company-of-Coachmakers-and-Harness-Makers/Navy-Wings-Banquet-Guildhall-May-2024/i-PSqhKqz
That said, attendance was disappointingly down on previous Guildhall Banquets during the past 12 years. It was 31% down on the 2023 attendance, 32% down on 2022, 17% down on the 2019 and 2013 events but the 2018 Guildhall Banquet can’t be counted as it was a joint effort with two other Companies and Coachmaker places were commensurately limited.
Notwithstanding this disappointing turnout, financially the event itself broke even and although the proceeds from the Prize Draw were commensurately 30% down on the past two years, the £4,245 raised will be shared equally between the Coachmakers’ Charitable Trust and Navy Wings.
But on the subject of the Prize Draw, the prize winners were as follows:
1st Prize – a 45-minute flight in the Navy Wings Harvard – Liveryman Simon Henley MBE
2nd Prize – a 60-minute flight in the Navy Wings’ Tiger Moth – Peter Cordary
3rd Prize – a day at Fenix Carriages – Rachel Baguley
4th Prize – Two tickets to the Coachmakers’ Aerospace Industry Dinner – Steve Miles
5th Prize – the Captain Eric “Winkle” Brown memorabilia collection – Janet Cole
Congratulations to all the prize winners and huge thanks to Aerotron, Lockheed Martin and Ongar Bridge Motors for their generous support, and also to IPM Leach, PM Cole, the Senior Warden and Liveryman Walkinshaw for their individual support.
Company news
A private climb up the O2 Arena – date change
Due to unforeseen circumstances, this event has been postponed until Thursday 26th September 2024 from the original date of Sunday 9th June. A revised advert and booking form will be circulated in mid-July.
British Driving Society Annual Show – Smith’s Lawn, Windsor – Sunday 23rd June 2024
You are invited to the British Driving Society’s Annual Show, which will take place on Smith’s Lawn at Windsor Great Park on Sunday 23rd June 2024. The presentation of the Coachmakers’ Driving Award 2024 will be made by the Master at around midday. Tickets for 10 cars are available for this prestigious event. Please come along and enjoy a picnic, and watch magnificent coaches, carriages and horses parade in the main ring. The entrance fee is only £50 per car regardless of the number of occupants – an ideal opportunity to exercise your favourite classic car.
The Election of the Sheriffs – Monday 24th June 2024
Liverymen who were clothed prior to 31st 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.
It has been arranged for Coachmakers attending to have 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 will be £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.
To book your place click here.
Summer Court Dinner – Saddlers’ Hall – Thursday 11th July 2024
The final Livery Dinner of this Livery Year will be held at Saddlers’ Hall on Thursday 11th July 2024. During the event you will be able to witness the presentation of this year’s coaching bursary and also meet the new Clerk. Save the date – the book will open within the next few days.
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.
City news
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: 6.00pm arrival for drinks reception, presentation 7.00pm, conclusion 8.30pm following a Q&A session, leaving time for a nearby supper.
Standard court seats £75, Premium dock, jury box & counsels’ row £110, Rear of court & public gallery £40. See here for more details: Book online here.
For opera lovers
The English National Opera has launched its new 2024/25 opera season and invites you to enjoy a spectacular evening out. The 2024/25 season brochure, complete with information about forthcoming productions, as well as details on its hospitality offering, is available here: https://english-national-opera-live.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/ENO-Hospitality-Brochure-2024-25.pdf
Priority booking is available until 5th June, after which tickets go on sale to the general public.
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.
The Distillers’ Inter-Livery Pétanque – Thursday 1st August 2024
The Distillers’ Company invites you to participate in the Distillers’ Company Inter-livery Pétanque Competition at London Pétanque Club, Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. Due to the popularity of this event there is a limit to two teams per Company. Whilst each team should consist of three members per team, should individuals who wish to take part but are unable to form a team, please contact the Distillers’ Past Master, Chris Porter (chris.porter500@ntlworld.com) who will place them on a list to create a Mixed Livery Team (or teams). The cost per team is £60 and, if an individual wishes to play, the cost will be £20.
Teams should bring their own boules if possible, although a limited amount will be available to hire from London Petanque Club if required. If you require equipment to be provided please notify the Distillers at the time of booking. There will be a refreshing glass of rosé to welcome you, but please take your own picnic and 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, very 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 at chris.porter500@ntlworld.com who will confirm the registration and send through details for payment. The final date to register a team is 17th July 2024. Early registration is recommended.
Inter-Livery Tennis Competition – Wednesday 18th September 2024 – Queens Club
The Feltmakers’ Inter-Livery Tennis Competition 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 is 11.00am.
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
Annual City Livery Concert and Reception – Thursday 19th September 2024
Alderman Sir Andrew Parmley and Graham Barker, Master of The Worshipful Company of Arts Scholars, are delighted to invite you and your family and/or associates to the Annual City Livery Concert and Reception. This occasion is a key event in the City of London calendar, marking a special event to celebrate the wealth of art and culture taking place in the Square Mile and for the LSO to express gratitude to the companies, clubs, and guilds of the City that support the world-class music-making happening on our doorstep.
Conducted by London Symphony Orchestra Chief Conductor Sir Antonio Pappano, the concert will begin with Bartók’s Piano Concerto No 2, a work characterised by its virtuosic demands on the soloist, extraordinary rhythmic complexity, and brilliant harshness. The orchestra will be joined by Yuja Wang, who will bring the concerto’s intricate textures and rhythms to life with her expert command of the piano. The evening will conclude with Mahler’s Symphony No 1, or Titan, a grand, ambitious work that encapsulates the composer’s belief that “A symphony must be like the world. It must embrace everything.” Sinking to a dirge-like pace in the third movement and rising to a massive climax in the fourth, the work will serve as an exhilarating finale.
The concert will start at 7pm. During the interval, you are warmly invited to attend a reception with your fellow Liverymen and Freemen.
Tickets cost £60 per person, or £50 per person for a group booking of 10 or more guests. Please make sure to book your tickets for this event through this link on the LSO website.
On booking, you will be sent confirmation of your places, but please note that concert tickets will be available for collection on the evening of the concert at the Barbican Centre. Seats will be allocated in the centre circle of the Barbican Hall. Full details about the Annual City Livery Concert and Reception, ticket collection and other details will be emailed to you closer to the date.
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 their major fundraising events and this includes the recent ‘State Trials & Error Shows’ at Court No.1.
This year, to further enhance its 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 at Seaview on the Isle of Wight. (See https://www.liverysailing.co.uk/ ). It was restricted to just 12 companies because Sea View Yacht (SVYC) 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 it represents good value.
We are therefore inviting livery companies and ward clubs to tell us if potentially they are interested. If you are interested in participating in this initiative please contact George Bastin at gab001@sovision.co.uk
In conclusion
It would appear that some members have forgotten that I shall be standing down as the Clerk on 31st July 2024 after almost 12 years in harness. It’s true, and at the time of writing I have but 64 days, eight hours 58 minutes and 53 seconds before I ride towards the distant horizon. Not that I’m counting.
This means that I have only two more editions of Coachlines, after this one, with which to clutter your inbox with inane ramblings about things most people could happily live without knowing.
So what can you expect?
I’m not sure yet but in the past the Leaning household has been known to issue a Christmas letter written from a rather scurrilous perspective in a rather irreverent style. This was done simply to serve as an antidote to the letters received in eight point font of closely spaced type with no punctuation eulogising the fact that little Johnny had still managed to win the egg and spoon race despite writing his Master’s dissertation on the Historical significance of Soufflé construction and why it has been so important to Western Culture while at the same time collecting gazillions for Children in Need by abseiling up the Eiffel Tower; and it was rather fun.
In the early years, it was written as if dictated by the Assistant Clerk’s old thoroughbred event horse. He never really did get over having to share “his mare” after so long being her only male companion; it’s amazing how snarky a disgruntled gelding can be. On his passing however, my Dutch Warmblood picked up the mantle but writing it as if shpokken in a Dutsh akshent did cause my late father to call me and ask if I’d written it after several gins too many.
But then came Admiral Rodney, or Rodders as he was affectionately known. He was an imposing tabby cat with a huge character and an in-your-face attitude and for many years he was my little furry muse. Imagine the fun I had describing things from his perspective. Sadly, Rodders left us mid-pandemic and his little sister never really generated the same kind of inspiration, and so my final two editions of Clerk’s Notes may likely be much the same as all the rest.
Time will tell.