Societies are a way for Liverymen to take part in a range of activities and enjoy the fun and fellowship that goes with it.
There are a number of clubs and societies associated with The Worshipful Company of Butchers. Here, we find out a little more about them. Will you get involved?
Gun Club
The Worshipful Company of Butchers Gun Club (shortened to the WCBGC) was relaunched in July 2025.
Formerly known as The WCB Shooting Society, the Club's mission is simple.
• To form a club within the livery that is all-inclusive for any level of shooter.
• To provide a varied and accessible yearly calendar suitable for all levels of shooter.
• To include days located around the country, allowing everyone to participate without the stress of long-distance travel.
• To organise shooting days for all disciplines and budgets.
• To focus heavily on the ethos of fellowship and forging new relationships within the livery.
• To offer opportunities for those who do not yet participate in our sport to simply “Have a Go”.
The WCBGC is open to all liverymen of all levels, including the beginner. We would also welcome members who do not yet shoot but are interested in the sport.
The intention is to have a yearly calendar of shoots of all disciplines. From driven game days, simulated game days, walked up, sporting clays, and family fun days.
If you are aware of other liverymen, not necessarily from our own company that would be interested in joining in, then please feel free to send their details to on to our club membership secretary.
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How to Sign Up
Kindly fill out the WCBGC Membership Form and send it to the Membership Secretary, Liveryman Daniel Parker once completed.
Contact details:
Club Membership Secretary, Liveryman Daniel ParkerEmail: dan@sausagemasters.co.uk
Team Captain / Secretary Liveryman Fergus Howie
Email: fergus.howie@wicksmanor.co.uk
Gun Club Events 2026 for Your Diary
Family & Young Shots Day – Bisley – Clays – June (TBC)
Simulated Day Away (plus industry visit) – Clays – July (TBC)
Game Day 2 – Rough Shooting – November (TBC)
International Shoot – Game – TBC
Golfing Society
The role of the society, which is is open to all Liverymen or those allied to the meat industry, is to develop, enjoy and enhance the sense of comradeship and fellowship that exists in the Livery through playing and enjoying a round of golf with kindred spirits.
The society’s Captain, Vice-captain and other committee members are elected at the AGM held in February or March when the specific intentions of the society for the forthcoming year are agreed, in a convivial atmosphere, over a relaxed lunch.
Membership
The society comprises 32 members; about a third of whom actively involve themselves in tournament play. We’re pleased that other, less active members participate in the AGM or join us for lunch or dinner at golfing events.
We’re actively seeking to encourage new members and, with a £20 annual subscription, appeal to all Liverymen with an interest in golf to consider joining us.
We host two formal events a year; a spring one and an autumn meeting. Geographically, and to provide the most convenient access, we tend to use one north and the other south of the M25 as the venues. Choice of location is at the discretion of the Captain and has, in recent years, featured courses such as Gerrards Cross, Hadley Wood, Brookmans Park and West Herts to the north and The Addington, Sundridge Park, Kingswood and Royal Blackheath in the south. On occasion we’ve also played at The Royal Berkshire, Leeds, Bishop’s Stortford and Saffron Walden.
Society Golf Meetings
Events usually involve 18 holes of competitive golf played using the full stableford handicap system and invariably involves lunch or dinner. Previous contributions and donations give the society a number of trophies to award with all standards of golfer having the opportunity to challenge for a prize…. plus a little something from the Captain’s wine cellar!
Other Events
In addition, the society participates in a number of other competitions, either on behalf of the Livery Company or for charitable causes. These include:
Prince Arthur Cup
The society represents WCB in the inter-livery Prince Arthur Cup, the largest amateur tournament in the United Kingdom.
Held at Walton Heath Golf Club every May, this prestigious competition sees groupings from 54 Livery Companies challenge for the impressive silver gilt trophy presented to the Coachmakers’ Livery Company by then Master Arthur Pollen Hungerford commemorating the admission to the Coachmakers of Prince Arthur of Connaught.
Next year will be the centenary of the competition and we hope to enter more than one team to commemorate our inaugural win back in 1927. Let's see any golfers with a verifiable WHS handicap of 28 or less on the course on Thursday 20th May 2027!
WCB are jointly the fifth most successful Livery Company having achieved four wins – the inaugural 1927 competition, a shared first prize in 1929 and much more recently in 2004 and 2006. Although we have some way to go to catch the 11-times winners the Leathersellers. We only trail the Solicitors, the Stationers and Newspaper Makers and Vintners by one!
The Marketors' Golf Day
This event, held at Verulam Golf Club, St Albans - where Sam Ryder was Captain and created the Ryder Cup - raises money for the Lord Mayor's charities. Taking place usually on the first Monday of July, the format sees up to 25 groupings of four - either full teams or "harlequin" teams of four individuals - compete for both team and individual prizes over the course of a relaxed day that also includes breakfast and a three-course meal.
The Meat Industry Golf Day
This event is organised by the Company rather than the Golfing Society but allows golfers from the meat industry - not just members of the Livery - to join together for a day of convivial golf at Essendon Golf and Country Club, Hertfordshire. The Golfing Society will be fielding a team of players who are not taking-part as members of a corporate team.
The Distillers' Golf Day
Appealing to golfers who have easy access to the Southern section of the M25, the Distillers' Trophy is competed for at the delightful Tandridge Golf Club. A composite team of Butchers and Fireman - branded the "flaming burgers" by our competitors - are the current holders of the trophy and look forward to defending our title in October.
The Horners’ Trophy
The annual Horners’ Trophy held at Ashridge Golf Club. consists of teams of 4 competing for a beautiful trophy. We had a double win in 2010 and also in 2011. Again this event is not sponsored but provides a very enjoyable experience and at around £75 per head is great value for such a lovely course and great competition.
The society would like to encourage any Liveryman, at any level of ability who is interested in playing golf among like-minded people on some exceptional golf courses to join us. Please contact the Captain or Secretary via The Deputy Clerk at Butchers’ Hall.
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For more information contact the Secretary:
Liveryman Craig HamiltonEmail: craig_hamilton@btconnect.com
Golf Club - Events 2026
The Horners' Trophy – Ashridge Golf Club –10 June 2026
The Marketors' Golf Day – Verulam Golf Club –6 July 2026
The Stationers' Golf Day – Chobham Golf Club – 3 September 2026
The Distillers' Day – Tandridge Golf Club – 22 October 2026
Prince Arthur Cup – Walton Heath Golf Club – 20 May 2027
Yacht Club
Relaunch & AGM – 9th April 2025
The Worshipful Company of Butchers Yacht Club (WCBYC) proudly relaunched on 9th April 2025 at Butchers’ Hall. The occasion brought together a full room of enthusiastic Liverymen for the Annual General Meeting (AGM), followed by a convivial Carvery Lunch hosted by the Master.
🗳️ AGM Outcomes
At the AGM, the following officers were elected:
- Commodore: Liveryman Andrew Berisford
- Vice Commodore: Liveryman Bill Jermey
- Rear Commodore: Liveryman Tom Absalom
- Admiral: Honorary Liveryman Cdre Anthony Morrow CVO
Committee Members:
- Past Master Andrew Parker
- Liveryman John Absalom
- Liveryman Jim Sydenham
- The Master, John Allton Jones
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WCB Yacht Club Members Race Each Other
GET INVOLVED
If anyone wants to know more or get involved in anyway, please contact The Acting Clerk so that you can be added to the society list and the Whatsapp group. The Butchers Yacht Club also welcomes the Motorboating members of the Livery, and an event is being investigated where we can all get together, yacht and motorboats for a social sail.
For more information, please contact the Secretary
Liveryman Andrew BerisfordEmail: Andrew.berisford@wcbmarketing.co.uk
Yacht Club Events 2026
-Sea View motorboat and yacht get together, 12th and 13th June
Lead on this event is Andrew Berisford
-Rona Ketch weekend (Date to be agreed depending on numbers)
Lead on this event is Bill Jermey
-Round the Island Race 11th July 2026.
Lead on this event is Tom Absalom
-Sunsail/Prometheus Sailing Date, The Master’s Cup on the 7th September,
Lead on this event is Andrew Berisford, the Butchers can have up to 2 boats on the water
-Laying up meeting and Carvery Lunch 21st October
To be held at Butchers Hall followed by a Carvery Lunch
Poker Society
Whether you’re a poker genius or have no idea how to play, Liverymen are always welcome to the WCB Poker Tournaments, which takes place twice a year, usually in June and November.
The tournament is open to Liverymen and their guests and is more “banter over a game of cards” rather than an event for card sharps. It ticks the fellowship box and also raises money for WCB charities, with more than £5,000 raised over the seven tournaments so far.
We have played in the VIP Poker Room at the Grosvenor Casino, Edgware Road, and the Hippodrome Casino, Leicester Square. We are always well looked after by the professional croupiers and tournament directors at the venue who are used to dealing for professional players and our standard of play often induces a wry smile.
Upcoming tournaments will be featured on the events page and in our regular email bulletins.
Car Driver's Club
The WCB Motoring Society is a new club for Liverymen interested in cars, driving and of course fellowship.
The aim of the Society will be for us to all join together in events that will enable us to use our various cars and have fun with fellow Liverymen and their families. This is not intended to be for people who have expensive cars to show off, but for all those who like driving for pleasure. Our first excursion will start with a weekend tour in the Lake District in April/May 2022. This stunning area has many interesting car-oriented places to visit, some exciting driving and spectacular scenery.
There are many other types of event that we can take in as a group, ranging from trips to all types of race events (classic, endurance, modern), to concours and UK and Continental touring. We may choose to support a Butchers’ team in competitive events, but our own prizes are more likely to be for the member who attends an event in the most inappropriate vehicle!
To register your interest in this new club, please contact The Acting Clerk to be sent a short questionnaire to find out about your particular driving interests and be kept up to date with future activities.