Page 5 - The Constructor 2017

The Master’s Year

the railway workshops which once covered the whole country were dismantled, and the skills lost for
a generation. They would have been the perfect Industry to have been converted to the
manufacture of prefabricated housing, schools and the like, now so often needed for a wide range of
construction applications.
My second theme is to continue to promote 'fellowship' within our Livery Company, and to harness,
in particular, the talents and ambitions of newly elected members.
We have had a great and varied intake of ‘new blood’ over the recent past, and need to ensure that
we harness their talents and skills. They are the lifeblood of our Livery, and they represent the
future. We are introducing a 'buddy' system, which CA Michael Rigden and his Membership
Committee are bringing to fruition.
My third and final theme, is to support the Treloar School in Hampshire with some fundraising efforts
that I will challenge the wider company to support me in during my Masters year. You will be hearing
more about that in due course, but I thought it only right to undertake some 'hands on' event which
is likely to be towards the end of my term, rather than at the beginning, as it may involve 'a little risk'!
CA Roger Southam and his committee are working up some ideas that will be revealed in the ensuing
months, and I urge all members to support that initiative.
IPM Ian has had a really excellent year, and has represented our Livery Company widely, adding to its
now well-established reputation and rightful place in the Modern Companies, as well as the whole
Livery movement.
The Mistress and I look forward to continuing that representation during our year at the helm, and to
meeting many of the fantastic membership that we have, and continue to generate.
We will be publishing a varied and I hope interesting calendar of social events and visits throughout
the year ahead, and we trust that as many of you as possible will be able to support these.

The Immediate Past Master reflects on his year
At the beginning of my year my I chose a theme of “Apprenticeships and
Membership”.
What a challenge, to encourage and recruit new and younger women and
men to become initially Apprentices, then Yeomen and moving on to be
Freemen with a swift move to the position of Liveryman. This was
achieved by promoting and attending our events to as wide an audience as
possible and developing with Court members the volunteering programme
in conjunction with Livery Schools Link.
Over the year our informal events have been well attended with the Lunch
Club at Ironmongers becoming a regular event both of a social nature and a venue for new or
prospective members to meet Freemen and Liverymen.
In my year I will have attended over 150 engagements of which some involved eating and drinking,
plus attending our committees, lectures and presentations for the Sir Ian Dixon Scholarships,
Sustainability awards and many other Livery Company events included.
On a personal level my memories have been many and wide ranging, from dining in Mansion House
to attending a presentation on the Quarter deck of HMS Victory with our Navy affiliate, from walking
and visiting most, I think, of Sir Christopher Wrens Churches to visiting the Building Craft College and

Autumn 2017 | The Journal of the Worshipful Company of Constructors | 5