A message from the Master

From the Master

As Master of the Company I will keep you informed of with what the Company is doing in these very difficult and challenging times.

In these unprecedented times I trust all Liverymen and their families are keeping safe from the pernicious COVID-19 virus and following the appropriate health guidelines.

All our events have now been cancelled from our Banquet to the lecture and the Master’s Break in St Mawes. It is so disappointing. I thank all those liverymen who have been in contact to say how sorry and disappointed they are that my year as Master has come to a premature and abrupt end.  This is equally true with every other Livery Company in the City. There is no telling when this closure will be lifted, and future events listed as open may well be cut.

Understandably, there will be no Court meeting in April or luncheon. Sir Robert Worcester, Stationer and Newspaper Maker, is equally sorry he cannot attend as he was much looking forward to it and passes his good wishes to the Livery. My other guest Martin Clayton, Head of Prints and Drawings, The Royal Collection Trust, Windsor Castle, is equally disappointed he cannot attend.

Committees are expecting to meet electronically and the Court will be provided with customary papers, inviting such decisions as have to be made to be done electronically.

We will be constantly reviewing the position in the light of further developments, and I will of course keep you closely in touch with the way thinking is evolving.

The Office at Carpenters’ Hall is now closed. In the meantime, Adrian is working from home. Please bear this in mind and consider carefully before contacting the Office (by email rather than by phone) with any non-urgent enquiries.

Our Almoner, Caroline Walsh, has requested telephone numbers of those Liverymen, should they wish to be communicated, who are on their own and would like contact: cawalsh76@icloud.com

Above all, please look after yourselves, and keep well.

All the very best

Peter T J Rumley

Master