This is my fourth opine as the Master of the Worshipful Company of Security Professionals.  Blogging is a very twenty first century curiosity.  If it is of interest to the membership, please let us know on our feedback form at the end of this blog.

Banquet at Mansion House

Since I last wrote the Lord Mayor Alderman Nick Anstee personally invited all the Livery Masters and their partners to a glittering white tie Banquet at Mansion House.  A great occasion and one in which the collective significance and power of the Livery movement was tangible.

United Guilds Service at St Paul’s Cathedral

The next morning it was Livery full pomp and circumstance again as we all assembled at St Paul’s Cathedral for the United Guilds Service.

Livery precedence dictates that as the one hundred and eighth Livery Company of the City of London, we are seated at the back of the Nave.  The Masters of the Great Twelve, combined with a smattering of other Livery Masters, followed by the City Marshal in full fig, all the holders of office in the City of London proceeded by Dean and Chapter and finally the Lord Mayor.

It is a breathtaking sight and if you have never attended this service in St Paul’s Cathedral, do put the date Friday April 1^st 2011 in your diary and apply to the Clerk for a ticket.  I believe we are allocated around a dozen tickets so first come etc! 

We retired for lunch afterwards at Stationers Hall with 6 other Livery Companies.

Our Clerk was really suffering that day with a nasty virus that developed into full pneumonia.  We wish her well for a speedy recovery.

WCoSP Mistress’s Lunch at Watermen’s Hall

The following Friday March 26^th, we held the first WCoSP Mistress’s Lunch at Watermen’s Hall for lady members and the wives of Court Assistants.  As you will see the lunch table was beautifully laid and eighteen ladies had a very jolly time.  Julie Cook, the wife of Sheriff Peter Cook was guest of honour and I am told (because of course I was not there after my welcome) she spoke of the high regard and reputation that the Security Professionals have in the City of London.  The illuminated Bravery Award outside the Judges Robing room in the Old Bailey where she lives this year reminds her of us every morning as she goes to breakfast.

My 3 year old granddaughter was with me that day and we left Watermen’s to visit St Paul’s Cathedral, Hamleys and then had lunch at Fortnum and Masons whilst the ladies lunched. I had a really lovely time.

Election Meeting at Vintners Hall

On the last day of the month, it was my penultimate Court Meeting as Master of the Company and our election meeting.  We met in the historic Court Room of Vintners Hall in the very room that the restoration of the Stuart monarchy was negotiated in 1660. The famous General Monck the man largely responsible for the peaceful restoration of Charles II after Cromwell’s death visited a number of Livery Companies and it was the Vintners who paid for the festivities and celebrations when the King returned to London.

Thus we were in a room of great significance for our election Court which was entirely fitting as it is a significant meeting for our Worshipful Company.

I am delighted to report that Don Randall MBE was elected Master for the year beginning June 9^th 2010 and I offer him my sincere congratulations and hope he has as much fun and pleasure as I have during my year.  Nigel Churton MBE was elected to Senior Warden and Gerald Moor to Middle Warden.  Fay Merrick was elected to Junior Warden and I am sure you will share my delight for her as she embarks on a journey that should lead her to the Masters Chair in 3 years time.

Two new Court Assistants were also elected Barry Stewart and Stuart Seymour.  My congratulations to them both and I look forward to welcoming them to Court in June.

For those of you thinking of becoming a Court Assistant, the qualification is that you be a Liveryman and will first have served on a Standing Committee for two years.

Please contact the Clerk if you are interested in becoming a Court Assistant.

The Court was in talkative mood that night and the business of the evening ran until 7.15 p.m. whereupon we retired to the Swan room for a glass of Pol Roger and then to dinner.

The Middle and Junior Warden both “sang for their supper” by giving us amusing stories between courses and then the Immediate Past Master, Simon Imbert gave a lovely toast to the Master and to the Worshipful Company. I am most grateful to Simon for his wonderful support to me during this past year.

As Master, I had been given the opportunity to stay the night at Vintners Hall and as my colleagues all made their way home, I ascended the haunted staircase which was as chill as Marley’s Ghost and so to bed.

Easter then on with Business

Easter was a good moment to recharge the batteries and catch up with the Family and a backlog of admin.

Then yesterday, it was lunch at the Old Bailey with Sheriff Peter Cook and the Masters of the Drapers, Sadlers Information Technologists and the Prime Warden of the Dyers.

The Information Technologists have also just been awarded a Royal Charter and intend to celebrate it in style later this year.

I am now almost into the last 2 months of being Master of the Worshipful Company of Security Professionals.  There will be at least one more blog before I pass the baton to Don and please do give us feedback on this blog and on our new website generally on the feedback form below.