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THE
SOCIETY OF YOUNG FREEMEN
President: Alderman
David Wootton
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Tour of Haberdashers Hall
14th January 2010
In January after the weeks of New Year snow had gone, we had a wonderful visit to Haberdasher's Hall in Smithfield. The Hall, the Company's 4th, only opened in 2002. Although modern in style, it turned out to be a hidden gem, nestled in a courtyard opposite St. Bart's Hospital and surrounded by existing office blocks. Once through the entrance it was like walking into a garden of tranquillity away from the bustle of the street, with the trickle of a fountain the only sound in a pretty, cloistered garden.
The effect was one of mixing the old of the Mediaeval cloister with the new of the modern sculptures dotted around. We later found out from the archivist who showed us round that this was a recurrent theme, at the heart of the design of both the exterior and interior of the new Hall. There have been three previous Hall before this one. The first was established in what is now Gresham Street in 1459. Like for so many Livery Halls, The Great Fire and World War II took their toll on the first two and the third was acquired for development in 1996.
The Worshipful Company of Haberdashers dates back to 1371 and received its Royal Charter in 1448. It was responsible for the trade of haberdashery which, unlike the cottons and threads we are familiar with today, related more to the sale of "small wares" such as ribbons, beads, purses, gloves, pins, caps, toys and later hats. Traders were often itinerant, travelling round the country and spreading fashions as they went. London's population explosion meant that by as early as 1650 the Company was no longer able to control the trade and thus it turned to the charitable and education work we know today.
From 1594 onwards four of the members of the Company had left bequests of land and money to establish schools and in 1690 Robert Aske, founded the well known Haberdashers' Aske' Schools . There are now nine schools in total spread around the country, a mixture of private and State, many of which we were told had moved locations several times over the years.
The Hall had many treats in store, interesting artefacts mixed with modern art, including some stunning works by pupils from the Company's schools. Of particular note were an almost life size carved figurehead of St Catherine, the Company's patron Saint, that used to sit ahead the Company's barge and a wonderful oak panelled room that had been brought piece by piece from an earlier Hall. We were told that whilst the Hall is now rightly very popular with private hires, the effect of a stray flipchart had recently left one of the historic paintings with a large tare and so now all were covered in very discrete Perspex for their own protection, From that we took our cue that our drinks to round off the evening would be best consumed at a local hostelry, just in case we put any more of the artefacts at risk!
Our thanks go to the archivist for taking us on a very special tour.
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The Beautiful Courtyard
The Tour Begins
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Carol Singing
17th December 2009
We started the evening with an unpredented number of SYF members and friends singing carols to the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress at Mansion House. We were made to feel extremely welcome and also had the unexpected pleasure of seeing our President, Sheriff David Wootton, who joined the musical throng.
After a round of strong mulled wine and mince pies, we set off into the snowy night to raise money for Pitch Perfect, the Lord Mayor's Appeal. The first stop was Ye Olde Watling where we received a very warm welcome from all the patrons and made a great start to the collection. After another round of Dutch courage, we continued up Watling Street to the Pavilion End, which of course had a great connection with this year's Appeal. From there we continued on to three more pubs with a splinter group gaining unexpected funds from their Livery Company - thank you Laurence and Dave!
All in all, it was a great night and a highly successful one at that! We collected £180 for the Lord Mayor's Appeal. We are also thrilled that Geoffrey Bond, Chairman of the Livery Committee, kindly offered to double our money so a grand total of £360 was raised for this very worthy cause.
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SYF Members and friends with the Lord Mayor, the Lady Mayoress, and Sheriff David Wooton
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Carol Service
10th December 2009
Members of the Society were brought together for the annual Christmas Service of Lessons and Carols. The service was held at St Martin-within-Ludgate in conjunction with the Guild of Freemen. An array of traditional hymns was sung, accompanied by the City of London Freemen's School Camerata. A series of lessons traditionally taken from St. Luke were then read by various Guild members including the Master, Sir Gavin Arthur and our very own Chairman, Georgina Hajdu. An abundance of mulled wine and mince pies made for a truly heart-warming evening, thoroughly enjoyed by all present.
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Wine Tasting
25th November 2009
On 25th November, in the grand splendour of Tallow Chandlers Hall, the Society of Young Freemen held their wine-tasting event in conjunction with the Guild of Freemen. This year the wines were all from Hungary and were accompanied by a charming and knowledgeable man who was to guide us through the large selection we were to sample.
After a short introduction and a welcome to Her Excellency the Hungarian Ambassador, who was the guest of honour, Georgina was given a special mention due to her being of Hungarian descent. As the tasting began, an excited buzz infiltrated the room; so much so that the Master's hammer for silence was used on more than one occasion!
Throughout the tasting, murmurs of 'light', 'deep', 'oaky' and 'fruity' could be heard as we all attempted to identify the flavours in the wines. With all of our allocated places taken and people on the waiting list, this was a very popular event and a great deal of fun was had by all!
A great day and incredible experience for all involved. The SYF boasts a great calendar of events every year, but it really is easy to see why it's the case that, for many members, this event will always be the highlight!
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Her Excellency, the Ambassador of Hungary with the Master of the Guild of Freemen and the SYF Chairman
Two past chairmen enjoying the evening!
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Lord Mayor's Show
14th November 2009
Members and associates of the SYF gathered for another year to welcome the new Lord Mayor of London, Nick Anstee, by participating in The Lord Mayor's Show.
The weather in the morning was a frightening combination of thunder, lightening and lashing rain. Any fears, however, that the hostile climate would discourage the historically excellent attendance of the SYF were unfounded. New members and Lord Mayor Show veterans, alike, gathered at the London Wall rendezvous point in their dozens. Suited up in the regulation SYF jackets, we made our way to our designated parade section. We were delighted to be joined once again by the proud soldiers of the 100 Regiment Royal Artillery (volunteers) without whose help we would not have been able to achieve another fantastic and successfully executed involvement.
The SYF has the honourable duty of escorting the imposing figures of Gog and Magog through the streets of the Square Mile, much to the evident appreciation of the crowds of onlookers and well wishers. It was a duty that, as always, the ladies and gentlemen (and children; a committee member brought some of his school pupils along for the fun!) of the SYF tackled with gusto. The crowd were also favoured with cheers, frantic hand waving and even, at times, high-fiving from the enthusiastic members.
The five members of the Worshipful Company of Basketmakers who actually made Gog and Magog also braved the winds to join us. They kept a close eye on their creations, occasionally reminding the members to "Watch out for his arms!" or "Be careful down this hill!" ... perfectly understandable given the nine months and in excess of a thousand man-hours that it took to design, build and bring to life these stunning figures. They were not let down by the SYF, and the two guardians of The City were returned safely to their current home at The Guildhall unscathed, if a little damp.
A great day and incredible experience for all involved. The SYF boasts a great calendar of events every year, but it really is easy to see why it's the case that, for many members, this event will always be the highlight!
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Getting Ready for the off!
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Lloyd's - insuring the world since 1688
22nd October 2009
The SYF can take you to some pretty interesting places, but among interesting places, Lloyd's is really quite something.
Whether you look at the building, the history or what goes on today, you can't help but be fascinated. Unique among institutions - inimitable - Lloyd's stands in Lime Street Ward as a testament to 1970s architecture; an inside-out building designed for maximum space and, inevitably, resulting in maximum impact.
The tour itself took us into the heart of Lloyd's, through the massive expanse of building through the galleries, to meeting rooms up the famous glass lifts and into the spectacular dining room. Led by Martin, Lloyd's dedicated tour guide, we heard about the history of Lloyd's and its present operations.
We also heard about the scale and diversity of risk, with a compelling insight into the insurance world. From Hurricane Katrina and 9/11 to some of the more unusual risks that Lloyd's has insured … including the water safety of a celebrity pink waterskiing elephant!
Lloyd's has come a long way since Edward Lloyd's coffee house of the 1600s. But despite the considerable demand of the group members, we ducked Starbucks of Lime Street and ended our evening over a drink or two in the magnificent Counting House. An excellent evening was had by all.
Special thanks must go to Georgina for organising the trip and to Martin and John of Lloyd's for what was an exceptional tour.
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The famous Lutine Bell within the Atrium
The Board Room - a hidden treasure within the building
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Treasure Hunt
26th September 2009
A trip to the City on a Saturday is not something most of us would
contemplate, but the chance to spend some time in such a great setting without the usual workers was an opportunity not to be missed as the SYF and The Society of the Coopers Company held a joint treasure hunt. Having deposited the car, I met up with the rest of my team and was informed that a man wearing a red furry suit had been there to wish the teams well. Checking with my youngest daughter that she hadn't seen Father Christmas, it became apparent that The Lord Mayor himself had been there to start the event off.
There were around fifty clues to find the answers to and these were divided between the Bank area, Leadenhall Market, the roads in between and down to the finish line at HMS President in St Katherine's Dock. The great thing about this was that clues could be solved by adults and children and photographic evidence of various items was needed. The children particularly enjoyed finding all the unusual objects such as grasshoppers, blue birds and flags, and performing the more unusual tasks such as handstands. The next hour was spent running around a particularly busy Bank area as it became apparent that all the other people there were also in the treasure hunt - nearly 100. When the four youngest members of the team became a little worn out, a nearby coffee shop became a refuge as the two dads sped around the area trying to find answers to the clues. It is amazing how much you don't notice when you walk around Bank on a normal day. There is so much history there that you just take for granted or don't even notice.
One of the highlights for the children was the 'how many people can you get in a phone box' question. We managed eight, much to the
amusement of the tourists who took a picture on our camera for us. They also took one on their camera ... I'd like to hear their
explanation when they get home and show people their holiday snaps!
With time running out we headed off to HMS President via Leadenhall Market. This HMS President is the Navy's London reserve training centre and has a wonderful view of Tower Bridge from the terrace. A great lunch was enjoyed by all the teams before the answers were shared and the winners announced. With half our team under the age of 8, I felt we did rather well to come second to last, and we were of course delighted that the winning team was led by an SYF member. A very enjoyable day for everyone!
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How many people can you get into a phone box?
The Winning Team at HMS President
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Summer Social - Old Thameside Inn
4th August 2009
The first SYF Summer Social was held on Tuesday 4th August 2009.
It was a warm evening so the Old Thameside Inn was a perfect venue for the event as we were able to drink outside on the terrace overlooking the River.
It was very well attended by both old and new members and many of us drank until last orders moved us on.
Cheers to Georgina for arranging such a successful evening!
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Enyoing seeing old and new friends over a drink on the banks of the River Thames.
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Private Tour Of Mansion House
17th July 2009
The Mansion House experience provided an opportunity for the group in attendance to have a look at the colourful history and past of this wonderful monument. Words cannot describe the beauty and magnificent façade of such a glorious building. Mansion House is a rare surviving Georgian town palace in London. With its magnificent interiors and elegant furniture, the Mansion House provides the Lord Mayor of the City of London with living, working and entertainment space. Built in the age of Hogarth, the Mansion House, then as now, is a symbol of the City of London as the world's leading international financial and trading centre.
The current Lord Mayor, Ian Luder, and his wife, Lady Mayoress Lin Luder, were kind enough to provide a tour of the House by one of their stewards. The steward took us through some of the rooms in the mansion, with each one used at different points to highlight the variety of engagements the Lord Mayor undertakes in his daily grind for the term. We were shown rooms such as the home to one of the largest and finest gold and silver plate collections in the world and which houses pieces given as gifts or acquired by the Mayoralty and the City of London Corporation. The Plate Collection is in constant use for ceremonial occasions, as ornament and as table decoration throughout the house for events.
We were taken to the huge dining room on the 1st floor, with seats in excess of 150+, where the windows are covered with bomb proof curtains and there is a replica of a church glass stain window which has 3 fables from the bible. After a quick tour, we were taken to the Guest rooms, where members of royalty (Princess Anne being the latest) have come to change and also rest prior to the engagements that they undertake in the City of London. After the tour, we were given a few glasses of tipple. The group mingled with the Lady Mayoress and we were shortly joined by the Lord Mayor for a quick chat about the cricket, the Wards in London and the new games which the Mayors office has sponsored for the tenure of his term
The group is captivated on this unique occassion
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London Bridge 800th Anniversary
11th July 2009
At 9.00am on a rather wet Saturday morning, some SYF members and their friends gathered at the Porters Lodge Pub round the corner from London Bridge to help support the 800th Anniversary Fayre in aid of the Lord Mayor's Appeal. From 10am to 4pm the Bridge was closed to traffic and open to the general public. Many Livery Companies had set up stalls along the length of the Bridge where the public could go and enjoy demonstrations and exhibitions of their trades.
Liverymen and Freemen were also given the opportunity to exercise their ancient 'right' to drive sheep 'tax free' across the Bridge. The Lord Mayor was of course there leading from the front as was our very own President, Alderman David Wootton. We were deputed to sell programmes throughout the day and were very happy to be able to do our bit. Through rain and shine we kept plugging away, smiling from ear to ear, and, most importantly, managed to take quite a bit of money!
Selling programmes on the Bridge
The Lord Mayor driving his sheep across London Bridge
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Bruckner Symphony No. 9 - St Paul's Cathedral
9th July 2009
What a wonderful evening! We were lucky enough to get tickets for the closing concert of the City of London Festival at St. Paul's Cathedral. In front of a packed audience, the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by the highly respected Valery Gergiev, led us through a striking programme.
The first piece, Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten by Arvo Pärt was a short but deeply felt piece featuring strings and a bell. It was very atmospheric, if rather haunting.
By contrast, the second piece was Anton Bruckner's Symphony No.9 in D minor, a very powerful composition that was mirrored by the scale and majesty of its surroundings. This was Bruckner's last and greatest work and was in fact left unfinished at his death. St. Paul's Cathedral is not known for its acoustics but it managed to offer a magical venue for a momentous piece of music.
Not only was this an opportunity to enjoy a fantastic concert but also to admire a remarkable building. All in all, quite an experience!
The motley crew in front of St Paul's Cathedral
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AGM - Guildhall
24th June 2009
The AGM at Guildhall was yet another auspicious occasion in the history of the SYF. As Michael Wadood brought his great year to a close, another promising year began as the new Chairman, Georgina Hajdu, took to the helm. This year's AGM was an opportunity to welcome new and old SYF Members (back) to the fold, and indeed onto the committee, and all with our President in attendance. After the meeting, everyone adjourned to the City Tavern for a buffet dinner and a celebratory drink or two!
If you would like to read the Chairman's speech and understand the vision for this year, have a look at the Home Page. If you would like a copy of the AGM Minutes, please contact Georgina Hajdu at g_hajdu@yahoo.com
The outgoing Chairman, Michael Wadood, handing over the reigns to the new Chairman, Georgina Hajdu
The new Chairman, Georgina Hajdu, with the Society's President, Alderman David Wootton
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