Page 4 - The Constructor 2017

The Master’s Year

EDITORIAL
This is the 2017 edition of “The Constructor”, the We would also welcome articles for the next
annual journal of the Worshipful Company of issue and these should be sent to the editor at
Constructors. thejournal@virginmedia.com no later than
31 July 2018.
th
I hope you will find this, the 39 issue of the
journal, both interesting and informative. We Roger Lilley – Editor
would welcome your feedback to help inform
future editions.

A Message from the Master
The newly elected Master, Tony Ward, gives his thoughts on the year ahead
Fellow Constructors, it is a great honour and an enormous privilege to have
been elected as the 41st Master of this Worshipful Company.
In following in the footsteps of many prominent and illustrious Past Masters
of our varied and fantastic Company, I am humbled by the role, and at the
same time proud to be able to undertake the Mastership for the year ahead.
As many of you will know, I have spent the last 52 years in Structural
Engineering Consultancy, having set up my own firm in 1976, the very year
that this Worshipful Company was formed, then known as the 'Company of
Builders'.
My mentor under whom I trained was a founder member, the late Lawrence Kenchington.
He was thrilled when I last saw him a few years ago now, to know that I, his protégée, would this
year become Master.
I first joined this Industry as I am passionate about the built environment, in which we all play such a
crucial role. This Company embodies the whole spectrum of construction professionals, which is
why, in my terms, it is such a vibrant and unique Company amongst the Livery of this great City of
London.
As liverymen, it is such a privilege to be the guardians of our generation for all the professions, trade
guilds and crafts that we represent. It is so well established in history, and it is vital that we continue
the traditions for future generations to come.
I hear constantly from new members that joining the Livery gives them the opportunity to 'give
something back to the industry' that has been their livelihood, I endorse that view, and share it with a
passion.
It is the very reason why I became a Freeman of this Company a dozen years ago.
My theme for the year ahead has expanded somewhat over the year leading up to Mastership:
Firstly, my theme is to continue Immediate Past Master Ian's focus on Apprenticeships in our
industry. This vital area of skills has been neglected by successive governments, and now at last, it
is back on their agenda. I myself served a six-year Apprenticeship in the Railway Industry, 'the
University of Life' as I call it, manufacturing railway rolling stock, so closely allied to today's much
heralded 'off site construction', for which we once had the perfect industry and infrastructure. Sadly,

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