Page 5 - A4 Journal 2022

The Master’s Year

Reflections from the Immediate Past Master

Dear Fellow Constructors

In March 2020 we went into Covid lockdown, this was about halfway through Sir
Vivian Ramsey’s year. All face-to-face communication in the Company stopped, but
business continued over Zoom and other online methods. After a couple of months I
was asked if I were prepared to step down for a year to give Sir Vivian a chance to
have a proper year as Master, I agreed, of course, as did all the Wardens. When this
was put to Vivian however, he said that his plans didn’t allow him time to do another
year, so I was happy to agree to continue as planned. Vivian did re-join the ladder as
Court Assistant 4 which means he will become Master again in 2029 all being well.

The Installation in October 2020 duly arrived but, contrary to my expectations, Covid didn’t go away! We
were allowed 30 people in St Lawrence Jewry for my installation and Kim found a hall, Watermans’, and a
caterer, Cook and Butler, who would allow 5 tables of 6 provided we kept separate and the tables did not
interact. We were happy to abide by these rules, bending them slightly when our Vicar, David Parrott, said
grace in a loud voice without standing and we all heard him. I was extremely happy to become Master with
the full expectation that ‘it would all be over by Christmas’, a phrase both myself and some of our older
members may remember being reported at the start of the Second World War.

As you will all remember the rules did not relax for almost a year. But, during this time the work of the
Company had to continue; committee meetings, Court meetings, GP meeting etc still had to go ahead, all
online to conform with the regulations. After months of this I said to the Mistress that I had all the work but
none of the fun. There was some fun however, I really enjoyed our fortnightly Virtual Informal Network
Meetings (VINE), ably controlled by Stewart Owen, I also attended online events at other companies, the
most memorable of which was a formal dinner at the Information Technologists, they delivered food to our
address and we had an online dinner with each course in a separate breakout room, great fun.

Halfway through my year the General Purposes Committee agreed to grant me a second year in office as
Master. I am incredibly grateful to the Wardens for agreeing to stand back for a year to enable me to enjoy a
nearly normal year.

And enjoy it I have, going to other Companies’ events and meeting other Masters, many of whom have
become friends. The highlights of the years have been many and varied, the camaraderie shown by not only
our own Company but the whole of the livery during the Covid lockdown, the Master’s weekend in Tunbridge
Wells, the Sir Christopher Wren banquet to which I had all of my children and other relations and friends as
well as 16 members of my choir who provided the musical interlude.

Finally I must thank the chairs of the committees and the Wardens for their support through what, at times,
have been a difficult two years and an especial thanks to our Clerk, Kim, and our beadle, Ted, who have been
with me throughout it all; advising, reminding, sometimes cajoling but always supporting and making the last
two years a period I will never forget or cease to be grateful for.

My sincerest thanks to all our members, I know that the new team will take the Company to new heights,
and I very much look forward to supporting them in any way I can.

Arthur Seymour - Immediate Past Master

Autumn 2022 | The Journal of the Worshipful Company of Constructors | Page 5