December 2002 Newsletter

PDF version

The Master’s Message

What a splendid evening it was on the 30th October and I thoroughly enjoyed your company on the evening. Thank you all for the confidence you have shown in electing me your 23rd Master. I am truly honoured. It will be an evening I shall not forget.

It was a particular pleasure to welcome our first apprentice, Rory Addison, and I wish him all success in his training, exams and pupillage. I hope you will all take an interest in his progress to qualification and give him every support.

A highlight of my speech on the 30th October was to present Bertie Vigrass with an engraved decanter as a token of the Company's thanks for his sterling support, service and hard work in his roles as founder member, Clerk, Liveryman and Court Assistant. Thank you Bertie for all you have done.

I am pleased to report that through Bertie's connections in international arbitration we have secured a well known and respected international speaker for the Annual Banquet on the 13th February 2003, Dr Karl-Heinz Böckstiegel.

NEWSLETTERS

We have had our first informal event, a visit to the City Art Gallery and Amphitheatre which was well attended with some new members attending. We were all given a talk on the history of the City Gallery followed by a very interesting resumé of many of the paintings that are hanging in the new and older parts of the award winning building. The Roman amphitheatre was very interesting, and as always we finished off the evening in a city hostelry with wine and good food.

I have planned to have a few "networking" events this year so that we can share our professional experiences and perhaps provide our younger members with some of the interesting experiences of arbitrators.

I hope to see you all at the Annual Banquet on the 13 February 2003. Seasons Greetings.

2002 Installation Dinner

Forthcoming events in 2003

22 January Court Meeting, Guildhall
13 February Mansion House Banquet
04 March Master's Lecture, King's College, London
28 March United Guilds Service, St Paul's

Lord Mayor's Appeal

The Rt Hon the Lord Mayor, Alderman Gavyn Arthur, has chosen Save the Children Fund for his Appeal this year. Further details will be issued in the next newsletter of the events for this appeal.

Charity Report

The Charitable Trust is funding research at Kings College London on "Contract Mediation", a new form of dispute resolution. The team is headed by Nick Gould a research fellow at Kings. Anyone who has experience of this form of resolution should contact the Chairman of the Trust, Assistant John Rushton, so that information can be passed on to the team.

The Institution and Induction of The Reverend George Bush as Rector of St Mary-Le-Bow was made by the Rt Revd and Rt Hon Richard Chartres, Lord Bishop of London on the 3 December 2002.

The Master represented the Company along with the Masters of the Architects, Furniture Makers, Masons, Mercers and Grocers.

A splendid reception was held at the Grocers' Hall with many of George Bush's friends from his previous Parish at Hoxton.

Sad Farewells

It was with great sadness that we learned of the deaths of two of our Past Masters, Norman Royce OBE, Founder Member and Master in 1983, and Clifford Evans, who was Master in 1995. Both will be very sadly missed, and we extend deepest sympathy to their respective families.

Admissions as Freeman

We extend a very warm welcome to our newly admitted Freemen:
(1) Rory Addison, who is a Lecturer in Navigation and Maritime Law at Southampton University (proposed by Dr Julian Critchlow).
(2) David Goldberg, who is a practicing Solicitor (proposed by Hew Dundas).
(3) Joseph Wan, a Chartered Accountant (proposed by IPM Victoria Russell.)

New Court Assistants

And finally, very hearty congratulations to our two newly elected Court Assistants: Assistants Christopher Dancaster and Barry Duggan.

Curry Wellington

On the last Friday of each month, the Hon. Company of Master Mariners runs a very popular Curry Lunch on board HQS Wellington, Temple Embankment. Twenty places are currently being set aside for members of other Companies. Lunch comprises soup, buffet main course choice of three curries (two meat and one vegetable) with rice & breads, dessert of exotic fruits or British cheese, followed by coffee and sweetmeats. The charge is £22.00 per head inclusive of VAT but exclusive of wine. Reservation applications to Master Mariners' Office, telephone 020 7836 8179.

Inter-Livery Duplicate Bridge

Monday 3rd March 2003 at the Drapers' Hall. Cost per pair, including supper, £105.00 including VAT. Further details from the Clerk of the Makers of Playing Cards Company, tel: 020 7799 3556

Inter-Livery Sail, Rutland Water

Weekend: 9-10th August 2003. Further details from Framework Knitters' Clerk, tel: 020 8502 1964, who requests expressions of interest by 1st January 2003.

Clerk's Notes

If you would like any information about the Company or events please do not hesitate to contact me.

Please note the new e-mail address below.

Gaye Duffy, 13 Hall Gardens, Colney Heath, St Albans, Herfordshire AL4 0QF
Telephone: +44 (01727) 826578
Fax: +44 (01727) 822652
email: clerk@arbitratorscompany.org

^ Back to the top ^