90. Installation Court and Farewell– 9 July

My final task as Master was to chair the Installation Court Meeting held this year at the Stationers’ Hall. It was a great pleasure to admit Graham Howells and Guy Titman as Court Assistants and also to get approval for Nigel Cartwright to continue on the Court for a further year. The Court also approved the installation of our Chaplain, the Rev. Rose Hudson-Wilkin, as an Honorary Freeman of the Company.

The Court meeting having been adjourned, under the direction of our Beadle and our Clerk the ceremony of Installation took place were I handed over the reins to the new Master, Simon Catford.

I have had a fantastic year representing the Company to the best of my ability at many functions. It was a pleasure to work with the Officers and Wardens and hopefully at least maintain the Company in good stead. My grateful thanks go to Ralph Riley, the Deputy Master, Past Masters and all the Officers, Wardens and Members of the Company for their support and encouragement during the year. My thanks also go to Sandra and my immediate family for their support and for putting up with my absences attending the many functions.

I shall of course continue working to the best of my ability for the Company as required as Deputy Master. Thankfully I do not have to write any more Blogs which, like these last ones, have mostly been written somewhat behind time! Thank you David Richards for your speed in getting them on the website.

89. Official Opening of TS Scott’s New Mooring – 7 July

My final formal engagement as Master was to attend the official opening of the Maidstone Sea Cadets’ (Training Ship Scott) new moorings. The Water Conservation Trust has had an affiliation with TS Scott for many years and pay for a berth each year for a cadet on a sail training ship. The 

Trust has also contributed a substantial sum to the cost of the new mooring. On a beautiful warm afternoon, accompanied by Trevor Harrington and Roger North together with our consorts we assembled at the cadets HQ where we were briefed and then moved to the Amphitheatre were the moorings are situated. The official cutting of the ribbon was carried out by the Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Greer. Following an inspection of the mooring we were treated to afternoon tea and an opportunity to speak to the Officer Commanding and other guests.  A splendid occasion to round off my year as Master.

88. Worshipful Company of Paviors Court Dinner – 5 July

I had previously attended the Paviors’ Court Dinner in the evening immediately after my installation as Master last year. This year our Installation Lunch was held slightly later in July and I had the privilege of being invited to the Paviors’ Court Dinner again! Held in the impressive Cutlers’ Hall this was a delightful evening spent in excellent company. The Master, Wardens and Court Assistants were most welcoming and I sat at the end of the top table among extremely interesting companions.

The four course meal was delicious and the accompanying wines truly superb. An interesting speech by Nigel Jackson and the Stirrup Cup rounded of a very enjoyable evening.

87. City of London Freeman’s School Prize-giving – 29 June

The Company, along with many other Livery Companies, has for many years sponsored a prize for Environmental Conservation at the City of London Freemen’s School which is located in Ashtead, Surrey. The Master is invited to attend the school for the full day’s events. Sandra and I arrived for the Senior School music Concert in the morning which was held in the newly constructed Recital Hall. The programme was entitled “Royal Wedding Revisited” and included music performed by pupils and one or two ex-pupils that was included in the recent wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. I have to say that the standard of the performances was absolutely amazing.

We were then treated to Lunch, followed by the Senior School Prize Giving. This was attended by Sheriff Tim Hailes, standing in for the Lord Mayor. Prior to the actual ceremony we were entertained by some of the School’s music scholars. There were well over a hundred prizes given in Academic, Service to the School and Sport categories for the Upper School and Sixth Form. The Company’s prize for Conservation was given to a young lady in the Sixth Form who we had the pleasure to meet in the following reception.

There were numerous events taking place over the whole day which we took advantage of viewing. A very memorable occasion.

86. Firefighters’ Reception 20 June

I was delighted to be invited to the Firefighters’ Annual Reception at the City Livery Club. It is a splendid opportunity to meet with the Master, Wardens and Clerk of the Company as well as several other Masters and Clerks from other Companies. I have known the current Master Firefighter, John Mansfield, for virtually all of my term of office as his year and mine almost coincide and we have met at many functions. The reception was a very convivial event with excellent company and, of course, plentiful food and delightful wine.    

85. Lord Mayor’s Tax Debates, 19 June

As part of the tax profession's contribution to the Lord Mayor's Business of Trust agenda, the Worshipful Company of Tax Advisers and the Chartered Institute of Taxation co-hosted an event at the Mansion House with a very full audience of some 300 from the Livery and the City. The Lord Mayor introduced the programme and the first debate was a UK perspective on whether the public trust in the UK tax system has been impaired by unprecedented levels of tax avoidance. The second debate was an international perspective on the tremendous efforts that Governments and international institutions have put into changing the tax “landscape” in which multinational enterprises operate.

Both debates were extremely interesting. There was a general theme that there was a need to engage with corporations and the public more. On tax avoidance more legislation in the Corporate area was thought to be required and Corporation tax needed to be more robust. It was also considered that Tax Advisors should not be pushing schemes which were against the public benefit. It was considered that some sectors still think tax avoidance is something to be achieved!  Principles of taxation therefore need to be embedded in their culture. 

The debate continued after over drinks and canapés! 

84. Master’s Weekend 15/17 June

A small group of seven met at the De Vere Hotel in East Horsley on the Friday night and had a splendid convivial dinner at the local Duke of Wellington Public House. The following morning, joined by two more guests, we met at Polesden Lacey where we toured the most interesting house which included a very interesting talk by one of the guides about it’s history. 

It was a beautiful sunny day and the ensuing walk around the gardens where there were magnificent floral displays was extremely pleasant. It was our intention to move on elsewhere, but following a light lunch we decided to explore further and watch a couple of the “Pop-up Shakespeare” performances. Not unnaturally Sandra and I volunteered to take part which allowed us to slightly “overact”. Following that we returned to the hotel to prepare for the evening event.

For that we were joined by a further 4 couples and were transported to Denbies Vineyard in Dorking. There we were treated to an interesting film about the development and workings of the vineyard. This was followed by a tour of the vineyard by “train” ending up at the highest point with magnificent views. The weather was very kind to us and here we were treated to sparkling wine and canapés. Returning to the main building we then had a delicious dinner in the Gallery Dining Room overlooking the vineyard with extremely pleasant local and foreign wines. We were then transported back to the Hotel. A splendid and very convivial occasion.