The Master’s Blog 26

VISIT TO BRIDGNORTH: MONDAY AND TUESDAY 14 AND 15 MAY 2018

The programme of social visits organised for Liverymen is generally focused on venues in or around London. Recognising that we have Liverymen all over the United Kingdom, I was determined in approaching the role of Master that we would have at least one trip outside of London. When I discovered that the Cliff Railway in Bridgnorth is owned by one of our Stewards, Dr Malvern Tipping (and his family), I requested that we arrange an out-of-London visit to Bridgnorth in Shropshire.  

After a pleasant journey to Bridgnorth, we start the visit by travelling on a steam train on the Severn Valley Railway from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster (and back). Our group (some 23 in number) enjoy the visit and we head to The Down Inn, near Bridgnorth
where we enjoy dinner followed by an excellent presentation on the history of the Cliff Railway by Malvern. Tuesday morning sees us gathering at the Low Town station of the funicular railway where we have a further interesting introduction before riding to the station in High Town. This route, used by locals and tourists, has been operating for 126 years and is clearly valued by those travelling on it. We return to The Down Inn for lunch (at which we are joined by the Mayor of Bridgnorth, Ron Whittle OBE, his wife, Carole and the Master and members of Gild of Bridgnorth Freemen). We return to the town for a guided tour led by the Town Guide, Derek, Crockson and get a fascinating insight into this lovely, historical town. 

It is good to report that the overwhelming feedback we received from Liverymen and their partners and guests is that our trip to Bridgnorth has been an overwhelming success and
we express grateful thanks to Dr Malvern Tipping for sharing the railway and the town with us and to Senior Steward, Ian Smith and his wife Patience for their unstinting efforts in organising the event and keeping us in order while we are there.

SUPPER WITH THE LADY MAYORESS: WEDNESDAY 16 MAY 2018

A few hours after our return to London, the Mistress meets up with other Consorts for a supper at Guildhall hosted by the Lady Mayoress, Samantha Bowman. This event, which has been arranged as a pre-Ironbridge event (all Masters, their consorts along with the civic team are due to be there in mid-June for the annual Livery visit to the home of the Industrial Revolution.

INTER-LIVERY YACHTING REGATTA: FRIDAY SUNDAY: 18-20 MAY 2018

Although this is the first year in many that the Plumbers’ Company has not entered a boat in the City Livery Yacht Club’s annual Inter-Livery Regatta in Cowes on the Isle of Wight, we decide that this is a good opportunity to visit the Island for the first time. We thoroughly enjoy the trip and are impressed by the beauty of this part of the UK. The weather is stunning (apart from some early morning fog on the Saturday) and we visit the Island Sailing Club for lunch and then join the sailors from a large number of Livery Companies for the evening dinner and awards presentation at the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes. We cheer the winning crews and are pleased to note successes for boats from the Stationers, Furniture Makers, Innholders, Dyers and Leathersellers.