The 400th Anniversary of the Royal Charter Charity
Banquet, Drapers' Hall, 29 September 2021
The magnificent Drapers' Hall was the venue selected for the Bowyers' 400th Anniversary of the Royal Charter Banquet and provided a superb backdrop to an excellent evening of good food, fine wine and excellent company. A total of 115 Bowyers and their guests, gathered together to mark the occasion in fine Bowyers' style.
The Bowyers and their guests were received by the Master and Wardens prior to a champagne reception held in the Drapers' Drawing Room. On the ringing of the Bowyers' dining bell the assembled company moved through to the magnificent and newly-refurbished Drapers'’' Livery Hall. They were served a delicious three-course meal of lobster, beef wellington, plum clafoutis accompanied by some exceptional wines, all of which was very much appreciated by the diners. Following the Sung Grace, and our four formal toasts, the diners then settled down to enjoy a musical interlude provided by the pianist, Ms Marie Michelle Santiago – her musical choices all being seventeenth century with a subtle nod to the bow.
The Upper Warden Mr Nigel Heilpern warmly welcomed our guests for the evening: Dr Margarette Lincoln (Visiting Researcher at the University of Portsmouth and Curator Emeritus at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London) Dr Carrie Herbert MBE the Master Cutler, Prof Anne Curry the Master Fletcher and Mr Colin Bramall the Master Fanmaker. We were also delighted to welcome Mr Rupert Meacher, Clerk to the Cutlers and Miss Kate Pink, Clerk to the Fletchers.
Responding on behalf of the guests, Dr Margarette Lincoln took the assembled Bowyers’ on a journey through London in 1621.
In response to a toast to The Company, proposed by the Clerk, the Master expressed his thanks to Dr Margarette Lincoln. The Master then described 'A New Red Book' by Court Assistant Simon Leach, and 'A New History of the Worshipful Company of Bowyers' by Past Master Tony Kench. He congratulated the authors of the two new Bowyers’ Publications and also thanked Court Assistant Myles Archibald for his help in overseeing the publication of the books. After dinner the Bowyers and their guests rounded off the evening with a Stirrup Cup in the Drapers' Court Dining Room.
David Laxton
Master
Photo Credit: www.jampondphotography.com
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