The Worshipful Company of Plumbers

Newsletter Number 56

APRIL 2007

COURT NEWS(By the Clerk)

The Court unanimouslyapproved the appointment ofthe following gentlemen asFreemen of the Company:

Terence Mayho – CompanyPrinterMichael Timothy O’SullivanCompany Photographer

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The Social Committee haveformed a History Group ledby Liveryman Dr. PeterRumley, in order toconcentrate on historicalsubjects and to gain access toarchives on matters of historicalinterest.

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The Company is investigating waysin which links may be forged withthe Hamburg Chamber ofCommerce, with a view to arrangingexchange visits between apprenticeplumbers.

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The St. Magnus the Martyr BellsAppeal has raised sufficient moneyto fund one bell. The appeal has beenhelped by a large donation from oneLiveryman in commemoration of hislate wife. It is hoped that the bell willbe cast during 2007.

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The following Freemen of theCompany were admitted to theLivery at the January Court:

Stephen Bilclough – MD, John N.Dunn Ltd

Christopher Bilclough – Deputy MD,John N. Dunn Ltd

Colin Stainer – Master Plumber &Proprietor of Plumbing and HeatingCompany

Victor Carroll – City Stockbroker

Peter Atkins – Birmingham Solicitor

Josephine Thornley – Proprietor ofa Plumbing Company

Major Philip Corfield – NationalBudget Holder for BT Deep LevelTunnels

Paul Jenner – London Taxi Driver

Jason McCreanney – Co-owner &Sales Director, Keyhole Security

David Gosney – Systems Manager

Blane Judd – Chief Executive IPHE

Captain Reginald James CBE, RN –Chairman of the Trustees IPHE

It is with great regret that weannounce the death of thefollowing liverymen since thelast Newsletter.

Past Master Michael GeorgeWayman

Past Steward RobertArmstrong

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Sale of Items

The following items may beobtained from the Clerk’sOffice. Some of the smalleritems will be on sale as usual

at the Ladle Dinner:

Company Ties (Silk Striped) £15.00Company Self-Tie Bow Ties £18.00Miniature Silver Ladles £36.00Livery Badges £10.00Ladies’ Livery Pendants £5.00Cuff Links £16.00Ladies’ Brooches £16.00Umbrellas £16.00Coasters (set of six in a box) £20.00Company Plaques (wooden) £25.00‘Discovering London Guilds &Liveries’ £3.50

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ANNUAL BANQUET 2007(By the Upper Warden)

The Annual Banquet was held at theMansion House on 19th March andwas attended by the Lord Mayor,Honorary Assistant, Alderman JohnStuttard.

Also in attendance were SheriffRichard Regan, Chief CommonerGerald Pulman, and a host of other

The Master welcoming the Lord Mayor, Honorary Assistant, Alderman John Stuttard, to the Annual Banquet

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dignitaries. A total of two hundredand ninety people sat down to dine.It was truly a delight to see so manyof the Livery present and to note thatthe Plumbers are capable of fillingMansion House to capacity.

The Master welcomed ourCompany’s Lord Mayor to theBanquet and paid tribute to thetremendous amount of workundertaken by him on behalf of theCity and the UK financialinstitutions. The Master observedthat it had been forty years sinceAlderman Sir James Harman, the lastLord Mayor from our Company,presented the replica mace to the Cityand drew attention to its presencebehind him, as he spoke. The Masteralso referred to the cups on the toptable that were presented to the Cityby Alderman Sir John Knill, anotherMaster of our Company who servedas Lord Mayor. The Master thenpresented the Lord Mayor with acheque for his Charitable Appeal andalso with a silver Plumber’s Ladle.

The Master used the occasion to stressthe relevance of the Company intoday’s world and the efforts made toencourage and support adequatetraining of plumbers. He madereference to the current consultationsbeing carried out by DEFRA on waterefficiency in buildings and theCompany’s response, drawingattention for the need for properlytrained and competent plumbers toensure the efficiency measures

proposed were not negated. Heemphasised that a system ofregistration of plumbers was essential.

In response, the Lord Mayor saidhow pleased he was to be present andreferred to the Chain of Office he waswearing, which was once worn by SirThomas More. It was the first time ithad been worn by our current LordMayor, as the tradition is that thisChain of Office is to be worn onlywhen the Lord Mayor is attending ahigh level function of his own Livery.

The Lord Mayor referred to hiseducational and charitable themes of‘City of London – City of Learning’,and ‘Sharing Skills, ChangingLives’. He spoke about the work ofVoluntary Service Overseas, hisprincipal Charity, and some recenttrips he had made whilst overseas asLord Mayor, to witness their workat first hand.

The Upper Warden welcomed theguests and in doing so, he drewattention to the common theme of

education and outreach which linkedso many organisations represented atthe Banquet. He also provided somestatistics in the field of water supplyand sanitation which highlighted thecontinuing need for assistance inmany parts of the world.

As well as welcoming official guestsfrom the plumbing world and otherLiveries, the Upper Warden paidparticular tribute to Sir Jerry Wiggin,the Prime Warden of the WorshipfulCompany of Goldsmiths, andProfessor Barry Ife, Principal of theGuildhall School of Music andDrama, for the assistance beingprovided by both organisations to ourCharitable Gala Dinner to be held atthe end of June, in aid of the LordMayor’s Charities.

The principal speaker was Sir DerekThomas, KCMG, a diplomat andbanker, and a personal friend of theFather of the Company. He relatedseveral light-hearted anecdotes andgave an insight into hismetamorphosis from a careerdiplomat, culminating with hisappointment as Ambassador to Italy,into a merchant banker.

The success of the evening was downto several factors, not least of whichwas the meticulous attention to detailby our Clerk, Clerk’s Assistant andBeadle, together with the MansionHouse staff. It was also due to themodest ticket price made possible bythe generous sponsorship of JohnGuest Ltd. , Faber Maunsell, GratteBrothers Ltd., hurleypalmerflatt andYorkshire Fittings.

Good food, good wine, goodcompany and pomp and ceremony alladded to the atmosphere, which wasvibrant and left no doubt that we havea Company in good heart andgrowing stronger.

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The Lord Mayor’s Show(By Assistant Stephen Hodkinson)

On the eve of the Lord Mayor’sShow, which took place on the 14th

November 2006, as Senior AssistantDavid Hamilton and I reviewed thefinal arrangements for the

The Lord Mayor’s ShowMembers preparing for the Procession

Assistant Stephen Hodkinson withSenior Assistant David Hamilton

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Company’s Float over a glass ofwine, all we really prayed for wasgood weather – it was the only thingout of our control!

It’s fair to say that David and I hadconsumed several other glasses ofwine since we first agreed to organisethe Float at the January 2006 CourtMeeting.

The securing of an overall singlesponsor, EPS, who underwrote thetotal cost, was a huge advantage.Further support from Faber Maunselland Vaillant quickly followed. Themix of the three, each providing aspecific element of the Float, wascrucial. EPS provided the fundingand manufacture of the Float, FaberMaunsell provided the design andVaillant provided the vehicle.

David and I acted as the managementteam and brought in additionalexpertise, as and when it wasrequired. The Faber Maunsell Officein the City became our hub and withDavid being such a regular visitor,he was treated as a member of staffand given full access to all facilities!

Faber Maunsell’s Designers, OPX,were quickly set the challenge ofproducing a theme and design for theFloat. The theme of ‘WaterAwareness as a Precious Resource’with a community link to a localinner-city school, Columbia School,Tower Hamlets, who would producethe artwork, was an excellent choice.

This design and theme of the Float wasselected as early as possible and then,once accepted by the Court, very littledeviation was allowed. The design wasissued to the Pageant Master as earlyas possible in order to secure a goodplace in the procession. Our closerelationship with the Lord Mayor alsohelped to position the Float towardsthe front of the Procession.

Vaillant produced a brand newvehicle for us. This was madeavailable two weeks before the LordMayor’s Show to allow their erectionteam time to produce a veryprofessional job.

The vehicle arrived at Smithfield at3 p.m. on the Friday afternoon in a

semi-prepared state. The erectionteam, made up from an exhibitioncompany provided by Vaillant, thencompleted the Float that evening, inreadiness to move to London Wallfirst thing in the morning.

Gowns were provided for allCompany members processing withour Float with the addition of bonnetsfor Court Members. Other supporterswore the bright orange and greenrugby shirts from EPS. This was verysuccessful as it provided a consistentlook to the Float with people ‘dressed-up in ‘outfits’. Remembering that theLord Mayor’s Show is meant to befun, the bold, brash colours and largelettering on the Float work very well.The two ‘Hares’ provided by Vaillantwere fantastic and created a bigattraction with the children and thehelium balloons, provided by EPS,brightened up the Float.

The Master, the Upper Warden,Renter Warden and Clerk allsupported by the Beadle rode on theFloat and added greatly to the carnivalatmosphere of the day. Some of uswill never forget the enthusiasm andjoviality demonstrated by the Clerk.

Photography was provided byMichael O’Sullivan and provided afantastic record of the Float and theLord Mayor’s Show. The photographswere assembled into a slideshow andpresented at the Ladle Supper.

TV coverage was excellent. From thewrite-up prepared to brief the BBC, thebroadcaster particularly picked up thecommunity relationship withColumbia School in Tower Hamlets.This resulted in the TV crew attendingthe school and filming the childrenpreparing the artwork. On the day ofthe Lord Mayor’s Show as theWorshipful Company of PlumbersFloat was being televised, the BBC cutto the Columbia School to show thechildren. Ours was the only Float inthe show to receive this extent ofcoverage.

A fine lunch was provided by FaberMaunsell at Founders’ Hall for allmembers of the Company and thecorporate sponsors with a secondsitting for those returning after theprocession had been completed.

The day finished with Fireworks onthe Thames with many of us usingBlackfriars Bridge as the bestvantage point.

David and I, together with our familyand friends, walked back toSmithfield, where the day had beguntwelve hours earlier, for, guess what,a glass of wine!

Master’s Note.

The Livery are most grateful toAssistants David Hamilton andStephen Hodkinson, together with thesponsoring Companies, for makingsuch an outstanding success of thisimportant event for the Company.

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CHARITABLE ANDEDUCATIONAL TRUSTThe Trustees of the Charitable andEducational Trust have approvedgrants to the following:

A sum available for bursaries tostudents on NVQ 3 Plumbing Courses

Discovery Dockland Trust

S. Pinter Youth Project

Grand Union Orchestra

London Air Ambulance

Guildhall School of Music andDrama – to part sponsor a student

Jubilee Sailing Trust

Providence Row

St. Paul’s Cathedral School – to partsponsor a chorister

Mudchute Study Centre

Pump Aid

Vauxhall City Farm

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COMMUNICATIONSPhotographs of Major CompanyEventsFor the convenience of all liverymen,the official photographs of major

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events can now be viewed andpurchased on the internet atwww.imagicam.co.uk

Enter the Home Page of the site andtype the word plumbers into theAlbum Box. This will take you to thesite of the Company photographer,Michael O’Sullivan, where you willbe able to view, and purchase,photographs taken by Michael atCompany events.

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City of London Briefings

These Briefings are particularly aimedat new Freemen and Liverymen, butwives, husbands and partners are alsovery welcome and the Master isparticularly keen that all Liverymen(new or otherwise) should try to attendone of these Briefings. The Briefingsprovide a short introduction to thework of the Corporation, especiallythe relationship between the LiveryCompanies.

There is an opportunity to askquestions of the Speakers and theBriefing is followed by a lightfinger buffet providing thechance to mix with otherFreemen and Liverymen. Theproceedings start at 5pm withregistration, during which tea orcoffee are available, and end at8pm.

Applications for places shouldbe made through the CompanyOffice.

Dates and venues are:

Wednesday 23rd May 2007,The Innholders’ Hall.

Wednesday 10th October 2007,The Innholders’ Hall.

Tuesday 13th November 2007,The Innholders’ Hall.

Tuesday 19th November 2007,The Innholders’ Hall.

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A City Scholarship Presentation(By Steward John Carnaby)

On Tuesday, 14th November 2006,

at the Norwegian Embassy, BelgraveSquare, London, His Excellency, theAmbassador Bjarne Lindstrom,presented the City Scholarship toAlexandra Coiculescu, the winner ofthis year’s City of London BridgeWard Club Norwegian BusinessScholars Trust. She is a brilliantyoung student from the NorwegianBusiness School BI, Oslo.

Also in attendance at the presentationwere Ivan Whitting, Chairman of theBridge Ward Club, a prospectiveliveryman of the Plumbers’Company, together with StewardJohn Carnaby, Bridge Ward Club andFounder Trustee of the Trust, andGeoffrey Bond, also a member ofBridge Ward Club.

Liveryman Michael Cooper, aChartered Accountant and one of thecurrent Trustees, was unable toattend.

We were all made very welcome atthe Embassy and look forward tonext year’s presentation to a worthystudent.

A Medical Milestone for Sanitation(By Steward John Carnaby)

The readers of the British MedicalJournal have voted ‘Sanitation’ thetop medical advance since 1840.

From the 5th to the 14th January 2007,The British Medical Journalconducted a poll online to decide themost important medical advancesince 1840. From a list, initiallysuggested by the readers, an expert

panel chose the top fifteen, whichformed the basis for the vote. TheBritish Medical Journal alsopublished a supplement, wherechampions argued the merits of eachindividual advance.

Sanitation emerged as the winner.

The total respondents amounted to11,341 worldwide from all walks oflife, and the percentage of votes was:-

Sanitation (clean water and sewagedisposal) 15.8%, Antibiotics 14.5 %,Anaesthesia 13.9%, Vaccines 11.8%,Discovery of DNA Structure 8.8%,Oral Contraceptive Pill 7.4%, GermTheory 7.4%, Evidence-basedMedicine 5.6%, Medical Imaging(x-rays, etc.) 4.2%, Computers 3.6%,Oral Rehydration Therapy 2.7%,Risks of Smoking 1.6%,Immunology 1.6%, Chlorpromazine0.6%, Tissue Culture 0.4%.

The above poll shows just how ourprofession and associated trades areheld in high esteem worldwide.

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COMPANY SPORTINGACTIVITIES

Plumbers’ Golfing Society(By Past Steward John Demont,Chairman of the Golf Society)

On the 26th October 2006, wewere very fortunate to haveanother fine day for our AutumnMeeting at Swinley Forest.Forty golfers participated,including sixteen liverymen andtheir guests and fourteen golfersfrom the Cystic Fibrosis Charity.

The Course was again in very goodcondition and Tim Seabrook from theCystic Fibrosis Charity, and ourSecretary, Des Coates, Expertlyhandled the day.

The Stableford Singles Competition,played in the morning for the BaconCup was won by Peter McKnightwith 37 points (on count back) andPast Master George Banks wasrunner up, also with 37 points. PaulFlatt was third, with 36 points.

In the centre is Alexandra Coiculescu with His Excellency theAmbassador Bjarne Lindstrom and Steward John Carnaby on her

left. Ivan Whitting and Geoffrey Bond are on her right.

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After an excellent Swinley lunch, aThirteen Hole FoursomesCompetition took place with theusual mixture of ground and airshots. Peter McKnight and hispartner, Tony Ball, won the PrykeCup with an impressive score of 27points. The Longest Drive andNearest the Pin Competitions eludedour liverymen and were both won byguests John Rourke and RichardFirth.

Well done to all who came. It was asuper day.

Plans are well ahead for 2007. If youwish to become member of thePlumbers’ Golfing Society, pleasecontact the Secretary, Des Coates,on Tel: 1285641877 or myself, JohnDemont, on 020 8977 1761.

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COMPANY AWARDS(By the Clerk)

At the Court Meeting on the 24th

January 2007, the Master presentedthe 2006 Award to the Royal Navyto Leading Marine EngineeringArtificer Alistair Spencer.

PLUMBING MUSEUM ANDWORKSHOP TRUST(By Past Master Edward Hopkinson)

The Trust, which remains a Charity,is completing the change to acompany limited by guarantee. Thename of the Company is ‘TheWorshipful Company of Plumbers’

Plumbing Museum and WorkshopTrust’.

As previously reported in theNewsletter, the Trustees and theManagement Committee have beenengaged over the past eighteenmonths or so in carrying out essentialworks. This has been done to ensurethat we continue to comply with bestpractice and that we conform withcurrent statutes regarding Health andSafety, Employment and otherrelevant requirements.

The need to ensure the compatibilityof some of the technical aspects ofthese requirements with the integrityof the historical Court Barn hasproved difficult and meant that thework has taken longer than at firstenvisaged. However, we havehopefully, overcome the problemsand anticipate that we shall shortlycomplete the outstanding work. Wewill then relaunch thedemonstrations of Craft Skills.

The Master, Mike Swallow, willshortly be inviting the Livery to joinhim for the biennial event of the‘Master’s Day’ which this year willbe held on Sunday the 22nd July.

.Please make anote in your diarynow!

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SOCIALCALENDAR

Albert Hall(By MikeHorwood)

On Tuesday 14thNovember 2006,the Master andf o u r t e e nliverymen, wivesand guests had aconducted tour of

this iconic building. Our tour guide,Helen, who is also a Steward of theAlbert Hall, gave us an excellent andvery enthusiastic commentary duringthe hour-long visit.

The Albert Hall was opened in 1871,as the brainchild of Queen Victoria’shusband, Prince Albert. Throughout

each year, it hosts more than threehundred and forty performances,including classical, rock and popconcerts, ballet and opera, tennis,charity performances and lavishbanquets. One fact that impressed everyone,was that when the cast iron structurethat formed the dome was placed inposition, it settled just 5/16 of aninch, the total weight of the finisheddome being 800 tons. The Master gave a vote of thanks toour guide for such an informativetour. The party was then joined bythe Master’s wife, Adrienne, StewardJohn Carnaby and guests. Allenjoyed an excellent two-courselunch in the Café Consort within thebuilding.

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Ladle Dinner 2006(By Steward Terry Wells)

On Thursday 23rd November, at theRAC Club in Pall Mall, the Master,ninety-one liverymen and one GuideDog (Greg) gathered under theChairmanship of the Senior Steward,Keith Davis, for the Ladle Dinner.After being greeted by the Chairman,liverymen were entertained duringthe Reception by harpist, Miss PollyLowe, from the Guildhall School ofMusic and Drama. During theReception, a collection of photostaken during the Lord Mayor’s Showwas projected onto a screen.

Under the direction of the Beadle, theassembled party then proceeded tothe Mountbatten Room for anexcellent four-course Dinner. Afterdinner, and the normal toasts, thethirteen Past Masters present werethen re-presented with their ladles bythe Chairman. Miss Lowe providedthe accompaniment for the SungGrace and the National Anthem.

Past Master Alec Moir then proposedthe toast to the Immediate PastMaster, John Lockyer, beforeLiveryman Claire Riley presentedJohn with his ladle. In his reply, theImmediate Past Master said howmuch he, together with his wife,Anita, had enjoyed his year in Officeand thanked all who had helped and

The Master, Mike Swallow, presenting the Award toLeading Marine Engineering Artificer, Alistair Spencer

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supported him throughout that time,especially the Clerk and the Clerk’sAssistant and the Stewards. TheImmediate Past Master thenpresented the Company with a giftof a Loving Cup for use at futureCompany functions.

The very successful eveningconcluded with thanks from theChairman to all those who hadattended and to those who had helpedto make it such a memorable occasion.

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2007 Annual Lecture sponsorship‘Thank You’(By Steward John Carnaby)

On the evening of 28th November2006, Senior Assistant DavidHamilton and Liveryman RogerChapman arranged a soiree inTemple Bar as a “thank you” to oursponsors for their support for the2007 Annual Lecture.

The Master and our Clerk warmlywelcomed the guests as they arrived.

A buffet was laid on by the St. Paul’sCathedral caterers. The food andwine was nicely laid out in the roomabove the historic Temple Bar,Paternoster Square.

Towards the end of the evening’senjoyment, the Master thanked all thesponsors for their very generouscontributions and thought that theevening was a fitting way for theCompany to show their appreciation.The sponsoring Companiesrepresented were, Chorus (fit out

contracting), Eastwood Group (airconditioning), hurleypalmerflatt(consulting engineers), Ibex (interiorrefurbishment), M.J.Lonsdale(services contracting) and Yorkshire/Pegler (manufacturers of plumbingproducts).

Guildhall Art Gallery and OldAmphitheatre.(By Steward John Carnaby)

On Wednesday 17th January, a visittook place to the Guildhall ArtGallery and Old Amphitheatre in theCity of London. The Master and hiswife, Adrienne, and twenty fiveliverymen, together with theirfriends, met in the reception area.

Steward John Carnaby informed theparty that he had managed to securethe services of Murray Craig, theClerk to the Chamberlain’s Court, to

act as our City of London Guide forthe morning.

We were shown a number ofpaintings, mainly relating to the Cityof London, by Murray, who gave anexplanation of each picture in somedetail. A few are mentioned below:

‘Queen Victoria’s Diamond JubileeService’ by Gow, Andrew Carrick.Queen Victoria’s Diamond JubileeService was celebrated at St. Paul’son the 22nd June 1897. A processionthrough Westminster, the City andSouthwark, was halted for twentyminutes at St. Paul’s for aThanksgiving Service.

‘The Ninth of November’, byWilliam Logsdail. This paintingshows the procession of Sir JamesWhitehead, Lord Mayor 1888-1889,possibly the most rememberedpainting of the Lord Mayor’s Show.

It depicts thecoach leavingM a n s i o nHouse. TheR o y a lExchange canbe seen behindthe LordMayor’s StateCoach and hisfootmen, withthe Bank ofEngland onthe left.L o g s d a i lbegan bypainting thepolicemen inposition earlyin the morningwhen the City

was still silent. Later he positionedhimself in the middle of the trafficto draw the background architecture.He painted the Lord Mayor’s Coachwith the horses harnessed up at thestables in Fore Street. The coachmenand footmen posed in their liveriesat his Primrose Hill studio, where hehad built a glass studio to enable himto get the light and atmosphere of theopen air.

‘The Heart of the Empire’; by Lund,Niels Moeller, a wonderful paintingof London looking west from the roofof the Royal Exchange. It shows the

Annual Lecture ‘Thank You’left to right Liveryman Jeff Haythorpe, Ian Bartrop, Keith Ashcroft,

Martin Downey, Senior Assistant David Hamilton, Liveryman John Smith,The Master, Gary Herbert, Liveryman Roger Chapman, Ian Watts,

Liveryman Paul Gaughan, Tony Donaghy, Andrew Heaver, David Jenkins.

The Master with his wife, Adrienne, together with liverymen and guestsduring the visit to The Albert Hall

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Royal Exchange, with Mansion Housein the foreground to the left and St.Paul’s Cathedral in the middle distance.

‘The Defeat of the Floating Batteriesat Gibraltar’ by John SingletonCopley, on September 1782. This isby far the largest and most dramaticpainting housed in the Guildhall ArtGallery, measuring some 7.6metres x5.6metres (one of Britain’s largest oilpaintings). During the Second WorldWar, at the height of the Blitz in April1941, the painting was taken down,rolled up and removed out of Londonto be stored safely. This was only threeweeks before the Gallery wasdestroyed. The painting showsGeneral Sir George Eliott onhorseback, pointing to the battlebetween the British and the Spanishland and sea forces.

We then descended down below theGuildhall Art Gallery into theAmphitheatre. The first discovery ofthe 2000-year-old Amphitheatre wasin 1988. The preserved remains ofthe 11th century Roman medievalstone and tile Amphitheatre walls arestill there today. Murray explainedabout the gladiators who used to fightthere and pointed out the woodendrainage culverts, which arepreserved under a glass floor.

The Master thanked Murray forconducting our visit. We thenascended to the upper floors of theGuildhall to the Alderman’s Dining

Room for a well deserved buffet thatwas waiting for us.

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The Fire Sermon(By Steward John Carnaby)

A Service of Thanksgiving was heldat St. Magnus the Martyr for theChurch’s deliverance from fire.

Fires were a regular occurrence in 17thcentury London, built as it was ofdensely packed wooden houses. Thiswas especially true of London Bridge,at the northern end of which stood theChurch of St. Magnus the Martyr.

In 1633, there was a terrible fire thatburnt down almost two-thirds ofLondon Bridge, but fortunately thefire finished just a short distance fromSt. Magnus the Martyr.

It was in 1640, when the country wason the verge of civil war, that a wealthyparishioner of the Church, Mrs.Susanna Chambers, left a sum ofmoney for a yearly sermon to be held.

The benefactors’ board in the Churchreads, “Mrs. Susanna Chambers by herlast will and testament bearing the date28th December 1640 gave the sum oftwenty-two shillings and sixpence,yearly for a sermon to be preached onthe 12th day of February in every yearwithin the Church of St. Magnus, incommemoration of God’s mercifulpreservation of the said Church of St.

Magnus from ruin by the late andterrible fire on London Bridge.”

Twenty-six years later, in 1666, theGreat Fire of London destroyed alarge part of the City of London,including Old St. Paul’s andcountless other churches. St. Magnuswas the second church to bedestroyed.

This year’s service, held on Mondaythe 12th February, commenced witha warm welcome by our ParishPriest, Fr. Philip Warner, to well overa hundred parishioners and peoplefrom the City of London. Fr. Phillipreintroduced the Fire Sermon in2004, and it is his intention to keepit in future years as close as ispossible to the 12th day of February.

After the service, the congregationwere invited to a reception inFishmongers’ Hall by kindpermission of the Prime Warden &Court of the Worshipful Company ofFishmongers.

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Visit to Lloyd’s of London and theBaltic Exchange(Steward John Carnaby)

On Tuesday 13th February, our groupmet in the main entrance of Lloyd’sfor the start of a fascinating tour andtalk that would be conducted byMartin Leach, who was at one timeLloyd’s Press Officer. We were firstled into one of the external glass liftsand taken to the top of the buildingwith panoramic views across theCity, looking down on theMonument and our Church, St.Magnus the Martyr.

We were then taken to an officewhere Martin explained in very greatdetail the history of Lloyd’s and howit works. In 1688, Edward Lloydopened a coffeehouse on TowerStreet in London. It was a meetingplace for bankers, seafarers andmerchants and ultimately Lloyd’s ofLondon’s underwriters. EdwardLloyd began publishing ‘Lloyd’sNews’ in 1696, therefore establishingLondon’s first daily newspaper.

Martin went on to explain Lloyd’s isthe world’s leading specialist

The Master, liverymen and guests during the visit to theGuildhall Art Gallery and Amphitheatre

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insurance market, home to forty sixmanaging agents and sixty sixsyndicates which offer an unrivalledconcentration of specialistunderwriting expertise and talent.

Lloyd’s is the world’s best known - butprobably least understood - insurancebrand. This is because Lloyd’s is notan insurance company but a society ofmembers, both corporate andindividual, who underwrite insyndicates, on whose behalfprofessional underwriters accept risk.

After our talk and a ‘questions andanswers’ session, we visited the areaof the underwriting rooms. Thesewere viewed from a central balconywhere many hundreds of brokerswere progressing business over thephone, with colleagues, or oncomputer terminals, in anunbelievably tranquil atmosphere.

At the end of our visit, we descendedto the lower level where we lookedthrough the Loss Books, that arewritten in by hand each day. We alsoviewed the famous Lutine Bell in itsvery ornate housing. In this area isalso a wonderful display of Nelsonmemorabilia that we all found veryinteresting.

The Master thanked Martin for theexcellent visit and we all then madeour way a short distance to the BalticExchange for lunch.

Pancake day in the City(By Steward John Carnaby)

On Tuesday 20th February, the LordMayor, the Plumbers’ Company’sHonorary Assistant, was snappedoutside Guildhall demonstrating howto toss a pancake to the Poulters’Company and the other participatingLivery Companies.

This event takes place at lunchtimein Guildhall Yard on Shrove Tuesday,by kind permission of the ChiefCommoner. It is a colourful eventwith the Masters and Sheriffs runningthe race while wearing their fullregalia.

Each Company submits a team offour to compete for the Prize Pans.Traditionally, the Gunmakers areresponsible for starting each event,the Clockmakers for timing it; theFruiterers provide lemons and theCutlers, plastic forks. Recently, theMusicians have provided a musicalinterlude.

It was in 2004, that the Poultersinaugurated the first annual InterLivery Pancake Race. The originalparticipants were Companiesassociated with the making ofpancakes, together with invited teamsfrom the Mansion House and theGuildhall.

There is a Masters’ Race, a Ladies’

Race, a Liveryman’s Race and a MadHatter’s Race. All proceeds from theevent go towards the Lord Mayor’sCharity of the day.

The event has subsequently beenwidened to include other invitedLivery Companies, preferably thosewith a relationship (howeverspecious) to the making of pancakes.Well, you need gas to heat the fryingpans; water to drink on the day, afterall that running, and after eating anddrinking, the toilets and wash handbasins will certainly be used.Therefore, the Plumbers’ Companycertainly qualify for an entry in nextyear’s fun day.

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ARTICLE

A Brief History of James WrightClarke, the Founder and FirstPresident of The NationalAssociation of Plumbing Teachers (By Steward John Carnaby)

Liveryman James Wright Clarke wasborn in the small village of WainfleetAll Saints, Lincolnshire, in 1844.

It was during this period thatBritain’s first Polytechnic opened at309 Regent Street in London. ThePolytechnic opened on 6th August1838. Sir George Cayley, landownerand gentleman scientist, was the first

The Interior of Lloyd’s of London,showing the escalators and below, theNelson collection and the Loss Books.

The Lord Mayor, Honorary Assistant, Alderman John Stuttard,outside Guildhall demonstrating how to toss a pancake

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Chairman and over the comingdecades, the Institution would make amajor contribution to the developmentof technical and scientific education.This Polytechnic would later play amajor role in the life of James WrightClarke, for it was here that hecommenced his teaching career.

James came from a poor and unhappyfamily background and around the ageof 14 was living and working asapprentice to his Uncle Daniel. Around1858, his Uncle Daniel decided tomove down to London where work wasmore plentiful. By 1861, when Jameswas 17 years old, he and his Uncle wereliving at 10 Booth’s Place, Maryleboneand were carrying out variousplumbing jobs around the area. Withina few years of working in London, hisUncle became seriously ill and died.James eventually found work with MrHenry Phelps, a 42-year-old Plumber,Painter and Glazier of Castle StreetEast, London, who was willing toemploy him and continue hisapprenticeship.

On completing his plumbing trainingwith Henry Phelps, James WrightClarke commenced work with the firmof Beard and Dent in 1864. They werean established and well-respectedplumbing company founded in 1730,and James would remain in theiremployment, except for a small break,for a further 30 years. William Dentwas the original founder of theCompany. The Company changed itsname a number of times over the years,but the Dent family name was alwaysretained. The final Company namechange came in 1874, when SamuelStevens Hellyer became a partner inthe Company; hence the renownedname of Dent and Hellyer. In 1956the company ceased trading as Dentand Hellyer Sanitation Limited.

Around 1867, James had a dispute withWilliam Dent and secured employmentwith Matthew Hall, a Master Plumber,who employed nine plumbers and fiveboys. Once again, James wouldunknowingly be working for anotherfamous plumbing icon. Established in1848, the Matthew Hall name wouldstill be in existence up until the year2003, when it was finally incorporatedinto the AMEC Group of Companies.James’s employment with Matthew

Hall was short lived. He managed toresolve his differences with WilliamDent and resumed his employmentwith them.

In 1869, James married Martha Baglinin St. Pancras. She was a lace menderbefore her marriage. They commencedtheir married life at 185 PentonvilleRoad, Islington, London, and had theirfirst child, Ellen, in 1870, a second,Frederick, in 1872 and a third, William,in 1874.

In 1878, at a meeting at the MansionHouse, the Corporation of the City ofLondon and the City LiveryCompanies founded the City andGuilds of London Institute, for thepurpose of ‘all such branches of scienceand the fine arts as benefit or are ofuse or may benefit or be of use toproductive and technical workers,especially to commerce and industrygenerally’. The City and Guilds ofLondon Institute was responsible forthe education and training of a widerange of occupations, including‘Plumbing Work’, in their list ofexamination subjects. Between 1878and 1909, the City and Guilds ofLondon Institute received some£800,000 from the City Companies.

In 1878, James applied for and becamea Freeman of the City of London. Thiswas the beginning of his close links tothe City of London and the WorshipfulCompany of Plumbers.

Also in 1878, the initial City andGuilds Plumbing Classes were held atBattersea and James was among thefirst to enrol for them. James WrightClarke soon assumed the position of ateacher and in 1880, he commencedwriting his famous articles on‘Practical and Technical Plumbing’ foran American Journal, ‘The Engineeringand Building Record’.

It was during this period that MrQuintin Hogg; a businessman with agreat interest in education, acquired thebuilding at 309 Regent Street that hadhoused the first Polytechnic. ThePolytechnic had been closed for sometime and Mr Hogg, who had beenworking amongst the poor and workingpeople of London for almost twentyyears, reopened it in 1882, as the‘Regent Street Polytechnic’. It soon

developed an international reputationand became a model for technicaleducation across London. His visionfor ‘The Polytechnic’ was to educatemind, body and spirit.

James Wright Clarke was among theplumbing students to win a prize at thefirst technological examination in‘Plumbing Work’ held at the City andGuilds of London Institute. At Dentand Hellyer James had worked his wayup through the ranks from journeymanto foreman plumber and while still intheir employ, joined the teaching staffof the Regent Street Polytechnic.

In 1882, it was resolved, on a motionfrom Mr George Shaw, Past Master ofthe Worshipful Company of Plumbers,that Mr. James Wright Clarke ‘havingpassed in the first and second classeswith honours had qualified himself toreceive the Freedom of the Company’.In February 1883, he was presentedwith his Freedom Certificate of theWorshipful Company of Plumbers.The Certificate was presented in theGuildhall Tavern in the City of London.A year later, in April 1884, he dulybecame a Liveryman, a membershiphe would hold and respect for the restof his life.

James began teaching the practicaltrade of Plumbing at the Regent StreetPolytechnic and also took technicalclasses for the City and Guilds. It wasthe first time the subject of Plumbing,Metal Plate Work and MechanicalEngineering had been taught at thePolytechnic. The Regent StreetPolytechnic kept its name until 1992,when it was named the University ofWestminster.

In 1886, the Worshipful Company ofPlumbers formed ‘The Registration ofPlumbers’, and James Wright Clarkerepresented the operative plumbers onthe first Registration Committee, underthe Chairmanship of the Master of theWorshipful Company of Plumbers, MrGeorge Shaw, CC. Plumbers whopassed their practical examination attheir workshops in Kings College,Strand, were recorded in the registerand given the title RP.

In 1888, James and his growing familymoved house to 17 Shelgate Street,Clapham. In the same year, he

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published his first book TheEngineering and Building Record.James continued his advancement inDent and Hellyer, finally becomingtheir Assistant Consulting Engineerand Superintending Sanitary Engineer.In 1891, James published Clarke’sPocket Book for Plumbers, Architects,Sanitary Engineers, etc, generallyknown as Clarke’s Tables, which hasbeen reprinted on numerous occasionsover the years. In 1893, he publishedhis illustrated Lectures to Plumbers. Inthe preface in this book, he says,“Experience shows that practitionersof standing and repute are still students,and as such, whether Plumbers orSanitary Engineers, who do not believethey already know it all, this book isdedicated.”

James Wright Clarke left theemployment of Dent and Hellyer in1894, at the age of 50, to concentratetotally on his teaching and writing.

In later life, James became interestedin Freemasonry and became a memberof the Robert Mitchell Lodge. He wasalso a Companion of the QuintinianChapter named after Quintin Hogg, thebusinessman who acquired 309 RegentStreet in 1881.

In 1898, he published his book titledPumps, their Principle andConstruction etc. In 1900, James waselected President of the Polytechnic’sArchitectural and Engineering Societyand in the same year published hisbook, on Hydraulic Rams, theirPrinciple and Construction etc. In1903, the last of James Wright Clarke’sbooks was published, PracticalScience for Plumbers and Engineersetc. In the same year, he received thesad news that his close friend, QuintinHogg, had died.

In 1906, the Registration Committeeof the Worshipful Company ofPlumbers were still examiningCraftsmen for registration. They wereconcerned at the ‘low standard ofefficiency shown by the candidates inthe practical tests’.

The Committee expressed an opinionthat ‘it was desirable that applicants forexamination should be required tofurnish some evidence or qualificationof having attended plumbing classes

in order that they may be betterprepared for examination. EightMasters and twenty-three operativeshad presented themselves for the Juneexamination and only six Masters andsix operatives passed!

James’s concern about the quality ofplumbing training and his experienceover many many years, made him anideal person to examine operativeplumbers before they applied to befurther examined under the WorshipfulCompany of Plumbers’ RegistrationScheme, in order to become a‘Registered Plumber’.

In 1906, James W. Clarke resignedfrom the Registration Committee.Together with Mr T. Fretwell, hewanted plumbing apprentices andoperatives, at all Polytechnics andInstitutions throughout the country, tobe trained in the same manner and tothe same standard. To achieve thismajor task they contacted numerousplumbing colleges the length andbreath of the country, with an aim toform an Association of PlumbingTeachers.

The response was excellent and theInaugural Meeting of the NationalAssociation of Plumbing Teacherswas held on 31st August 1907, at theRegent Street Polytechnic. JamesWright Clarke was requested to occupythe Chair at this Meeting and Mr T.Fretwell was asked to give a report ofevents that led to the origin of theMeeting. He said that he had beenrequested to communicate as far aspossible, with all teachers who areplumbers, to ask their views onforming such an Association. After afull discussion, it was resolved ‘torestrict membership to teachers whoare plumbers and such other personsas may from time to time be decidedon’. He also advised that there wereupwards of fifty Institutions that hadpromised their support.

Those present were called upon to electthe Officers of the National Associationof Plumbing Teachers. James waselected as the first President of theAssociation. At first he declined,saying that he felt a younger manshould undertake this important post.Eventually, however, he was prevailedupon to accept.

In 1910, at the age of 66, James retiredfrom the Regent Street Polytechnicwhere he held the position of Chiefinstructor and Director of PlumbingClasses. In April of that year aRetirement Dinner was held for himat the Anderton Hotel, Fleet Street,attended by some one hundred andthirty of his past and present studentsand many personal friends. During theevening, he was presented with ahandsome gold watch and chain as atoken of their appreciation andmemories of the happy and instructivetimes spent when attending classesunder his charge.

James Wright Clarke died at 10pm onthe 14th June 1912, aged 68 years.

Long after his death, his detailedarticles on ‘Sanitary Plumbing’continued to appear in The Plumberand Decorator Journal. James left agreat record of what can beaccomplished from a poorupbringing, a hard life, perseveranceand industry; a splendid example forall to follow.

He was laid to rest in WandsworthCemetery and in 1913, his past studentsand friends subscribed to the erectionof a memorial over his grave as a tokenof their esteem and respect to hismemory. The memorial, in the formof a scroll of white polished marble ona York stone base, is inscribed with thefitting words, “Erected by a few

students and friends as a tribute ofrespect and esteem. Work Ably Done,Rest Nobly Won”

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LIVERY NEWS TOPICS‘Talking Stick’

On 27th November 2006, Past MasterGeoffrey Marsh and his wife, Ann,

visited the Head Office of the Instituteof Plumbing and Heating Engineers topresent a ‘Talking Stick’ and Dresserand Mallet Set to the Institute. ReginaldJames, Chairman of the Board ofTrustees, received the gift. It wasduring their Golden Wedding year thatGeoffrey and Ann gave this gift to theInstitute to celebrate its centenary.

On visiting Fort Langley, Canada, in2003, Geoffrey came across a ‘TalkingStick’, which immediately aroused hiscuriosity. The ‘Talking Stick’ has beenused for centuries by North AmericanNative Indian Tribes as an aid to creatingconditions for a just and impartialhearing. After researching thesubject further, and with the helpof Ann’s sister in Vancouver, anInstitute inspired ‘Talking Stick’was hand carved by MaxwellBaker of Richmond, Canada.

This unique ‘Talking Stick’ waspresented, along with aboxwood Dresser taken fromGeoffrey’s set of lead workingtools, and carved by ColinBowen of Chatham, Kent.

A Mallet Set was alsopresented. It contains a smallbossing mallet, symbolizingthat there should be little need for aheavy gavel when the Talking Stick isdeployed!

The ‘Talking Stick’ is steeped intradition. When dealing with matters ofgreat concern, the Chief or leading elderof North American Native Indian Tribes

would commence the discussionholding the ‘Talking Stick’. When hefinished speaking, the Stick would bepassed to whomsoever wished tocontribute to the discussion. Only the

person holding the Stick could talk,thus ensuring the speaker was heardwithout interruption. Whoeverholds the Stick has the authority tospeak without fear of reprisal orhumiliation, but is charged to uttertruthful words of wisdom.

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Past Master Mike Samuel andSheila are pleased to announcethat their first grandchild, Robert,was born on January 21st to theirmiddle son, Tom, and his wife,Georgie. Robert weighed in at a

bouncing 8lb 15oz.

For the past eight months, LiverymanJim Samuel and his wife Sian havebeen travelling overland throughTurkey, Georgia, Turkmenistan,Kyrgistan, Tibet, India, China, Japan,Korea, Vietnam, and Laos. They arenow in South America.

Their Internet blog is interesting andamusing and contains many excellentphotographs. 10,000 people haveviewed it and if you would like tosee it you can find it at http://www.t ravelpod.com/t raveler /sianandjim.html

A new Square for the CityMonument Square(Steward John Carnaby)

On 31st January 2007, a ceremonytook place to open the newMonument Square, created by BereArchitects for the City of London.

It is part of Monument Streetpedestrian initiative, marking theextent of Wren’s original MonumentYard between Fish Street Hill andPudding Lane. The pavement isresurfaced in York and Caithnessstone and granite.

A commemorative flagstone will alsobe laid to Robert Hooke (1635-1703).It is often overlooked that RobertHooke was the inventor, architect andco-designer of The Monument withSir Christopher Wren.

A contemporary glass and stonePavilion has also been built. ThePavilion will incorporate a reference

to the universal joint; one ofHooke’s many inventions. Itwill also include a newautomatic public convenienceand a staff facility.

The material chosen for thePavilion is Caithness Stone,the same dark stone that hasbeen chosen for MonumentSquare.

On the Pavilion’s roof isaround one hundred pieces ofangled mirrored glass,reflecting the flaming goldenorb at the top of the

Monument. For those of you whowish to climb the Monument, youwill see a shimmering vision of thegold orb reflecting back from theMonument Pavilion below.

The creation of the new Squareincludes the landscaping of the area

A photograph from the travels of Liveryman Jim Samuel and Sian

Tom and Georgie Samuel with RobertGeoffrey and Ann presenting the ‘Talking Stick’ to

Reginald

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around the Pavilion and an oak-decked garden suspended over thederelict basement of the former CanoeHouse. This will create an attractiveoutdoor space with seating, for theenjoyment of City residents, workersand of course plumbers on their wayto the Church of St. Magnus.

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Liveryman Caroline Walsh(By Liveryman Stephen Walsh)

On Sunday 26th November 2006, atthe Ramada Hotel, Hollingbourne,Kent, Liveryman Caroline Walsh wasinvited to attend the Kent VolunteersCeremony Awards for Volunteering

Excellence 2006. As a result of allher work and involvement in anumber of Kent Wildlife Trust

projects, in particular the Trust’sannual celebration of Marine Weekevents, Caroline received the ‘HighlyCommended’ Award from theEnvironment Agency.

Caroline had prepared the materials,and the activities, and wasresponsible for running some of theevents. She makes particularemphasis on encouraging peoplewith varying disabilities to take partand as a wheelchair user herself, hasdevised guided tours, activities andpresentations. Caroline also tookpart in a snorkel dive in one of Kent’ssea tidal swimming pools,demonstrating how people can takea role in helping to promote care forthe marine environment.

In addition to her Teacher Trainingin Higher Education qualification,she also lectures in ‘SustainableDevelopment and EnvironmentalManagement’. Caroline iscompleting her PhD at the Universityof Hertfordshire, and is a member ofthe parliamentary committee forvolunteers. She is a volunteer forSCOPE and Founder of thecharitable trust ‘Access to MarineConservation for All International’(AMCAI), an educationalorganisation to introduce people withdisabilities to the marineenvironment and educating peoplewithout disabilities to the needs ofothers. As a result, Caroline has beeninvited and sponsored to give lecturesand presentations both nationally andinternationally.

Liveryman Caroline Walsh receiving herAward

PAST MASTER MICHAEL WAYMAN8th October 1927 – 15th March 2007

It is with much sadness that I report the death of Past Master Michael George Wayman on 15th March 2007. Born in Kenton 8th October 1927, Michael had a twin brother, Patrick, and an elder brother, John. Patrick predeceased him but hisbrother, John, was at the funeral to mourn the second of his twin brothers. Michael was educated at the City of LondonBoys School and went on to become a lawyer.

Michael married Muffet on the 20th August 1955, and had two daughters who were the light of his life. The elder daughter,Teresa, has four sons and Fiona has two daughters.

Michael became a member of the Plumbers’ Company in 1967 and joined the Court in 1981. In 1989, he served as Master.His Annual Banquet was the only time in my years that we had a waiting list for the event and three hundred and twentysat down to dinner. For years, he teased me that this was as a result of his popularity! I sat with Michael at the Fire Sermonin St. Magnus last February and he was in great form having made a good recovery from his stroke.

Past Master Michael was a wonderful supporter of all the functions within the Plumbers’ Company and took hisresponsibilities as a former Master very seriously.  He will be sadly missed by us all but personally my life has beenenriched by the warmth and sincerity of his friendship. - Eileen.

WELFARE REPORT(By Honorary Liveryman EileenLilley)

On the morning of the 12th February, atQueen’s Hospital, Burton upon Trent,

Olivia Claire Swallow was born toDominic and Stephanie. The photographshows her and her adoring Grandpa onthe evening of the 13th February.

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Last Thursday the IPM representedthe Master at the funeral of PastMaster Wayman at St. NicholasChurch, Chislehurst. Also presentwere Past Masters Leon Hill and JohnJones together with their wives, Anneand Gloria.  Also the CompanyChaplain Father Gibbons with hiswife Margaret, Past Steward Peter andSylvia McKinley and, of course, me!

Olivia Clare Swallow andGrandpa Swallow