The Master’s Blog 12

CITY UNIVERSITY GRADUATION: 29 JANUARY 2018
It is some 40 years since my own graduation ceremonies (two in consecutive years) from Heriot Watt University. Apart from a couple of subsequent graduations of friends and family, today sees me at a graduation ceremony of the City University, London in the magnificent setting of the Barbican Centre.
After a delightful lunch in the Barbican’s Garden Room (an oasis on the third floor of the centre), the Livery Masters in attendance are gowned and chained and lined up in order of precedence for the procession through the gathered company of students and their families onto the stage. After seeing the installation of the Lord Mayor, Alderman Charles Bowman, as Rector and the conferment on him of an Honorary Degree, we witness the joy on the faces of almost 400 graduands as they cross the stage to receive their degrees from the newly- appointed Rector. Although I have to “shuffle” my position on the seat on the stage several times during the two-hour long ceremony to remain comfortable, I have to say that it was a huge honour to witness so many young (and not so young) people being recognised for the hard work they have undertaken during their period of study.
OFFICE CATCH-UP: 31 JANUARY 2018
After last week’s Court meeting and Luncheon, the attention of the Plumbers’ office now moves to the Annual Banquet- one of the premier events in the Livery year. This year’s event will take place in the Mansion House (the official residence of the Lord Mayor of London) on Wednesday 21 March 2018 and today sees me in the Company offices with the Clerk discussing the details of that event in order that the invitations and flyers can be issued. During our discussions, we also review a number of other future events.