The Plumbers’ 2023 Installation of Master David Adams

This year, the ceremony took an unexpected twist when it was held at a crime scene, with a police officer standing just feet away from the proceedings whilst seemingly recording the event on her body cam.

Set into the wall of the nave overlooking the Thames are four tall, stained-glass windows, each depicting a saint. The window nearest to the altar is dedicated to the church’s saint, Saint Magnus the Martyr, who was slain during a dynastic dispute over whom should control the then Norwegian earldom of Orkney. Any act of physical damage to a house of religious worship naturally generates outrage and offence, but an attack on image of Saint Magnus only magnified it to the nth degree. Three large stones had been hurled through the stained-glass with such force that sherds of glass were to be found on the floor immediately where the ceremony was to take place. The company’s chaplain, Father Philip Warner, who is cardinal-rector of the church, believed that the offence had occurred overnight or early that morning.

Totally oblivious to the events unfolding at the church, members of the Court arrived at Vintners’ Hall to conduct their business. Not only was the Court concerned with the confirmation of the election of the new Master and Wardens, together with the usual business, but at the conclusion of its sitting ,undertook the clothing of 5 new Liverymen.

The new Liverymen who each took their cloth were, below L-R: Tim Rathbone who is a chartered engineer; Andrew Ross who is an investment banker with Standard Chartered; John Holland who is retired from BT; Michael Patton who hails from shipping and logistics; and David Randall who is retired as a plumber and gas engineer in the Royal Engineers.

Whilst the Court meeting was in session, the nave at the church was being treated as a crime scene. Indeed, the area comprising some of the pews where Court members were to sit, and the area below the pulpit, had been roped off by the police. Entry into this sealed area was verboten in the interim. Those Stewards present at the church had therefore been prevented from setting out orders of service and seating reservation cards in that vicinity. Nonetheless, following the conclusion of the Court meeting, the Court procession, led by our beadle Peter Thompson, departed from Vintners’ Hall right on cue, but totally oblivious to the events which had been unfolding at Saint Magnus-the-Martyr.

Aside from three gaping holes in the glazing, three stones on the floor beneath the pulpit, the tiny sherds of glass, and a police officer standing close to the priest and the ceremony, no-one need to have been aware of what had just taken place. Indeed, the police had released the area as a crime scene only ten seconds prior to the arrival of the procession. It is likely that even then, most members of Court would have been unaware of what had transpired until Father Philip Warner had announced the fact to the congregation from his lectern.

Once our Chaplain had made his announcement from the lectern, proceedings continued in the time-honoured fashion. After the Company’s Clerk, Adrian Mumford, had read out the charge to the incoming Master, David Adams, who then assented to the charge, the outgoing Master, Air Cdre Paul Nash OBE, invested his successor. The Clerk then repeated similar charges for the new Wardens before they, in turn, were invested by the new Master. Charles Brooks became the new Upper Warden and Sandra Raine became the Renter Warden for the ensuing year. These formalities were then followed by a service in the usual format with hymns, a reading by both outing and incoming Masters and a rendition of the national anthem.

At the conclusion, the Court processed back to Vintners’ Hall, their feet crunching on the sherds of glass as they left their pews.

Upon the return to Vintners’ Hall by members of the Court, Liverymen, and guests, pre-luncheon sparking wine was served whilst the Master, the Immediate Past Master and their Consorts gave speeches, and gifts were presented. An amazing gift, secretly commissioned by the outgoing Mistress for the new Immediate Past Master, was a timber planter with lead panels cast at the Plumbing Museum and Workshop Trust at Amberley Museum.

All others took their places in the great hall immediately prior to the procession by those who had just been installed. Some 120 persons were present.

The new Master presented to all those gathered the 5 new Liverymen, before stating that he would speak further later. Luncheon was then served. It comprised a smoked mackerel starter, a roasted lamb main course and a dessert comprising pear poached in red wine and served on squares of meringue. The Royal Toast was made with a very smooth port wine. The Immediate Past Master spoke before proceedings were concluded by the Master’s speech.

In his speech, Master David Adams offered thanks to all those involved in the Installation Service and Lunch, and said that he would do his utmost to represent the Company fully and well in the year ahead. He outlined his key theme as ‘International and Environmental’, and spoke about the work that will be undertaken in the upcoming year.

The Ladle Dinner will be held at Painters’ Hall on Tuesday, 14th November for members of the livery to show their appreciation to the new Immediate Past Master for his service to the Company. At the conclusion of that dinner, Malvern Tipping will hand over to Philippa Stary as Senior Steward.

The first event being put on by the new Master for the Company, will be a Visit to Lord’s Cricket Ground, which will include a three-course lunch, on Thursday, 30th November.

Senior Steward Malvern Tipping