MASTER’S REPORT TO COURT
JULY 2009
I am delighted to report that my Installation on June 9th at Drapers Hall was for the first time a public event and witnessed by friends and families of those about to become Freemen and Liverymen.
This public involvement is an innovation and one that I hope my successors will wish to follow and build upon. Then my first act as Master was to install Simon Imbert as Immediate Past Master, Don Randall as Senior Warden, Nigel Churton as Middle Warden and Gerald Moor as Junior Warden. They pledge support to the Company and I look forward to working with them.
Then Freeman of the Company were sworn and Liverymen clothed. The sumptuous surroundings of Drapers Hall undoubtedly enhanced the dignity of the moment. The generous sponsorship of the installation lunch by Knightsbridge Guarding had made this possible and I am very grateful to them.
After a reception more than 250 people sat down to lunch in the magnificent Drapers Hall. As our Chaplin Rev Roger Hall was in New York with the Bishop of London, The Very Reverend Robert Grimley, Dean of Bristol gave us Grace. Many Masters of the Livery were with us including David Addis of the Drapers Company, David Wernick of the Worshipful Company of Wheelwrights. Lorna Walker of the Worshipful Company of Water Conservators, Dr Ian Daniell of the Worshipful Company of Management Consultants, Jack Amos of the Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners, Richard Agutter of the Worshipful Company of Tax Advisers, Roddy Taylor of the Worshipful Company of Builders Merchants, Anthony West of the Clothworkers Company, Jo Connell of the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists and Keith Gabriel the Prime Warden of the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths. In addition we were honoured by the presence of Trevor Smallwood the Master of the Merchant Venturers of Bristol.
Our affiliated links with the armed forces were represented by Air Commodore Stephen Abbott Commanding the RAF Regiment and by Brigadier Eddie Forster-Knight Provost Marshall of the Royal Military Police and by Lt Cdr Ian Feasey XO of HMS Severn representing Lt Cdr Steve Moorhouse its Commanding Officer.
These military liaisons are very important to our Worshipful Company and as all three are very much in the world of security on land, sea and in the air, it is a particularly appropriate affiliation.
After the lunch we awarded for the first time the Ben Flenley Memorial Trophy to Corporal Wallis Eade of the RAF Regiment attached to the Special Forces Support Group. During 2008 Corporal Wallis-Eade was attached to the Royal Marines and was deployed in Hermand Province for 6 months.
During a fierce fire fight with the Taliban in October 2008 and whilst subject to sustained and accurate enemy fire Corporal Wallis-Eade directed motor fire and co-ordinated counter attacks from fast jets. These actions enabled an isolated patrol to withdraw safely and without it, lives would have undoubtedly been lost.
The Worshipful Company rose as one to applaud Corporal Wallis-Eade and it was my privilege to present him with the Ben Flenley Rose Bowl.
Our Principal Guest, Peter Clarke the former Head of Counter Terrorism at the Metropolitan Police spoke to us about the current threat situation and his words were relevant and timely. Peter had been made Freeman of the Company that very morning and in a way his presence as a new Company Member symbolised how far we have come in a short time as a Livery and how relevant we are to the twenty first century.
Steve Parsons
July ‘09
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