Page 18 - Microsoft Word - The Constructor 2016 A5V28

The Company Officers

THE ALMONER

John Burrell is our Almoner, but in reality much of the work is done on his behalf by
his wife, Michele, who is pleased to act as our Almoner, looking after the needs of any
of our members who require assistance from the Company, be it through ill health or
other reasons. We are most grateful to Michele for all the work she does on our
behalf.
John writes “The role of the Company Almoner (the word was originally related to the dispensing of
alms) is to make contact with members and their partners who are ill or have been recently
bereaved. One of the major tenets of the Company is fellowship thus it is important not to be fair
weather friends and to reassure our members and their close families that we are here and thinking
of them.
For many years the Company Almoner was Past Master Tony Appleton but latterly I have been the
titular Almoner. I write ‘titular’ because it is really Michele who does all the work. She does a similar
job for Breast Cancer Care and also our Past Masters Association and it is something that she is very
good at. I am therefore very pleased to have this opportunity to give her the recognition she so
rightly deserves.
But, however good Michele is at the job, she can only contact people whom she is aware may benefit
from a telephone call, and for this she relies heavily on the good offices of our Clerk, Kim, who is
usually the first to know when members may need her help. Whilst her dealings with anyone are
between her and them and are kept confidential, when appropriate she reports back to Kim so that
the Court and Company can be kept informed of her involvement. So if you know of anyone who
may benefit from the services of the Almoner do please let the Clerk know.”

PAST MASTER MARTIN WADE

Martin was our Master in 2007/8. He writes “On Wednesday 17 October 2007, at
Salters' Hall, I was installed 31st Master of the Worshipful Company of Constructors;
as David Cameron famously remarked, 'I was the future once!'

Martin writes “There is no job description for the Master. Each incumbent arrives with
their own aspirations and agenda; some believing it is a twelve-month period of
autocracy when they can change the world whereas others see it as a tenancy when they progress
the Company's agenda. However, there are a number of certainties: your diary will be very
congested for the next twelve months; considerable pressure will be put on both your stamina and
waist line and you will meet some very interesting people in some magnificent surroundings.
Some will notice the Gallant Clerk develops a nervous twitch at the beginning of each September as
he realises he has to break in yet another New Master. He can also be seen with an occasional silly
grin betraying his relief that the existing one is moving on. After some six months a Master begins to
understand what he/she is doing and that, of course, is very perturbing for a Clerk. The Clerk is The
Company's Chief Executive and brings the benefit of experience, wisdom and continuity to each new
Livery Year. We have been very fortunate over the years to have had the services of some very
capable Clerks, including Tim Nicholson in my year, and now with Kim Tyrrell in post.

18 | Autumn 2016 | The Journal of the Worshipful Company of Constructors