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The Master’s Year

INFORMAL SOCIAL EVENTS

Our social events had a very strong following, many in fact being fully booked well in advance.
Our first informal event of the Master’s year, on 21 October, was a private tour of Dr Johnson’s
House off Fleet Street. It proved to be a most interesting visit and after drinks and nibbles some of
us re-convened for a meal at a pub in Fleet Street.
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On 14 November, a few intrepid constructors braved the elements to cheer Past Master and Sheriff
Dr Christine Rigden on her way as part of the Lord Mayor’s Show. Whilst the continuous rain did its
best to dampen our spirits we were not discouraged, and following the parade we assembled at the
City Livery Club for Lunch, where a splendid time was had by all.
The following Wednesday a few Constructors took advantage of one of the Gresham Lectures at the
Museum of London. These lectures are a popular (and free) event that is usually over-subscribed,
and this one was no exception. After the lecture we assembled at the nearby London Wall
Restaurant, where we had another enjoyable meal and a few drinks.
On 2 December members of the Court and their spouses/partners attended a formal dinner in The
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Old Bailey at the invitation of Sheriff Dr Christine Rigden. This was a great honour, and was
thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended as it is not often that one is invited to dine in such august
surroundings.
The following Monday we held our Christmas festive lunch at Ironmongers’ Hall, which was enjoyed
by many Constructors and their guests.
December 17 saw the Annual Carol Service, which we again shared with the Worshipful Company of
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Chartered Architects. The service was, as usual, ceremonial, musical and also a good introduction to
the festive season, probably being the first Christmas carol service attended by most of us. After the
service we all went to the City Centre for a joint Reception. Unfortunately, this was nowhere near our
normal standards and apart from not going there again, we decided that attendees should not be
asked to pay for the reception, which everyone considered to be very bad value for money.
On a Saturday evening in early February several intrepid members and guests again found their way
east of the City to Docklands to join in the festive revels of a traditional (and rather risqué at some
points) Brick Lane Music Hall pantomime. Whilst political correctness was not always the principal
focus we enjoyed (Oh no we didn’t! – Oh yes we did!) a cabaret style sit down meal and refreshment.
9 February 2016 was Shrove Tuesday, the occasion when many City Livery Companies
take part in the Pancake Races in Guildhall Yard. This year they were overseen by our
very own Sheriff, Dr Christine Rigden, with PM Alan Longhurst acting “in locum parentis”
for our Master, who couldn’t get down from Scotland for the event.
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The Constructors’ Lecture was another free event and was held on the evening of 17 February at
the University of Westminster. In all some 89 people, many of whom were Constructors, attended
Dr Uly Ma’s lecture on “Managing Sustainability in Construction” which was followed by a reception.
20 Members and their guests attended the Constructors’ Lunch at Ironmongers Hall on 29
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February, and a good time was had by all.
The United Guilds Service was held on 11 March and the pomp and circumstance was followed by a
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splendid lunch at Painter-Stainers’ Hall. On reading the Menu our Middle Warden thought that he
had been “dipped” to speak, only to find that the speaker was in fact his namesake, who happened
to be the Master Painter-Stainer. He was greatly relieved!!!
On 9 April several of us together with spouses/partners ventured to the far north (well nearly to
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Milton Keynes) to visit Bletchley Park and the National Museum of Computing. The trip was both
Autumn 2016 | The Journal of the Worshipful Company of Constructors | 15