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October 2024

The Learned and Gallant Clerk and I began the month as guests of the Clockmakers at the Harrison Lecture followed by dinner at Plaisterers’ Hall. As a result, I not only know about Vullaimy turret clocks (which you can see at both Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle), but also that I share a name with a famous clock maker.

John Harrison (as in the lecture) finally won the famous eighteenth-century competition with his invention of the marine chronometer, but a rival for the honour was Henry Sully (see above), whose chronometers were said to perform well in calm weather, but not on the high seas. I know the feeling.

A City of Dreaming Spires (no, not that one).

And so, to Norwich which boasts the largest concentration of medieval churches in Northern Europe and the second highest cathedral spire in England after Salisbury. I had been both looking forward to and dreading our weekend away in equal measure. As it turned out, anything that could go wrong did not, so it was a very enjoyable visit blessed with four days of continuous sunshine.

Our success was due in no small part to the brilliant help I received from Sonya Zuckerman, Alexandra Verney and my long-suffering consort Shirley.

I will not detail what we saw and did as I know that Mark Bridge will supply a much more vivid account in the forthcoming newsletter, but I thought I would share an unusual exhibit (see above) which we came across in the Norwich Castle Museum and which seemed to lack a label. I should be grateful for any advice about it that members of the company could supply.

On our visit to the Sainsbury Centre for the Visual Arts at the University of East Anglia I also came across what first appeared to be a visitor from outer space although closer inspection revealed it to be the Learned and Gallant Clerk enjoying a hallucinatory experience.

When he was Lord Mayor, Alderman Dr Sir Andrew Parmley, FRCO, inaugurated The Lord Mayor’s Music Competition among youth bands. The competition has continued beyond Andrew’s mayoralty and the 2024 final took place on Sunday 13th October in Guildhall Yard with bands from the Army Cadets, Sea Scouts and RAF Cadets being joined by school bands from Mill Hill and St Dunstan’s College, Catford. All the performances were impressive, and it was inspiring to see the care and determination shown by the young men and women taking part. Whilst not from “our unit (the Thames Valley Wing of the Air Cadets, 56 flight (Woolwich) were a very great credit to the Royal Air Force.

The Aldermanic Doctor was able to demonstrate his own musical prowess the following Wednesday at the annual service of the Worshipful Company of Nurses which took place in the Hospital Church of St Bartholomew the Less, when he played the organ.

I found myself sitting next to one of the Court members of the Nurses who turned out to be none other than the sister of Patricia Benjamin, the wife of our own Middle Warden.

As you may know, Wood Street Police Station, the former HQ of the City of London Police is becoming an hotel. It used to contain stables. Horses still need to be fed so a site I now see occasionally on my way to Guildhall is horses being fed in the street, just along from where William Holman-Hunt was born in 1827.

Restoration of the “Light of the World” Having been completed, the picture is back in the South nave Aisle of St Paul’s where it was re-dedicated by The Dean of St Paul’s, The Reverend Andrew Tremlett, on Thursday 17th October. The re-dedication included asperging the picture (throwing holy water at it) which the Dean dexterously side-stepped by aiming low. I was honoured to read a lesson from the Gospel of St John. The largest group at the service were descendants of Charles Booth who had commissioned Holman-Hunt to paint the St Paul’s version which began life with a world tour in 1905.

Those who attended the 17th Mithras Lecture on Wednesday 23rd October will know all about the world tour undertaken by the painting when new, and much else besides thanks to a stimulating lecture by Carol Jacobi from Tate Britain. It was wonderful to hear about Holman-Hunt within yards of where his ashes lie buried in “Painters Corner”. Following the lecture, we were able to drink to the immortal memory of Horatio Nelson next to his tomb, almost exactly 219 years since he delivered Britain from the threat of invasion by defeating the combined French and Spanish fleets at the Battle of Trafalgar.

In celebration of the Arts Scholars’ contribution to the restoration of the light of the world, we have commissioned a greetings card, which is shown above. Details of how to order packs of these cards will be circulated along with this blog.

Pewterers’ Hall was the setting of the 2024 Livery Dinner and what a splendid occasion that turned out to be. Besides providing a majestic setting and a very good meal, The Pewterers also provided an outstanding after-dinner speaker in the form of Past Master Wendy Joseph, KC, who is of course also a Liveryman of the Arts Scholars.

 It was also a very great privilege to confer on David Needham the title of Liveryman of the Year; never has that award been better deserved.

Roy Sully

4th November 2024

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Disclaimer: the views and opinions expressed by the author of this blog post do not necessarily reflect those of the Worshipful Company of Arts Scholars or its members.

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