Events 2009-10: Master Alistair Bassett Cross

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The Masters Report on his year is at the foot of this summary

19th February: AGM at the Army and Navy Club in Pall Mall
Some 80 or so Ward Club members and their guests dined. Guest speaker was His Honour Judge Sir Gavyn Arthur a former Lord Mayor and now one of Her Majesty’s Circuit Judges accompanied by his Lady Mayoress Carole Blackshaw.This was the 2nd year running that we were able to use the Army and Navy Club, the Ward Club and Master were indebted to the Upper Warden - Stanley Liu.

12th March: Members Evening at the Bunch of Grapes
A great opportunity to meet prospective new members and many existing members - A very good social event.  

20th May: Annual Church Service - St Peter-upon-Cornhill
20th May: Civic Lunch - Guildhall
A very well attended event (170 members and guests) and a most enjoyable and friendly occasion.  An added excitement! the Guildhall’s fire alarm system. We were about to get down to the sweet when the Crypt had to be evacuated.  Speeches were almost given in the open air – just in time we were recalled.  

17th June: The Royal Hospital
Chelsea Over 30 members visited the home of the famous IN pensioners.

We had an excellent tour lasting nearly two hours which was conducted by an "In pensioner" with a marvellous knowledge of the history of the hospital. A thoroughly enjoyable and educational afternoon.

6th July: A Visit to the home of the Lord Mayor’s Bodyguard Armoury House - City Road (and wine tasting)
Over 70 members and guests enjoyed a spectacular tour of Armoury House followed by a display of 17th century drill by the Company.

The evening concluded with a “Wine tasting with a difference” conducted by Paul Champness – this event had had to be cancelled at very short notice in April in view of problems related to the G20 Summit.

7th September: Informal Inter-Ward Quiz
We organised this event - the 1st of its type - with two aims;

• to promote closer relationships between Ward Clubs
• to raise some funds for Charity

There was excellent feed back from the 6 teams involved

• Lime Street did not pick up the wooden spoon
• £170 was raised for Charity. The winning Ward Club (Bread Street) donating their 50% to Help for Heroes and our 50% going to the Master’s chosen charity - The Royal Hospital Chelsea.  

22nd September: Guided Walk
30+ members and guests assembled at the "Mug House" beneath London Bridge on the south side of the river for a guided walk around Southwark and ‘The Ward Without’ . A fascinating evening, given by David Thompson (MITG). We visited areas around Southwark Market, the site of the original Globe Theatre, an amazing rose window near the "clink" prison.... hearing tales of pilgrims, playwrights, prostitutes and gouls as we went. An excellent evening finished with supper at the Anchor Tavern.

5th October: Visit to HM Tower of London
A maximum turn out of 45 enjoyed a very personalised tour of the Tower including a buffet reception in the Yeoman Warder’s Club and a “ring side” view of the Ceremony of the Keys.

 

A special evening – the weather had been terrible all week, it was very kind to us on this evening.

19th November: Visit to Guards Museum
A unique opportunity for 60+ members and their guests to enjoy a private visit to this fascinating museum including a Champagne reception and excellent dinner. Towards the end of dinner the curator pointed out various fascinating and rare artifacts.

1st - 2nd December: Red Cross Fair - Guildhall
The Ward Club hosted a stand with the aim of promoting the concept of Ward Clubs. We were one of the very few stands not selling anything, which gave us a few challenges - the City Livery Club were also in attendance - promoting the Club and Livery in general. Those who manned the stand got to meet a wide range of visitors who seemed genuinely interested in Wards and Ward clubs.Without the involvement of Roseanne Bowman this opportunity would not have arisen.

3rd December: Our Annual Carol Service

In the presence of our President Alderman Sir John Studdard and Lesley his wife we celebrated the coming of Christmas with a traditional service of Lessons and Carols lead as usual by the excellent Choir of St Mary the Virgin, North Shoebury.

This year, for the first time, members of the Worshipful Company of Poulters were formally invited, with one of the lessons being read by their Master - Mr David Bridges.

 

Over 8 sacks of presents were placed under the colourful Christmas Tree for delivery to The Good Shepherd Mission in the East End of London - epecially for the under 5's.

We finished with a glass of wine, mince pies - a very heart-warming evening.

Part of an Article prepared for our Choir's local magazine.

HAVE YOU HEARD THE ONE ABOUT OUR CHURCH CHOIR AND KING KONG?
The period of Advent is always very busy for the Church Choir. In addition to services at St.  Mary’s, they lead the singing at the Carol Service for Rochford Hundred Golf Club at St. Andrew’s Church, Rochford, and every year since 2001 they have led a very prestigious Service at the Church of St. Peter upon Cornhill in London.  The occasion is the annual Carol Service of the Lime Street Ward Club.

The original invitation to take part in the annual carol service came from John Tuff, a member of our congregation, who was Master [Chairperson] of Lime Street Ward Club in 2001. The spectacle and pageantry at the service reflects the centuries old ceremonial associated with the London wards.  At the 2009 Service the choir was joined in procession with the President of the Ward Club, Alderman Sir John Stuttard, a past Lord Mayor of London, in his fur-trimmed scarlet gowns and chains of office, silk knee breeches and silver buckled shoes, attended by his Beadle in his green greatcoat edged in gold braid and tricorn hat, together with the Master and Upper and Lower Wardens. The Choir consider it a very great privilege to be able to sing each year in this ancient and beautiful church.

Oh yes – the connection with King Kong?  This year we were ‘privileged’ to travel to London in a Cook’s Coach emblazoned with a full size King Kong covering the entire exterior of the coach!  Some might say this is entirely appropriate judging by the festive behaviour indulged in on the return journey, fuelled by wine and mince pies after the service!  But I couldn’t possibly comment on that!!

Anne Crabb – January 2010

25th Jan 2010:
Visit to College of Arms
Queen Victoria Street London EC4

20 members and guests were taken on a personal guided tour of this fascinating building which dates from the 1670's to learn about Heraldry and how a Coat of Arms is created.

They were hosted by Windsor Herald, Mr William Hunt.  It was an utterly fascinating evening and everyone who attended agreed that we would have loved to have spent many hours in the library looking through the vast amount of books.
Bill went through the history of Arms, and how the College came to be in the building it is now in.  He also explained the hierachy of the College.  We then went through to the Library and were shown a wonderful selection of books, some of which dated back over 500 years, and all of which had a history of their own.  Bill explained how Coats of Arms are created and showed us some splendid examples of more recent Coats - including those for Sir Cliff Richard and Sir Elton John!

The evening finished with a buffet supper and a glass of wine.

10th February 2010
Presentation on "The role of the Corporation of City of London - how it operates and interacts"
- St Botolph's Church Hall - Bishopsgate

This presentation was given by Assistant Town Clerk Peter Nelson who normally gives such presentations to those working for the Corporation, Members of Livery and elected representatives only. This was the first time that such a presentation had ben given to represetatives of Ward Clubs but it is very likely NOT to be the last.  Over 55 people members and their guests plus a few representatives of of some of the other Ward Clubs attended an very informative, entertaining and convivial evening in lovely surroundings. The formal part of the evning closed with a short presentation our youngest common councilman Elizabeth Rogula.

The master also attended various formal functions on behalf of the Ward Club - including;

Bishopsgate Ward Club Civic Lunch 6th February - Guildhall
Aldgate Ward Club Civic Lunch 19th May - Guildhall
Langbourne Ward Club Civic Lunch -26th June - Ironmongers Hall
Castle Baynard Centenery Dinner - 16th July - Mansion House

 

The Master's Report
The first event and an annual event held at ‘The Bunch of Grapes’ a favourite watering hole for the Ward Club on the 12^th March was the Members Evening and I was pleased to have the opportunity of meeting a number of prospective new members and many existing members. Some 30 people were present. A very good social event. This was to be followed by another annual event albeit usually held later in the year, namely the wine tasting evening. This year it was entitled ‘Wine tasting with a difference’ at St Botolph’s without Bishopsgate Church Hall on the 2^nd April but unfortunately this event had to be cancelled at the very last moment on the advice of thepolice by reason of the G20 demonstrations taking place the same day and very close indeed to the planned location.

The 19^th May saw me once again at Guildhall representing the Ward Club at the Aldgate Ward Club’s Civic Lunch at which the principal guest was the Lord Mayor. My second visit and this time in the newly refurbished Livery Hall forming part of the Crypt but not previously used for functions but as storage facilities. What a stunning room and what a very enjoyable lunch a chance for a rehearsal for our own Civic Lunch the very next day.

The next event in the calendar the Club’s own Civic Lunch and this year we were back at Guildhall on the 20^th May for what turned out to be a very memorable occasion for an unforeseen incident. This was a very well attended event (170) and a most enjoyable occasion which I thoroughly enjoyed. Earlier that morning we had held the Club’s Annual Service at St Peter-upon-Cornhill at which The President and I read the lessons and The Honorary Chaplain gave the address. Our Ward Club has a very good name at Mansion House as one of the few who always get the Lord Mayor out on time and this year was to be no exception .To ensure this I not only had strict instructions from the Honorary Secretary, Ann Benson but also the toastmaster, Jamie Wallis a personal friend and a fellow member of the P&M with extensive military experience, and my guest speaker Colonel Geoffrey Godbold The Common Cryer and Serjeant at Arms and a former CO of the HAC. How could this plan with such military might go wrong? But we hadn’t bargained for the ‘fifth column’ in the shape of the Guildhall’s fire alarm system. An excellent meal had been served by Mark Grove’s wonderful team and we were about to get down to the sweet when the Crypt had to be evacuated and so we found ourselves in Guildhall Yard in the sunshine! The Lord Mayor agreed that we should give our speeches in the open air thus creating another first not only for the Ward Club but I anticipate for the City when we were given the all clear. But what of our timings and our reputation? Shot to pieces! All credit to the Lord Mayor and the Civic Party they stayed until the end of the formalities despite the event running over by the best part of 45 minutes. Not our fault Governor! I was however able to present the Lord Mayor with a cheque for his charities and he in turn gave me the gift of a silver photo frame, which I am sure should not be in my custody but that of the Club?

On the 17^th June some 32 members and there guests forgathered in Chelsea for a lunchtime visit to The Royal Hospital the home of the famous IN pensioners. We had an excellent tour lasting nearly two hours which was conducted by an In pensioner. This gentleman’s knowledge of the history of the hospital was marvellous and he took the trouble to spend sometime with us after the tour to have a cup of tea in the pensioner’s tea room before rejoining his colleagues who were engaged in a game of bowls. A thoroughly enjoyable and educational day.

The 26^th June saw me dine again representing the Ward Club at our neighbour Langbourne Ward Club’s Civic Lunch held this year at Ironmongers Hall in Shaftesbury Place just off London Wall at which the Lord Mayor was the principal guest and Lord Sheikh of Cornhill responded to the toast to the guests. Again another memorable occasion and very much a success for our fellow Lime Street Ward Club members Peter Hill the Chairman and his wife Sally-Ann.

Because the Wine Merchant, Paul Champness, who was to have conducted the abortive wine tasting on the 2^nd April is also the present Captain commanding the Company of Pikemen and Musketeers he suggested we should resurrect the wine tasting to take place together with the next event, A Visit to the home of the Lord Mayor’s bodyguard which took place on the 6^th July at Armoury House in City Road just outside the City walls. I know I am biased about the place and the event but from all the accounts I have heard this event was not only very well attended (70) but also enjoyed immensely by all those present. We enjoyed a spectacular tour of Armoury House conducted by the IPM of the Guild of Art Scholars Dealers and Collectors and also the Elder Drum Beater of the P&M Jonathan Horne followed by a display of 17^th century drill by the Company and concluding with the wine tasting with a difference conducted by Paul Champness.

On the 16^th July saw me again representing the Ward Club at another Ward Club’s Civic occasion. This time Castle Baynard, the Lord Mayor’s Ward and this time at Mansion House for their centenary dinner. I was there ostensibly on duty for the Lord Mayor as a member of his bodyguard but as happens from time to time a member of the guard is invited to dine and on this occasion the lot fell on me and enabled me to represent the Ward Club in P&M uniform but sporting the Master’s badge.

The summer months of August and September are historically the quiet time for the City as it was the period the Lord Mayor traditionally undertook his foreign trips and so it was for the Ward Clubs. Alas no more The Lord Mayor now travels extensively throughout his year and the Ward Club continues to be active. I am indebted to Peter and Daphne Cave for their tremendous work in organising and making a success of the first Inter Ward Quiz even though I was not present which took place on the 7^th September. £170 was raised for charity, the winning Ward Club donating their 50% to Help for Heroes and our 50% going to my chosen charity The Royal Hospital Chelsea. There has been very positive feedback following the event with the likelihood of this becoming an annual City event. Latter in the month of September the 22^nd to be precise saw some 31 members of the Ward Club and guests assemble south of the river for a city walk around Southwark ‘The Ward Without’ lead by David Thompson MITG the Blue Badge Guide. A tale of pilgrims playwrights prostitutes and gouls.The walk started at The Mug House under London Bridge and concluded at The Anchor at Bankside. In the middle we learnt so much about this part of London that it would take too long to recount save to say that the words of the nursery rhyme ‘Goosey goosey gander’ will never ever have the same meaning again.

Hard on the heels of the City walk came the visit to HM Tower of London by courtesy of Yeoman Warder Ken McGrath on the evening of the 5^th October. We had a maximum turn out of 45 who enjoyed a very personalised tour of the Tower, a buffet reception in the Yeoman Warder’s Club and followed by ring side seats for the Ceremony of the Keys. In between we enjoyed excellent hospitality from the Yeoman Warders and a very successful raffle.