Under the impeccable leadership of The Master, Arts Scholars enjoyed a memorable day of embroidery, history and craftsmanship. Our first stop was Kingston’s All Saints Church, where, after fortifying ourselves with coffee and pastries, we explored the spectacular embroidered panels commemorating the seven Saxon kings crowned there. Designer Jacky Puzey brought the panels to life with a fascinating talk, explaining the inspiration, symbolism and extraordinary techniques behind the vibrant...

Our annual Show and Tell in the Aldermen’s Dining Room at the Guildhall always surprises even the weariest Arts Scholar with the range and diversity of objects presented. Not least among the surprises is the realisation that many of us have enormous pockets in which to store our treasures. This a selection of my personal highlights from the 15 objects presented. Coins and medals are always a staple, so when Timothy Millett – a medals dealer to his core (website www.historicmedals.com) – stood...

Michael Lewis, Ken Dark and Simon Underdown On the last evening of April, Arts Scholars and their guests gathered at Pewterers’ Hall for an evening of talks organised by Renter Warden Mary Foster. All three speakers were eminent archaeologists and members of our Company. The subjects ranged from a site over 7,000 years old to the comparatively recent late 11th century. First to speak was Michael Lewis, curator of the British Museum’s Bayeux Tapestry exhibition and former head of the Portable...

Past Master Roy Sully and members with the Arts Scholars' Chorister Every day a group of schoolchildren enter St Paul’s Cathedral. Off go jackets and backpacks, on come cassocks, ruffs and surplices. After a short rehearsal they troop into the cathedral, open their mouths and sing as one, giving voice to a tradition of choral music in the Church of England that has survived largely unchanged for almost 500 years. The choral tradition is one of the sounds of Britain, it is the envy of the...

I will start the February blog on 31st January, the occasion of a Burns Night extravaganza with the City Livery Club which provided the...

November opened with the City Livery Club Installation Dinner at Apothecaries’ Hall, where I had myself been installed back in May. This...

The Learned and Gallant Clerk and I began the month as guests of the Clockmakers at the Harrison Lecture followed by dinner at...

The Livery world tends to follow academic terms as regards activity. After seven rather hectic weeks from installation I had much less to...

Charity Awards Luncheon My first July event was the Company of Arts Scholars Charitable Trust Awards Luncheon on 1st July in Founders’...

Installation My installation on 30th May at Apothecaries Hall was a splendid event, masterminded with his usual precision by the Clerk. I...

Captain’s log, stardate 2024 nearing the end of an amazing intergalactic journey through the City cosmos….. Sorry, dear readers, I was...

For the remainder of my Master’s blog, dear reader, I shall write about selected highlights rather than running the risk of boring you by...

17th Jan: In the morning, I visited Goldsmiths Hall with the Clerk and the Beadle to talk through the logistics of the forthcoming...

1 November: The first event of the month was Joanna attending an afternoon Consorts’ event at Goldsmiths Hall – always a splendid venue....

4th October: to Mansion House for the Glovers’ Banquet. It was good to see John and Mary Spanner there looking very splendid. We took...

1st September: to the City University Club for a Fish & Chip lunch organised by Sonya Zuckerman. This was a delightful occasion with...

4th July: AGM of the Sheriffs and Recorders Fund at the Old Bailey. Founded in 1808, the Fund gives grants to ex-prisoners and their...

25th May Apothecaries Hall was the wonderful venue for the day’s events – this being the oldest extant Livery Hall in the City. Firstly,...

9th January. First event of the year to the Glaziers’ Company for an early celebration to herald in the Chinese New Year, the year of the...

7 September. Back after six weeks away in Spain, too long really, missed an invite to the Bakers’ Company dinner today. 8 September. A...