Winter 2006 NewsletterThe Master’s Message I'm new to this job. Nobody warned me. “There's an invitation to the Annual Lecture at the Spademongers Company on Friday week. It is at 6.45 – followed by Refreshments. Are you interested?” On first thoughts, perhaps not. Also obviously to be avoided, was the Certificate and Prize-giving Ceremony by the City School of Something. Kick-off: 9.45 am – followed by lunch – time unspecified. One I did fall for was a Meeting at 12 noon at the Chartered Somebody's Hall to be followed by lunch: 1.00 pm. The meeting, it said, was called by the FCA of the Livery Companies. Ten people eventually arrived. The meeting consisted, I think, of what had been described as a survey and contemporary update of the current progress strategy of the LME's sub-committee on ETQ - or something like that. The only item I understood was the one marked AOB. This comprised a discussion of whether the next meeting clashed with the AGM of the TLC. The majority view was that it did. Thus the next meeting was t.b.a'd. I've just received the bill for the lunch: £71.59 (sic). At the Installation Dinner, three Masters had been invited. It's called ‘returning hospitality'. Two Masters and their Clerks turned up. The third stepped onto a train operated by a company who shall remain nameless: that put paid to his dinner. The tables were laid for 90. Thirty of those were our members, 60 were guests. This does seem the wrong way round. Why does this event appeal more to others than to ourselves? When the Company's Court holds a meeting in the Guildhall, the practice is, immediately afterwards, to retire upstairs to one of the Aldermen's hideouts for a Revival Lunch. An invited speaker gives a talk – then some of us go back to work. At the Court Meeting on 27 th April 2007, Stephen Jakobi has agreed to speak. He was the founder and Director of Fair Trials Abroad, the organisation that works timelessly behind the scenes helping those accused, usually wrongly, and then put on trial. You'll remember the plane spotters' fiasco in Greece – he was there. His talk is going to be so fascinating that the Court cannot keep it to itself. We're therefore inviting you to come to lunch with us and to the talk.  Donald being installed as Master by immediate Past Master and Senior Warden Michael Stephens
We are expecting so many people that our usual haunts in the Guildhall will be far too small and have all been cancelled. Join us, therefore, if you can (guests welcome): on Friday 27 April at the Innholders' Hall – that's just off Dowgate Street EC4, beside Can on Street Station (usual financial conditions apply). Some of the older Companies have charitable funds that run to millions. In the 25 years of our existence, members have consistently donated. We now have the annual interest to distribute. This year to the Lord Mayor's appeal for handicapped children: £1,000. The organisation called Centre Point works in 14 London Boroughs, among those in the 16 to 25 age group. It tries to get them, despite their broken homes, their non-literacy, their drugs and drink, to want to remain in society and to acquire some ambition in life. Centre Point's mantra to attempt to jolt this age-group into awareness is:
We gave them £2,000. Books for the bookless is our pet theme for this year. The CIArb has branches around the world. The poorest are in Africa and Malaysia. Their members, of course, want to take the Institute's professi on al exams, but some branches have no law books – others have a few but they are out of date. I am sure that the resp on se to our appeal to every member to help will go well. Please don't let us down. Their next exam is in April 2007. I wish you all a happy Christmas and a merry New Year and look forward to meeting you at one or more of our many functions. Donald Valentine P.S. The Master's Lecture is on 7th March 2007 when William Wood QC will reveal how to make Mediation work. The Lord Mayor's Show - 2007 Junior Warden John Rushton, Assistant Dr Derek Ross, and Senior Warden Michael Stephens and Liveryman Peter Talbot on procession
 and again, this time conserving energy
 Assistant Derek Ross raising his cap, no doubt in time to the Senior Warden’s whistle…
Installation Dinner at Vintners' Hall, 31st October 2006 The Senior Warden and his wife Catherine, Freeman Michael Forbes Smith and his wife Clare, the Master, the Junior Warden and his wife. Jenny, and our Chaplain, the Reverend George Bush, prior to dinner
 Vintners' Hall
 The new Master installing Michael Stephens as Senior Warden at Common Hall
Charitable Trust NewsThe Trustees were treated in the summer to an interesting presentation by Centrepoint, the charity for homelessness, and agreed to make a donation to help financially their programme for anger management and dispute resolution for young people. Centrepoint have asked for support from individual members of the Company. Those interested should speak with the Senior Warden, Michael Stephens.  John Rushton being installed as Junior Warden by the Master at Common Hall on 31st October 2006
The Trustees have also agreed to provide funds for the purchase of books by students taking the exams of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in Kenya, Zimbabwe, Malaysia and Thailand, following discussions with the Chartered Institute. The cost of books on arbitration nowadays is prohibitive and the support that can be offered, although much needed, is necessarily limited. Would any member of the Company thinking of throwing out an old version of any arbitration book be good enough to have a word with me before doing so on the basis that an outdated book might be better than none at all for those trying to grapple with arbitration in a country less wealthy than our own? The Trustees have also offered further financial assistance to a student at the Guildhall School of Music and offered prizes to those who gain the best marks on law courses in the London area. However, they would welcome any new ideas on how we can help others less fortunate than ourselves, the key criteria being an association with the City of London and/or dispute resolution in all its many guises. Assistant John Rushton Admissions
"Noggin and Natter" A new informal event is being added to the Company’s social calendar. Starting in 2007 on the first Tuesday of February, April, June, October and December from 5.30pm there will be an opportunity for members to just ‘drop in’, meet and chat at Truckles – the wine bar off Bloomsbury Square behind the offices of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. No advance booking will be required – if you are free on one or more of the evenings then do come along.
Dinner at the Armourers' Hall following the Annual Service on 19th July 2006 The President of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators for 2007, Assistant Hew Dundas, being greeted before dinner
The Master being ably guarded at the top table
The Bishop of London and Mrs Chartres, Senior Warden, Donald Valentine, Mrs Catherine Stephens, The Master Michael Stephens, Mr Justice David Steel and Lady Steel and our Chaplain, the Reverend George Bush, prior to dinner
Assistant Derek Ross and Past Master Victoria Russell clearly having a miserable time…
The Armourers’ Hall
An insight into the life of our Clerk Gaye and the Senior Warden Michael Stephens at Common Hall on 31st October 2006
I was appointed as Clerk in 1997 and live in St Albans with my sons Matthew, James and William. I act as Secretary to the Court, arranging meetings, taking and circulating minutes and ensuring that the Court undertakes its business in accordance with the Constitution and Ordinances and established customs and procedures. I attend committee meetings from time to time and ensure that they report their activities to the Court. Probably the most visible part of my job relates to arranging the formal Luncheons and Dinners and making sure they run smoothly and maintain City standards of dress and behaviour. Additionally I deal with membership administration, making sure that Freemen in due course take up their City Freedom and progress to the Livery. I also accompany the Master when we are both invited to dine with other Livery Companies. In addition I deal with the financial side of the Company’s affairs under the direction of the Junior Warden, and most importantly (at least in his eyes) make sure that everyone pays their quarterage promptly – as some of you will know through first hand knowledge! Over and above all of this, I try and help with City orientated enquiries from members, such as “Where can I get a certified translation of my Birth Certificate from French to English?” (a requirement for obtaining the Freedom of the City of London) and the perennial question about whether or not Liverymen can drive their sheep over London Bridge; which I can answer now - NO! Despite spending half my life on the phone I enjoy my job enormously and feel very privileged to hold the office of Clerk to such a friendly company. Gaye Duffy 
EventsAppeal for swimmers
The Chartered Surveyors' Company is holding its annual inter-livery swimathon on 30 th April 2007 at the RAC Club, Woodcote Park, Epsom, Surrey. All Livery Companies are invited to enter teams of 5 or more swimmers. Each team is required to swim a total distance of 5000 metres. The event is held to raise money for the Lord Mayor's Appeal 2007; Sharing Skills, Changing Lives – the main beneficiaries of which will be the VSO and the Mansion House Scholarship Scheme. Anyone who is interested in forming part of an Arbitrators' team is asked to contact the Clerk. Carvery Lunches at Butchers' HallLiverymen and their guest are invited to lunch at Butchers' Hall on Wednesdays (except in August), 12.30pm for 1.00pm. The cost of the carvery lunch (excluding drinks) is £22.50 plus VAT. Dress Lounge Suit please. Bookings can be made in advance to the office - 020 7600 4106.
Company Events for 200731 January Banquet at Mansion House. 16 February Court Meeting & Lunch at Guildhall 7 March Master's Lecture at Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw 23 March United Guilds' Service at St.Paul's. 27 March Meet the Magic Circle 27 April Court Meeting & Lunch at Innholders' Hall 11 May Dinner at the Mansion House, York 14 June Buffet Supper in the Old Hall, Lincoln 's Inn 25 June Election of Sheriffs at Guildhall 11 July Court Meeting and Annual Service at St Mary-le-Bow and Supper at Painter's Hall 27 September Recruitment evening 1 October Election of Lord Mayor at Guildhall 31 October Court Meeting, Comm on Hall & Installati on Dinner at Tallow Chandlers ' Hall The first Tuesday of February, April, June, October and December, namely 6 February – 3 April – 5 June – 2 October – 4 December, 5.30pm at ‘Truckles' (see above for more details) |
NEWSLETTERSJune 2007 Dec 2006 Aug 2006 Oct 2005 May 2005 Dec 2004 Aug 2004 April 2004 Dec 2003 April 2003 Dec 2002 Dec 2001 Sept 2001 |
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