Tuesday 25 April 2017

142. St George’s Day Luncheon – Watermen’s Hall

This week I was a guest of the Watermen and Lightermen of the River Thames, who organized a St George’s Day Luncheon at their Hall for Master’s and Clerk’s (see photograph of their brass plaque).

Unfortunately, our Clerk, Ralph Riley, was unable to join me – he missed a very splendid affair. The Hall, the only Georgian Hall in the City, is located just off Lower Thames Street and close to the river. The Company has a very long history – in 1514 the earliest Act of Parliament for regulating watermen, wherrymen and bargemen received Royal Assent from King Henry Vlll. In 2014, the Company celebrated the 500th anniversary of that Act.

The luncheon attracted some 60 Master’s and Clerk’s and was a very jovial event (see photograph of the dining room before lunch was served). We were each provided with a very large red rose as a buttonhole (see photograph) and that greatly added to the atmosphere.

A fine lunch and wines were provided by the Cook and the Butler (see photograph of the invitation and luncheon menu) and John Salter (Master of the Company of Watermen and Lightermen) proposed a toast to the guests and John Manwaring-Robertson (Master of the Worshipful Company of mercers) responded.




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