ALMSHOUSE RESIDENTS' TEA PARTY: 11 APRIL

One certain indication that spring has arrived is the tea party that is put on at the Hall for the almshouse residents and staff.  It takes place in the Livery Hall which is laid out in tables of twelve.  The Master and Wardens act as hosts and other members of the Company attend including members of the Friends of Drapers' Almshouses (FODAH) team. 

There is the ever popular piano playing by Philip Godfrey who plays medleys of tunes and any requests.  For more details about Philip go to www.philipgodfrey.co.uk/   I regret that we have yet to hear any selections from his recent musical Casanova.

We had a good turn-out but it probably had a smidgen less glamour than last year when Royal Freeman HRH Duchess of Gloucester attended and really charmed the alshouse residents. 

It was a glorious sunny day and the Philip's rendition of popular tunes from the forties and fifties added a distinct touch of jollity as the cream teas were served.

VISITATION TO QUEEN ELIZABETH COLLEGE, GREENWICH: 7 APRIL

Quen Elizabeth College looking from the north.  In the centre is the chapel and around it are the one bedroom cottages originally built in 1818 and subsequently extended some thirty five years ago.  The trees, largely cherry, are always in bloom at Visitation time.

On Thursday the Master and Wardens conducted their first almshouse visitation to Queen Elizabeth College (QEC) in Greenwich.  The Visitation is now an enirely ceremonial affair. But in the past it used to be the highpoint - or possibly high stress point for the staff - of the year when the efficiency and good management of the almshouse was thoroughly inspected by the Master and Wardens on behalf of their fellow trustees who then reported back their findings to the Court.

The Visitation of QEC also has a further feature.  When the endowment was established by William Lambarde in 1576 he asked the Master of the Rolls, one of England's most senior judges, to be the Visitor.  Lambarde had a particular friendship with Sir William Cordell who was Master of the Rolls at the time and 325 years later the tradition continues.  This year Baron Neuberger of Abbotsbury paid his second visit to the College.

The Visitation started with a short service in the chapel, that can seat about fifty.  Rev Chris Moody, Vicar of St Alfege and also a member of the Company's Sir William Boreman Foundation that helps students in of the London Boroughs of Greenwich and Lewisham, officiated.  Towards the end of the service the Master of the Rolls gave a short address and as he left the chapel he was, as is traditional, presented with a pair of white kid gloves.  These are nowadays returned for use on following years.

We then moved on to the community centre where we met a large number of residents.  I have been Chairman of the Friends of Drapers' Almhouses (FODAH) for some years now and it was good to meet up with residents I have known for some time and also to meet new faces.  Also members of FODAH including Liverymen Felicity Conway and Jonathan Bush as well as Sir Nicholas Jackson Bt, who leads the QEC FODAH team, were present.  Any member of the Company is also invited to attend and it was good to see a recently joined Freeman, James Baily, present.

All in all a lovely day, the sun shone, the blossom looked lovely and with the Visitation completed spring has definitely arrived.

Later this month we are visiting Walter's Close in Southwark and Edmanson's at Bruce Grove, Tottenham but before that on Monday 11 April it is the residents' tea party at the Hall.  I shall post this next week.  

EDMONSON'S CLOSE: FODAH SUMMER OUTING TO LEEDS CASTLE 15 SEPTEMBER

Each September one of FODAH's (Friends of Drapers' AlmsHouses) activities is to organise an outing for the residents of the almshouses.  This is generously funded by the Company.  For some reason, although it takes place in September, it seems to have acquired the name of the Summer Outing. 

Junos and the Paycock. A peacock comes to meet the Edmonsons Close team while they wait for transport up to Leeds Castle.  I think it was entirely courteous curiosity on his part.  From left to right Mrs Margaret Beckford, Mrs Flo Lammas, Mrs Jessie Edmunds and Mrs Dot Quashie

Surveying the estate.  Ben Thompson-McCausland (right), who leads the FODAH group covering Walters Close, and myself on the restaurant open air deck with Leeds Castle in the background.
With thanks to Herry Lawford for the photograph

The normal pattern is to go to the seaside every alternate year with an inland destination between.  The only essential criterion is that it should be less than a two hour coach journey.  This year we decided to visit beautiful Leeds Castle near Maidstone in Kent.

On Wednesday some thirty residents, Mavia Wedderburn the Warden, myself and liverymen Bruce Hopking and Ben Thompson-McCausland boarded the coach at Edmonson's Close at 9.30.  We arrived at Leeds Castle around 11.00am and were met by Liverymen Herry Lawford, who leads the Edmonson's FODAH team, and Christopher Barker.

The day went very well.  There are four key ingredients to a good FODAH outing.  These are: a stress free journey, a really attractive and interesting place to visit, good value and pleasant restaurants and coffee opportunities and, finally, good weather.  All four were fully met.

As the afternoon drew to a close we set off back to Edmonsons we reflected on a most enjoyable day.  Next week it is a joint outing by Walters and Quen Elizabeth College to the same location.  I cannot make that outing but am certain it will be just an enjoyable.

My thanks to Lynda Lampshire at the Hall for the faultless organisation of the day and thanks to Mavia and the Drapers for supporting the outing, there was a degree of wheelchair work required so that all could appreciate the day.