COMPANY MEDAL PRESENTATIONS AT THE ALMSHOUSES: 14 JULY

At Edmanson's Close I explain the story of the medal before making presentations.  The room is the combined social club and chapel.  Photograph with thanks to Herry Lawford.

On Thursday I presented Drapers' Company Medals at the Company's three almshouses.  Alastair Ross, the Clerk, came with me.  We visited Queen Elizabeth College and Walter's Close in the morning and Edmanson's Close in the afternoon.  Readers of this blog will know that residents of the almshouses over 85 and who have lived in a Drapers' almshouse for five years are eligible to receive the medal.

At each site I explained about the decision to reinstitute the medal after a hundred years or so and the further decision to present it to residents.  I then presented the medals to those who were well enough to receive them.  I also made special visits to those who felt they could no leave their cottages or flats.

At each almshouse we were given excellent tea and cakes and it was good to catch up with the residents' stories.  Past Master Sir Nicholas Jackson was with us at Queen Elizabeth College and Liveryman Herry Lawford at Edmanson's Close.

I sensed the presentations were popular.  The medals are individually named and are thus a real link between the Company and the individual recipient.  They are also a token of the Company's ongoing commitment as trustees of the various almshouses.

Alastair and myself just about to leave Edmanson's Close.  Photograph with thanks to Herry Lawford.

ALMSHOUSE VISITATIONS: 28 APRIL

On Thursday the Wardens carried out their annual visit to Walter's Close, Southwark in the morning  and Edmanson's Close, Tottenham in the afternoon.  The other almshouse visitation to Queen Elizabeth College had take place a week earlier (See post of 9 April).

Traditionally the visitations were the formal inspection of the almshouses but these days the Wardens receive quarterly reports as to what is going on and there is also a regular communication between the current almshouse managers. Hanover Housing, and the Company.  As a consequence the visitations are now essentially social and ceremonial events.

The visit to Walter's Close is always the least informal of the three and takes the form of a a discussion with residents over coffee, tea and cakes around eleven o'clock.  We were accompanied by Herry Lawford, who actually leads the FODAH team at Edmanson's Close - and came along on the afternoon visit as well - and Liveryman Rupert Phelps who is one of the FODAH visitors at Walter's Close.

Fola Adedosu, who runs Walter's, made us welcome and it was good to meet up with a good cross section of residents, both of long standing and new arrivals.  Inevitably much of the conversation was about the Royal Wedding next day.

Just before the service at Edmanson's Close.  Left to right: John Freestone, Beadle, William Charnley, Junior Warden, Anthony Walker, Master Warden, self, Christian Williams, Renter Warden and Alastair Ross, Clerk.  Photograph with acknowledgements to Herry Lawford.

In the afternoon we went from the Hall to Bruce Grove.  Changing in to our robes we attended a service conducted by the newly arrived Father Tony Haynes.  I gave a short address describing how the three almshouse charities created by Edmanson, Pemel and Jolles had been united nearly 150 years ago and with a further endowment had moved on to the Bruce Grove site, largely because the expansion of the railway network in London led to a lot of compulsory purchasing of land in the inner city and a better site had become available in an area which at that time was right on the fringe of London.  The success of the Edmanson's Close had been the collective work of many but a most important part had been the contribution of residents past and present to create a unique and thriving community.

Afterwards Lesley Flynn who runs Edmanson's Close and her helpers, including Mvia Wedderburn, had laid on a delicious tea.  Again discussion turned to the Royal Wedding

Throughout the sun shone brightly and Lynda Lampshire at the Hall, who acts as the secretary to FODAH, organised the day very well.

WELL BEING OF WOMEN CITY CHRISTMAS FAIR: 6 DECEMBER

Each year The Company donates the Hall for a day to be the venue for the City Christmas Fair held to benefit Well Being of Women.  This is a charity that aims to improve women's health through research, training and education.  This includes funding for medical research for better treatments, specialist training for medical practitioners and the wider education for women so that they can stay well.  For further details go to www.wellbeingofwomen.org.uk/

The major rooms are packed with stalls selling every possible thing you might possibly want for Christmas.  When I walked around at midday it was crowded and clearly doing very well.  I was told afterwards that footfall was the highest ever and hopefully this should translate into higher sales and more revenue for Well Being of Women and the businesses that supported the fair.

This is an annual and very successful event.  Not only does it raise a significant sum but it also gives prominence to Well Being of Women's work in the City.

If you want to see some good pictures of the day go to Liveryman Herry Lawford's excellent Herry's Journal http://www.herrylaw.blogspot.com/ 

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.