LIVERY NEWSLETTER AND GAZETTEISSUE 20 SPRING 2012

The Worshipful Companyof Tobacco Pipe Makersand Tobacco Blenders

The Master’sVoiceThe great day had arrived.To the strains of Handel’sArrival of the Queen of Shebaour first ever Lady MasterFiona Adler led in herWardens and principalguests to luncheon after herInstallation at Skinners Hallon 9th June 2011.

As the 58th Master of our Liveryshe is the granddaughter of ourFounder Alan Adler, and herfather, uncle, and brother are allcurrent members.

From the start it was clearthat with her principal guestMarilyn Mornington, a ladyjudge, the proposer CaroleHughes-Mack a LadyLiveryman, plus a lady harpist

to serenade us during lunch,we had not elected ashrinking violet.

On being advised in 1987 thatthe Livery had agreed to admither as its first lady Freeman, thedate for her admission coincidedwith the last day of her finals, soshe persuaded the Chancellor toallow her to sit her exam a dayearly.

She worked for the first 10 yearsof her career in South Africa as astructural engineer beforereturning to manage the familypipe manufacturing business (AOppenheimer & Co Ltd) whichshe helped to diversify andexpand before retiring in 2007.

Enter the Mistress! In thecourse of her diversificationshe met and subsequentlymarried David Moss, anentrepreneur who foundedthe hugely successfulValvestock company. He isquite relaxed about hisunorthodox temporary titleand tells us that there are noless than SIX husbands withsimilar identity crises amongthe current City Liveries.

Fiona is deeply involved with thecharitable work of the Livery,and is a Trustee of theBenevolent Fund. In her ownright she qualified as a therapistto help Hampshire childrenovercome bullying problems.

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In thisIssueIn thisIssueThe Master’s Voice

Around the Liverypages 2-6

Charity Newspages 7-10

The Ladies Banquetpage 11

Future EventsBack page

www.tobaccolivery.org

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The Tobacco PipeMakers and TobaccoTrade BenevolentFund The accounts for the period ending 31stMarch 2011 show eight months for theLivery and twelve months for the TTBA,making comparison with previous years lessmeaningful.The General Fund shows charitable givingof £63,852 in eight months whilst theWelfare Fund disbursed £215,917 in welfareover the twelve months. The combinedassets of the two funds stood at just over£5million at 31st March 2011.

Our financesThe accounts for the year ended 25th March2011 showed that the company had a smallsurplus of £2,221 (2010-£11,781) and ourinvestments rose in line with most indices tostand at a value of £1,010,357 (2010-£953,928).The welcome number of new members sawquarterage rise by £6,000 to £34,385 but anumber of exceptional expenses due to themerger of our Benevolent Fund with theTTBA and the changeover in Clerks meantthat our surplus was reduced. In the currentyear we expect a modest recovery.

AppointmentsCanon David Parrott has been appointed theCompany’s Honorary Chaplain.

Assistant Chris Allen has joined the GeneralPurposes Committee.

Liverymen Alan Porter and Andrew Goldinghave been elected to the Court as Assistants.

New membersLiverymenAdrian Marshall 27th Jan 2011John Stevens 27th Jan 2011Neil Withington 27th Jan 2011Adam Cleave 9th June 2011Adam Bennett 19th Sept 2011Philip Scourfield 19th Sept 2011

FreemenJames Bigwood 27th Jan 2011Dominic Brisby 9th June 2011Graeme Munro 19th Sept 2011Phil Colman 19th Sept 2011

The New Websitewww.tobaccolivery.org

If you think there is a touch of “déjà vu” aboutthis newsletter then you will probably have beenkeeping in touch through the newly refreshedwebsite which was launched in November. TheMaster’s blog, and those of her predecessors, areall available to view and give rather more detailand pictures than we can show in our 12 pages.

There is a useful new “Members Only” areaaccessible only to those members of the Liverywhose email addresses are recorded with theClerk. You will also need a password.

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For this you enter your email address as“Username” and click on the “ForgottenPassword” section. Almost immediately apassword will be sent to your email inbox.

Sadly it seems we will have to await the day whenwe can book and pay for functions and otheritems online, but that is still the plan.

Our Company was one of the earliest to have itsown website, which was built and managed for usby Assistant Nick Alton. Over the last decade theinternet environment has evolved so much that theCourt agreed the time was right to have a revamp.

Designed by Alison Oakley, the pages are cleanand sit on a subdued background with anembedded tobacco leaf motif. Information caneasily be found by clicking the headings on asimple navigation bar or by clicking feature boxes.

We hope that you enjoy exploring the newwebsite. We have done our best to reflect ourCompany, its life and character. The site willevolve with our Company so please use it andfeel free to make suggestions about features orideas that may enhance its value by contactingthe Clerk or the Membership Committee.

We are grateful to British American Tobacco,Imperial Tobacco and Japan TobaccoInternational for the financial support thathas made the development, launch and futuremanagement of our new website possible.

Lost brethren

Past Master George Challis CBEAs the Dean of Guildford said at the funeralservice George was the epitomy of a Christiangentleman.

He will best be remembered in four specific areasof City life.

After a notable war service with the Gurkhabrigade in North Africa and Italy, George returnedto Lloyds Bank where he enjoyed an illustriouscareer, much of it spent in senior positions in theHead office in Lombard St.

In 1978 with the Bank’s encouragement hesought successfully election as CommonCouncilman for Langbourn Ward in the CityCorporation. He represented the Ward whichencompasses Lombard and Fenchurch Streets for22 years until his retirement in 2000. During thattime he sat on many committees, notably Healthand Markets, before in 1991 being elected as

George who died aged 90 on 20th October.

The new Website (cont’d)

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HonoursApart from Wally Kahn’s OBE which isreported below, Liveryman Ken Rich hasreceived a belated note of thanks from HMGovernment and been added to the BletchleyPark Roll of Honour for his service in theRAF cypher branch based in Brisbane andMoratu (Dutch East Indies) in the lastphases of the war against the Japanese.Now aged 86 he admits to being rathersurprised at the news since he left the RAFin 1947 and spent a career as a wholesaletobacconist in North London. He wellremembers being sent to Oxford on acourse to learn the arts of cryptology sincehe was one of only four men among 24WAAFs. He also remembers his pay as 8/- aday as a Sergeant.

Chief Commoner (procedural leader of the CityCorporation) in which he served uniquely for twoterms, as a result of his successor’s untimelydeath in office. He was appointed CBE forservices to the City of London.

His civic responsibilities led him towards Liveryand in 1978 he was admitted to our company. Heserved on the Court from 1981 until his deathand was a highly efficient Master in 1992.

This in turn led him to the appointment as Clerkto the Chartered Secretaries and Administratorswhere he served from 1984 to 1994. In this rolehe often kept our Court on the straight andnarrow when occasionally maverick Masterschallenged the Ordinances – courteously andprofessionally of course!

In all these spheres of activity he was lovinglysupported by his wife Margaret and their family.George will be sorely missed in his varied walksof City life, but will long be remembered by all forhis unstinting contributions over his many yearsof service.

Dudley Robert MottNews has reached us from Australia that DudleyMott has died. The Archives are silent about hisdate of birth but we presume he must have beenin his late eighties. He joined the Livery in 1968.

As Managing Director of the Ogden Branch ofImperial Tobacco in Liverpool he was a wellknown character in the tobacco world. His hobbywas keeping pigs, which he named after hiscolleagues in the boardroom!

Retiring to South Australia to farm sheep andcattle (lots of them) he wrote a cheerful letter in2002 which gives some measure of the man. Thefollowing is a typical (and topical) extract. “Wereturn home from time to time to make sureEngland is still there. I still think we ought tohave stayed with the old Empire and made ourfuture with Canada, Australia and the rest. Tradewith Europe would still have continued and theproblem with the Euro would never haveappeared. PM Heath should be doing time fortreason!”

Paul NeatePaul died in hospital on21st February 2011 agedonly 72. His last few yearswere plagued by diabetesand illnesses.Well known in the tobacco

trade and member of the Livery since 1993 heretired in 1996 as Production Director ofCarreras Rothmans in Aylesbury.Prior to that hehad worked with BAT in Nairobi, Philip Morris inHolland and then Rothmans in Basildon. His firstwife Maureen, who bore him four children, diedin 1992, but in 1994 he married Janice withwhom he had worked in Rothmans.His early years were spent on the Norfolk Broadswhere his ashes were scattered. Being one of thelast intakes for National Service he completedofficer training and was seconded to the GhanaRegiment in Accra and fell in love with Africa. Weextend our sympathy to his family and his widowJanice, who is of course well known to the Court,which he joined in 1998. He was also aLiveryman of Makers of Playing Cards.

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Wally Kahn MBE

In the Queen’s 2011 Birthday Honours List oursenior Past Master was awarded the MBE for“services to gliding.”Added to his AE (the RAF equivalent to a TD) thismakes him the Grand Old Man of Gliding and theeditor leapt at the chance to go down and visithim at his home near Lasham airfield.

Those of us in the Livery know him first as thedynamic and entertaining boss of cigar importersJoseph Samuel, whose lively rivalry with Hunters& Frankau was a feature of the 80s and 90s.

Now in his eighties and living with his daughterhe is unable to attend any Livery functions butremains a great raconteur, and bon viveur. Whofor instance has a lift that takes him from hiswine cellar to his bedroom? Not for him thehumble Stannah!Having left university to join the RAF in 1944 hewas too late for pilot training and while stationedin France was posted to a Bomb DisposalSquadron until the end of the war.Until December 1947 when he was demobilisedhe was editor of the 2 Group RAF Germanynewspaper. From 1945 he helped start andnurture the RAF Germany Gliding clubs and thusbegan his love of the sport. In 1948 he joined the RAF Volunteer Reserve andgained his civilian flying licence in 1946 and hasflown gliders and aeroplanes ever since.On 4th October he and his daughter Christinewent to Windsor Castle to collect his medal fromthe Princess Royal. She asked Wally whether heknew Aston Down, the ex RAF station just nearGatcombe. “Yes, your Royal Highness I wasstationed there in 1944” She asked whether I hadflown over her house. “Yes, Ma’am, many times”.The visit ended with a celebration lunch at theMichelin starred Royal Oak near Bray.

Not to be outdone, this is the Master “wingwalking.”

Our new HonoraryChaplain and spiritualhome, St LawrenceJewry

The serenity is palpable as Canon David Parrottprepares to suck on the pipe presented to him byour Master. This is our new Honorary Chaplainphotographed outside his church, St LawrenceJewry in Guildhall Yard.We are very lucky to have him since he has noless than 9 other Livery Companies to whom heprovides spiritual succour, but in truth he regardsall Livery Companies as his parish.He was appointed to what he himself describes asa “unique and strange job” of Guild Vicar twoyears ago, after a distinguished career in thechurch of England as parish priest, and as aneducator of clergy.He is an expert on church law and has publisheda book on the subject as well as beingEducational Adviser to the Ecclesiastical LawSociety and a tutor for the College of Preachers.He lives with his wife Sue “above the shop” in aflat tucked into the bell tower of St Lawrence andas he says he is “there for the Livery”.A very approachable and personable characterwhom we will get to know better down the years.His Wren church is one of the gems of the cityand we were privileged to hold our Carol

Service there on 6th December. This was held asbefore with the Worshipful Company of Bowyers,who this year fielded the greater part of thecongregation. The service featured the excellentsinging of the Sennocke Consort from Sevenoaksschool under their conductor Christopher Dyer,accompanied lustily by the resident organistCatherine Ennis.

The Sennocke consort at St Lawrence Jewry.

In his address our new Chaplain provided a veryrealistic impersonation of American comedianBob Newhart in his famous telephoneconversation sketch with Sir Walter Raleigh whohad called to announce his discovery of tobacco.Whilst on a more serious note he reminded usthat Christmas was about Jesus Christ and not Xor Winterval.Sad as it is to have ended our connection with StBotolph’s Aldgate there is no doubt that we nowhave the finest venue and a worthy pipe smokingsuccessor to our previous incumbent.

Lord Mayor David Wootton at last year’s service as guest of theMaster Bowyer.

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The Master writes abouther chosen Charity: The Children’s Magical Taxi Tour Each year since 1993 the Worshipful Company ofHackney Carriage Drivers have organised themost incredible three day trip to Disneyland Parisfor over 200 children suffering from a range ofchronic debilitating illnesses and life limitingconditions.

It is not just for the children - it also gives sorely-tested siblings and parents a three-day break,during which they don’t have to think aboutanything except enjoying themselves.

This amazing convoy stretches up to three mileslong and is made up of over 100 taxis, policecommand vehicles, motor bike outriders includingthe Gendarmerie, ambulances and AA breakdowntrucks.

Every working participant is a volunteer and thisevent is only possible with the help of sponsorswho generously give toward the expenses of

hotel, fuel, food, admission charges etc. The taxidrivers give freely of their time and use of theirvehicles. Our Livery sponsored a taxi and the MistressDavid and I were thrilled to be invited to the BigBreakfast send off; the start of the adventure.Whilst the taxis were collecting children fromtheir homes, specialist units and hospitals wewere on a tube train travelling to Canary Wharfwhere we met seven year old Rafe Louis. Rafehad had a wonderful experience on the Children’sMagical Taxi Tour and wanted to make sure otherchildren also had the chance to enjoy the trip asmuch as he had. Rafe had raised over £7,000 for this year’s Tour –amazing. When we asked what the best bit wasfor Rafe he answered “The police waving usthrough red lights was great, but watching theFrench Gendarmerie and British Police doingwheelies on their motor bikes was incredible”. As the Mistress and I entered the EastWintergarden in Canary Wharf over 500 peoplewere enjoying a free cooked breakfast. In thegallery the military band played Disney tunes andhuge balloons of Disney characters adorned the

room. The smiles that filled this hugespace were incredible and youcould feel the joy and expectationmounting. The Lord MayorAlderman Michael Bear and hisSheriffs arrived, trombonistsserenaded each table and then thecall went out to ‘board your cab’! The cab that we had sponsoreddriven by the charismatic Mikehad a Union Jack roof andproudly bore our Coat of Arms onthe door. We met Henry who isfighting a brain tumour and hislovely Mum, Janet and we quicklyfound a place for our mascot toride in the taxi with Henry. Thesmile on Henry’s face says moreabout this fantastic event than anywords I can write.

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Piper-Lou:A new horse forBarrow FarmRiding for the DisabledBarrow Farm RDA has been fortunate over thelast few years to have had money left to them inwills. They try not to eat in to the capital of thelegacies so they run a major appeal every fiveyears, so that they can be a charity that is selfsustaining.Past Master John Adler, who is a Trustee,explained that Barrow Farm always seems to runat a deficit, however this year it is worse thanusual since charitable donations are way downdue to the current financial climate.Expenses have increased enormously, particularlyfor feed and straw bedding. Hard hats for theriders, and horseshoes have alsoescalated dramatically in price.The latest accounts show theyhave done some long overduemaintenance, but above all theyare now paying trained staffmore than a pittance.They work very hard at raisingfunds but their biggest need hasbeen for another horse. The BluePeter horse, Jet that waspreviously financed by the Liveryis now very old and nearingretirement. They thought theyhad found a cheap pony for£3000 but it failed its vets test.They needed £8000 for a newhorse, as several of the otherhorses were getting old and ill. Barrow Farm tries to encourage people to ‘give’them their horses to use in return for freestabling etc. but as is understandable, it takes avery special horse to be compatible with disabledadult riders, many of whom are raised on to thehorse by a bulky hoist.

The Benevolent Fund is delighted to announcethat from your donations Barrow Farm has founda suitable horse and in honour of our Livery sheis called Piper-Lou. Technically she is a pony asshe is an inch short of being a horse.Piper-Lou is very good natured and already lovedby her riders. She is also being trained for

carriage driving as well whichmeans that she can be suitablefor more disabled riders.When the photograph above wastaken John Adler had just met upwith one of the disabled riderswho had a ride booked. He hadbrought along a prize apple forhis horse Molly, and his fatherlooked on in admiration at theboy’s excitement. His father saidthat Wednesday was his son’shighlight of the week. This iswhat makes the RDA soworthwhile. Barrow Farm is very grateful tothe Livery for all its support. It islovely for them to see that theyare being recognised for their

hard work, and they have just heard that theyhave been given tickets for the Para Olympics forthe Riding to Music Event. They will have 38 tickets, including three withwheelchair access and three helpers which will bea wonderful bonus for this splendid charity.

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The Lord Mayor’sShow 2011The Master describes ourparticipationOnce again we took part in this celebration towelcome the 684th Lord Mayor of London,Alderman David Wootton. We were againwalking alongside the Modern Livery Companiesfloat, number 75, in the world’s oldest civicprocession where over 6,000 participants takepart in a three mile display of fun, music andpageantry.Our Company is now becoming renowned fordressing up as characters connected with atobacco theme. In the past as a Warden I havedressed as The Old Queen (Elizabeth I) after theMaster of that year, Nigel Rich, declined the role,preferring the costume of the gallant Sir WalterRaleigh. With my Chief, Julian Keevil in his yearas Master I dressed as ‘Running Bear’ – a NativeAmerican Indian complete with peace pipe. This year I chose the theme of ‘famous smokers’.

The Senior Warden, Michael Prideaux wasindistinguishable from Sherlock Holmes. Voices inthe crowd regularly shouted “elementary dearfellow” and he would rush forward, cape flapping,calabash pipe wafting smoke, and raise hismagnifying glass and ask ”do you have a crimeyou need solving?” So thorough was hispreparation that as a dedicated cigar smoker heeven took a pipe smoking lesson from PastMaster Roger Merton to complete his makeover. The Renter Warden, John Nokes, was instantlyrecognisable as Winston Churchill – siren suit,Homburg, gas mask and puffing a cigar. The mostjunior warden gets to carry the placard all day soas John strode along the three mile route heregularly gave the V for victory – which delightedscores of adults and children as theyacknowledged our distinguished smoker. My character was not an easy choice, when youthink of a famous female smoker who comes tomind? Marlene Dietrich is not easily recognisable,nor is Carmen from the tobacco factory, so amove into cartoon characters was required. Itransformed into Popeye….tattooed muscles, acorncob pipe from my brother, Michael, and a canof spinach. The crowd kept asking ….” Where’s

Olive?!”The Senior Warden took his rolevery seriously knew that after amorning of serious detection wewould be in need ofrefreshment, so as we walkedpast El Vino’s the barmanrushed out with three glasses ofchilled Chablis that he hadpreviously ordered. What style!From the start of the show wehad been the envy of the otherCompanies who wanted to dressup, now they were ready to joinour Livery! The pace of theprocession was much faster aswe neared the half way markand champagne was servedaboard HQShip Wellingtoncourtesy of the Master Mariners.

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Livery sponsorsLondon Regiment’sHelp for Heroesmarathon cycle rideOn 21st May a team of amateur cyclists from TheLondon Regiment, sponsored by the Liveryattempted to cycle from John O’Groats to Land’sEnd in just five days in order to raise money forHelp for Heroes and The London RegimentWelfare and Benevolent Fund.

Just in case you didn’t know that means nearly200 miles per day for 5 days.

Nutrition was a critical part of the equation.Each rider would be burning up to 10,000calories a day - the equivalent of 10 ChristmasDinners - much of which would have to beeaten in the saddle, a huge challenge all of itsown.

However, despite all the planning and the hoursof training in preparation Lady Luck was not tofavour the team. The leader fractured his arm theday before the start, another had a familyemergency which forced him to scratch on thefirst afternoon, and then atrocious weather with70mph headwinds on day two, with a gustblowing one member clean off the road and into ahedge south of Dumfries.

As dispiriting as it was to accept defeat, to havecontinued would have only ended in serious injuryor worse.

They returned to London determined to haveanother crack at the challenge. HoweverReservists all juggle complicated diaries,forever trying to maintain the balance betweenwork and family, let alone an operationaldeployment to Afghanistan. John O’Groats toLands End is “unfinished business”.

With a different team and with different rulesperhaps, one day our lads will be able to callthemselves “End to Enders”.

Cont’d from Page 9As the show started its return route in theafternoon we three smokers stood proudly withour banner in front of BAT headquarters andwaited for our float to arrive. Although our feetached I resisted the urge to ride pillion on theMaster Firefighter’s Harley Davidson – Popeyesure needed that spinach to get her strengthback!

The team of 10 men and one girl before the drive North.

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The Annual Banquet at Goldsmiths’ Hall20th October 2011

The pictures from Gerald Sharp Photography tell the story.The Master with her principal guest Rosie Stancer, polarexplorer, and being kissed by the Mistress.

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Available from the ClerkCufflinks: £15 Shield: £25 Livery tie: £20

Thursday 16th Feb 2012 Tacitus lecture at Guildhall. Is ‘Occupy’ Right?Speaker Mr Terry Smith. 5.30pm. Liverymenonly. Apply to Clerk for ticket.

Wednesday 21st March 2012Election Court (11am) and ladies luncheon(12.30pm) at Drapers’ Hall. Court only.

Friday 23rd March 2012United Guilds service at St Paul’s Cathedral(10.45am). Apply to Clerk for ticket. Followedby informal lunch.

April/May 2012. t.b.aEvening Shoot and reception at LondonRegiment, Battersea.

April/May 2012 t.b.aThe Master’s Evening Reception.

Wednesday 2nd May 2012 7pm GSM&D Gold medal competition forinstrumentalists at the Barbican. Apply to Clerkfor ticket.

Thursday 14th June 2012Installation Court and dinner at TallowChandlers Hall.

Monday 25th June 2012Common Hall.Election of Sheriffs at Guildhall.11.30 am Liverymen apply to Clerk for pass.

Wednesday 27th June 2012Livery golf day at Tandridge.

August 2012 t.b.a Pipemakers Trophy cricket final at Arundel.

Monday 10th September 2012Autumn Court and Dinner at Glaziers’ Hall.Court members only.

Monday 1st October 2012Common Hall Election of Lord Mayor atGuildhall. 11.30am. Liverymen apply to Clerkfor pass.

Monday 5th November 2012Annual Ladies Banquet at the Mansion House.

Saturday 10th November 2012Lord Mayor’s Show.

Monday 10th December 2012Livery Carol Service in St Lawrence Jewry.

Thursday 24th January 2013January Court and Livery Dinner at Painters’Hall.

ContactsMastermossiefi@superscoot.net Clerktobaccoclerk@btconnect.comEditornickhp@btconnect.com

Diary of Forthcoming Events