BANCROFT'S SCHOOL VISITATION DAY: 1 JULY

Each year around the beginning of July the Master and Wardens make their annual Visitation to Bancroft's School.  As with all other Company visitations the purpose is now entirely ceremonial.  There is no longer any examination of staff or pupil competence as there was a hundred years ago.  In fact the level and diversity of academic achievement at the school would rule me out as an examiner much above Prep school.  Instead there are many opportunities throughout the day to meet everyone associated with the school including governors, Bancroftians - both at the school and leavers- and staff .

The day started with an excellent musical performance at the Preparatory School that is traditionally intertwined with prizegiving.  We then set off for lunch in the Head's garden.

However I had been asked by Past Master Stephen Foakes, Chairman of Governors, whether I would be prepared to unveil a plaque commemorating the completion of some very handsome art rooms and a study room for the sixth form.  I was, of course, was most honoured.  But as I drew back the black crepe curtain and was about to announce the building open I suddenly realised it was not called the Art and Sixth Form Block but had been re-named the Lyons' Building.  It was a total 'gotcha' moment.  Everyone else was in on the secret and photos will be posted in due course.

It was explained that the reason was that my surname is a lot shorter than using the term Arts and Sixth Form Block. Whatever the reason I am deeply honoured.  I was a governor at the school from 2002 to 2008 and Chairman for most of that period.  It was a time when we embarked on a huge modernisation programme that still continues.  It is a very odd experience to be recognised in this way and I am deeply touched that the governors and staff felt this was an appropriate thing to do.

After lunch it was prizegiving and speeches.  I presented the first Drapers' Company Medal to a school (see another post this month) and also got to have a go on a piece of sports equipment.  (Details follow)

Then it was off to visit exhibits and a final cup of tea and slice of cake.

As is now normal the sun shone throughout the day.  The traditional cricket match ebbed and flowed throughout the morning and afternoon and I had been both deeply surprised and honoured in equal measure.

A DRAPERS WALKING STICK

The ram's head

Past Master Stephen Foakes is a talented woodworker and craftsman generally.  Recently, to commemorate my tenure as Master, he gave me a very handsome walking stick.  It is a most imaginative gift and is just the right size.

Thank you Stephen.

HONORABLE ARTILLERY COMPANY CLUB DINNER: 4 FEBRUARY



A general view of Artillery Fields, Finsbury Place the home of the HAC

The Honorable Artillery Company (HAC) is one of the City and the Army's great institutions.  Located just North of the Hall at Finsbury Place it was traditionally the City's volunteer force.  It was incorporated into the Territorial Army (TA) some hundred years ago and, despite constant changes in role, still flourishes.  As well as being an effective military unit it provides an essential and the flourishing link between the Army and the wider City community that has sadly eroded elsewhere in many towns and cities across the country as the TA has been successively reduced in size.  For more details go to http://www.hac.org.uk/

The Company of Pikemen and Musketeers (Musketeers on the flanks and Pikemen in the centre) on parade at Artillery Fields.

My links with the HAC go back over forty years.  My brother, David, joined at the same time as Past Master Stephen Foakes in 1970.  Both are still serving in the Company of Pikemen and Musketeers, a revival from the trained band period of the HAC's history.  The Company is frequently seen on City ceremonial occasions in their seventeenth century uniforms using what now appears to be the theatrical drill movements of the same period.

The January HAC Club Dinner is designed to reinforce the links between the City and the HAC.  Many members of the HAC, both serving and veterans, are members of various City liveries and are encouraged to invite their Masters and Clerks.  The Dinner was held in the handsome panelled dining room at Artillery Fields.  It still looks just the same as it did when I went to my first mess-night there over forty years ago but I think the food has got a bit better.  I went as guest of Past Master Stephen Foakes who looked resplendent in the scarlet tunic and lace of Sergeant of Pikemen.

Major General Simon Lalor, in his capacity of the President of the HAC Club, made us most welcome and my host had been asked to make the speech of welcome to the guests which he did most skilfully fitting together a string of individuals most elegantly.  The principal speaker was General Sir Nicholas Parker the current Commander in Chief Land Forces who made a wide ranging and challenging speech on the issues facing the Army.

Being back at the HAC brought back many memories and it is good to see how the unit has continued to adapt and flourish so successfully.

LORD LIEUTENANT OF GREATER LONDON'S DINNER 31 JANUARY

Sir Michael Craig-Cooper,  in his capacity as Vice Lord Lieutenant presenting a log service award to Ian Cooper of the London Fire Brigade in November 2009.

Monday marked the end of an era when Sir Michael Craig-Cooper, a Past Master of the Company, was dined out by his fellow lieutenants as Vice Lord Lieutenant of Greater London.  He was Deputy Lieutenant of Kensington and Chelsea between 1987 and 2006 and has held the important post of Vice Lord Lieutenant of Greater London since 2005.

For those who come across this blog, and might be a little vague on the subject, the Lord Lieutenant is the monarch's local representative.  These days the duties are essentially ceremonial and representative. It is an honorary appointment and in broad terms there is a lord lieutenant for each county.  To help him or her the lord lieutenant appoints deputies. The arrangements in Greater London are slightly different from other areas in that in addition to the vice lord lieutenant there are deputy lieutenants assigned to each of the 32 London boroughs as well as some sixty supernumary ones.

The jobs are busy ones with the deputy lieutenants having a full timetable of representational activities.  The Vice Lord Lieutenant sits in the middle of this web of activity with an important role in ensuring everything goes smoothly.

A number of other Drapers also involved in this side of Michael's activities were also present. These included Past Master Stephen Foakes and Lords Biliamoria and Boyce who are liverymen.

It was evident from the dinner that Michael is held in very high esteem for his unerring ability to make things work, with the hallmarks of great charm and courtesy, so that the London lieutenancy runs smoothly.  Sir David Brewer, a former Lord Mayor, is the current Lord Lieutenant.  In his speech he paid a warm tribute to Michael's great civic contribution that clearly not only elicited a strong response with his fellow deputy lieutenants but also from representatives of the wide range of other organisations, such as Royal Hospital Chelsea, where he plays, or has played, an essential role in their success.

It was entirely appropriate that Michael's departure from the lieutenancy could take place in 'his' Hall.  And it was just right that his departure warmly celebrated his great contribution to the life of London.

ST JOHN AMBULANCE: A NEW DRAPER AFFILIATION

Nicholas Anstee, the last Lord Mayor, suggested that livery companies might wish to adopt St John Ambulance Cadet Units, see www.sja.org.uk/ for further information.  Because of our increasing involvement with the Harold Hill community it has been agreed that the Company's name be linked to to the Harold Hill Division. Also the division will be more closely associated with Drapers' Academy.

Freeman Jeremy Bromfield MBE, who is exceptionally well known to generations of Bancroftians as he was at the school from 1978 until recently - and still hasn't really left - will act a Company liaison.

Incidentally, he is also working on a new version of the history of Bancroft's School.  This follows on from the late liveryman Kevin Wing's book of some thirty years ago.  He is aiming to publish in time for the school's 275th anniversary in 2012.   Quite a challenge but I am sure Jeremy will rise to it.

Past Master Stephen Foakes, who among many other voluntary commitments, is St John Ambulance Area President for North East London, has been keeping a close watch on the project.

To complete the picture his son, liveryman Tom Foakes, is curator of the recently opened Museum of the Order of St John in Clerkenwell.  It has started well.  Go and see www.museumstjohn.org.uk/ where you may wish to note the very positive review by the Evening Standard of earlier this month.

LORD MAYOR'S SHOW 2010: 13 NOVEMBER

The Lord Mayor's splendid coach, escorted by pikemen of the Honourable Artillery Company, on the Lord Mayor's Show parade.  Past Nasterc Stephen Foakes is a leading member of this ancient organisation and marched immediaitely behind the coach.  Unfortunately he is out of sight in this picture.

Saturday was the Lord Mayor's Show, for more details of this lively parade through the streets of the City of London go to http://www.lordmayorsshow.org/

As Master Draper I was not required to be in the show this year as involvement is shared out amongst the Great XII companies.  However I did take part in the Lord Mayor's Show Flotilla later in the afternoon; see next post.

Rosemary and I decided to make it a family outing to London to see the street parade.  Also the Hall was open during the day to allow the Freedom, Livery and those working for the Company to use as a base. Lunch was also laid on.  As the Hall is only a few hundred yards from the Mansion House it is in an ideal position to observe the start and finish of the parade.

Lunch was a great success.  Children were most welcome and it was great to see a rather younger crowd than normal in the Hall.  Also I am certain some future liveryen and freemen, and possibly a future Master, received their first introduction to the Company.

A great day that was both quite mild and more importantly entire free from rain.  At 2.30pm we were off to HMS President at St Katherine's Dock to take part in the flotilla: see next post.

BANCROFT'S SCHOOL GOVERNORS' MEETING 21 SEPTEMBER

Bancroft's School, founded in 1737 by the Drapers' Company as trustees of Francis Bancroft's will, is today a highly successful co-educational independent school.  See http://www.bancrofts.org/ for further details.

The close links between the between the school and the Company continue on many levels.  One small manifestation of these ties is that two governors' meetings a year are held at the Hall.  Traditionally the Master is in attendance at these meetings.  In the past the Master was styled as the Visitor.  However when Professor Graham Zellick was Master last year he pointed out that this title raised some interesting and probably unresolvable legal issues.  So this year I attend in an untitled, and possibly a little uncertain, capacity.

The Chairman of Governors, who is always a Draper, is currently Past Master Stephen Foakes.  I was chairman of governors from 2003 to 2008 immediately before him.  Caroline Bonnor-Moris, Dr Colette Bowe and Craig Tallents are also Drapers' governors out of a total of some fifteen also drawn from London Borough of Redbridge, Essex County Council, the Old Bancroftians and the local community, some of whom have sent children to the school.

I had not attended a Bancroft's School meeting since November 2008 when I stood down to devote my time to Drapers' Academy.  It was heartening to see that the school still makes excellent progress under the leadership of the Head, Mary Ireland, and a whole range of intiatives that will continue to improve the school are being actively and enthusiastically developed by the governors and the senior leadership team.