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The Master’s Year

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The last formal dinner of the year was the Sir Christopher Wren Banquet, which was held on 2 June
in the magnificent surroundings of Drapers’ Hall. Some 187 members and their guests including the
Masters of the Carpenters, Painter-Stainers, Masons, Plumbers, Apothecaries, Glass Sellers, Builders
Merchants, Chartered Architects & Parish Clerks accompanied by their Partners & Consorts, sat down
to a splendid meal served in a correct, but relaxed, fashion. The Master’s Principal Guest was His
Hon Judge Peter Rook, who gave an amusing speech where the Clerk go off lighter than the Master,
when the Old Bailey's records were raided … not a cattle rustler in sight! Peter Rook is well known
for the production of “More Trial and Error” each year, (the
judges support for the Sheriffs’ and Recorder’s Fund), as well as
dealing with some of the grimmer trials of recent years. The
musical entertainment came from the Band of the Royal Marines
Association and finished with the Post Horn Gallop with the
post-horn player circling the room whist not dropping a note. All
in all, a successful and enjoyable evening which showed the
Company off in a very good light.
On 6 July, the Court met at Tallow Chandlers’ Hall. Following that session there was a champagne
th
reception in the open courtyard of the Hall, with the weather proving to be more than kind given that
it was during the first week of a Wimbledon that had been seriously affected by rain. The Master
entertained Ian Makowski, the Immediate Past Master of the Tinplate Workers and Wire Drawers;
Mark Spofforth, Master Chartered Accountant; Peter Simeons, Master Feltmaker and Captain Flavian
D’Souza, Master Mariner. We were also pleased to have with us some of our newly admitted
Freemen together with other members of the Company and their guests.
Our final formal event was Common Hall, which was held on 21 September. The Master thanked all
the members who had supported him during his year and announced (God Willing) the Officers who
had been elected for 2016/17. They were the Master – Ian Mason, the Senior Warden – Anthony
Ward, the Middle Warden – Michael Parrett, the Renter Warden – Sir Vivian Ramsey and the Junior
Warden – Arthur Seymour. By the time this issue of the Journal is published they should all have
been installed at the Installation Service in October.

THE CHARITABLE TRUST
The Worshipful Company of Constructors Charitable Trust seeks to “advance education, training and
research in the Construction Industry in particular by awarding certificates and other distinctions and
establishing and maintaining scholarships, grants and awards to individuals; the relief of persons in
need, hardship or distress who are members of the Company or their dependants and for other
charitable purposes as the Trustees may from time to time decide”.
As a Livery Company we focus specifically on charitable giving, and we draw funds from both
investments and by contributions from our members. We are particularly dependent on regular
contributions from our members as such contributions give an assured income to the Trust. Indeed,
you all, when you were elected as either Yeomen or Freemen, gave an undertaking that you would
support the Charitable Trust. Often, despite your best intentions, this does not actually happen, and
the Court would very much like you to reconsider your position in this respect. If each Yeoman were
to give as little £2 per month and each Freeman/Liveryman were to pledge as little as £10 per
month that would provide a regular, and more importantly predictable, income to the Charitable
Trust As in many cases contributions by members can also be Gift Aided the Charitable Trust is able
to reclaim basic rate tax from these donations, which makes an even larger sum available for their
good works and may also allow members who pay higher rate tax to reflect their generosity to their

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