Ladle Dinner at Painters’ Hall

The Plumbers’ 2023 Ladle Dinner was hosted this year at Painters’ Hall. Being open only to members of the Livery, it is therefore a rather an intimate engagement at which one can better make the acquaintance of fellow Liverymen. It is also an informal affair, which dispenses with formal attire in favour of lounge suits.

The Worshipful Company of Painter-Stainers has its roots in the thirteenth century and is placed at number twenty-eight in the order of livery precedence. The Painter-Stainers received their first charter in 1581 from Elizabeth I. Their first hall was donated in 1532 by Alderman Sir John Browne, who was Sergeant-Painter to Henry VIII. The present hall was opened in 1961 after its immediate predecessor had been destroyed by enemy action in 1941. Due to the craft represented by the Painter-Stainers, their hall is one enjoying a rich display of fine stained glass. This is especially the case in the great hall where diners are afforded a most impressive adornment of exquisite stained glass featuring several examples of coats of arms to the delight of the enthusiasts of heraldry.

As is the custom, those Liverymen attending were greeted by the outgoing Senior Steward, who directed them into the pre-dinner drinks reception on the ground floor, where other stewards were able to sell Company memorabilia and Company-branded bottles of alcoholic spirits to them.

At 18.45, the Beadle directed diners, with the exception of the processing party, to their places in the Great Hall. Ten minutes later, the processing party, comprising the Beadle, the Senior Steward, the Immediate Past Master, the Master, the other Stewards, and the Clerk processed in that order.

The guest of honour was our Immediate Past Master, Air Cdre Paul Nash OBE. The chair was taken by the Senior Steward, Dr. Malvern Tipping. Following grace, which our Company Chaplain Father Philip Warner used for the occasion to mark the King’s seventy-fifth birthday, soup was served to the top table by the Master, David Adams. Bread huffers were served before the Master undertook this traditional role. The soup was spiced pumpkin. This was followed by braised lamb shoulder with a potato croquette and charred cabbage. Diners seemed to be especially appreciative of the pudding, which comprised an apple tarte tartine enhanced by rum and raisin ice-cream.

As is the norm, following the loving cups and the formal toasts, the Master proceeded to propose the Silent Toast, at which those Liverymen who had gone before us, including the first Master, Abraham Greene, were remembered in silence. The collection by the two Wardens through the poor boxes, then raised the magnificent sum of £1,275.

This year, the re-presentation of the ladles to the Past Masters took a slightly different form to that of recent years. Instead of having to advance and stretch over the top table to receive back their silver ladles, the Past Masters were led by the Beadle behind the chair from where they were re-presented with their silver ladles by the Chairman. Following a toast to the Immediate Past Master by Past Master Professor Rodney Cartwright, the newest liveryman, David Pearson, then presented a silver ladle to IPM Paul Nash.

IPM Paul Nash then spoke, expressing his appreciation of his year as Master and then thanked outgoing Senior Steward Malvern Tipping for his service during the year, before presenting him with his Past Steward’s certificate. In reply, Malvern Tipping stated how he had enjoyed the six years’ experience as a Steward, and especially how it had been an honour and privilege to have served as Senior Steward to the IPM.

Malvern Tipping then announced that he would be breaking with tradition by presenting the IMP with three volumes of the “Modern Practical Plumber”, published seventy years previously, so that on those cold, wintry nights in Lincolnshire, when the golf course was closed, and the Plumbers’ yacht was moored, the IPM could learn how to become a real plumber. The outgoing Senior Steward then once again thanked the IPM for the journey before he handed the chair to his successor, Philippa Stary, who proceeded to conclude the proceedings.

Several of those liverymen present expressed how much they had appreciated the venue. In particular, they seem to have liked the Great Hall, which was not only was illuminated by exquisite stained-glass windows, but was almost square in shape, rather than the long halls which so many Companies seem to have. The general consensus was that the venue was an excellent one in which to have held the Ladle Dinner.

Past Senior Steward Dr. Malvern Tipping.