...and I thought October was busy!
November is traditionally a busy month in the Livery world, coinciding, as it does, with the election of the new Lady Mayor, The Lady Mayor’s Show and Remembrance Sunday with the laying of a Wreath at the Church of St Bartholomew the Great.
I’m pleased to say we were well represented at all of these including entertaining the Lady Mayor elect and the team from Mansion House to a “Full English” at Butchers’ Hall following the “rehearsal parade.” We’ve been doing this for 50 years so we can safely assume it’s a real part of the Lord Mayor’s Show...which was, itself, a classic.
Being cheered and welcomed by the crowds as they marvelled at our float was only surpassed by seeing our Liveryman, Fran Wyatt, explaining the virtues and benefits of being a WCB Liveryman live on BBC TV...to say nothing of the positive comments about the Porky Whites sausage enjoyed by the Presenter live on air… priceless. Thanks to the sponsors who helped put on the event and to the team on the day, the Fellowship was wonderful.
A trip to Aberdeen saw us, at WCB, rekindle our relationship with the Fleshers of Aberdeen at the 438th Election 7 Course Dinner (Beef of course) in Trinity Hall, a very grand occasion that I hope we can follow up on.
I’ve been thrilled to experience other grand occasions at 5 different Livery Halls this month, all different but all very special. I was honoured to sit next to, and be entertained by the Guest Speaker, Colin Bell DFC a 105-year-old World War Two bomber pilot and a veteran of 50 missions, a wonderful character. Thank you, Fruiterers, for the honour.
I visited Meat Management at their offices in Milton Keynes to see, behind the scenes, how the magazine is put together and delighted, again, to witness, at the Meat Management Women in Meat Awards, how far the industry has progressed and developed by welcoming, recognising and rewarding new entrants into the industry…long may it continue!
Not that I’m biased, but I was thrilled to see the achievements of Liverymen Michelle White of Dawn Meats recognised as Meat Businesswoman of the year and Christine Walsh of the Food and Drink Training and Education Council with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Many congratulations to both.
Closer to home I enjoyed being entertained at the Taurus Lodge Dinner at Butchers’ Hall and thrilled to accept a donation from Taurus on behalf of Barts Charity, my Master’s Charity.
Our November Court Lunch was very successful with a full explanation from Chief Executive Sharon Ament of the exciting plans to relocate the London Museum in Smithfield.
A Young Butchers Strategy Workshop saw WCB engaging fully with the industry in a “sleeves rolled up session” which provided much food for thought as indeed did the City Meat Lecture which followed it. Professor Chris Elliott delivered a thought-provoking challenge posing the question “Is there a role for livestock and meat in modern society?” His challenges to the meat industry as a “critical friend” are, I think, important to the future of the industry.
