The Newsletter of the Tylers and Bricklayers - 2022

Worshipful Company of

Tylers and Bricklayers Chartered

in 1568

Review ISSUE 33 | OCTOBER 2022

Christ’s Hospital Appeal Success New Master installed at St Margaret Lothbury

In This Issue Editorial

2

Masterpiece

4-5

The Installation

6-7

Reflection

8-9

Court & Livery Dinner Craft Awards

10 11-14

Big Curry Lunch

15

Photograph Competition

16

Annual Dinner

17-21

Christ’s Hospital Appeal

22-23

Growing the Membership

23

Charity Cycle Trip

24

New Chaplain

25

Our Coat of Arms

26-27

Fifth Trust Visit

28

The Guildhall at Bluewater

29-30

Masters & Clerks Lunch

31

Treasures: Jericho Brick

32

HMS Magpie affiliation

33

Master’s Visit

35-37

Charter Day Visit

38-39

Court & Livery Lunch

40

The Wardens

41

Appointments

42

New Freemen

43-44

Richard Townend

45

Past Master Edward Yates

46-47

A Life after being Master?

48

New Liveryman

48

Livery Climate Action

49

Charity Report

50-51

Civic Elections

51

Craft Visit to Ironbridge

52-53

New Sundial

54

Obituaries

55

Diary Dates

56

The Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers www.tylersandbricklayers.co.uk Front cover: Presentee Kiyan Rahmann witnesses the Master Simon Martin presenting a cheque for the next presentee to the Head Teacher of Christ’s Hospital School, Simon Reid. Photograph by Lesley Day We are part of the Livery Climate Action Group and environmental impacts are a growing concern to us.

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Editorial

Court Assistant David Williams

Review is the new title given to this yearly publication by the Tylers and Bricklayers. Traditionally compiled by the Upper Warden, the Company has been distributing a printed newsletter for over thirty years and it forms a valuable contribution to communication and our archival record. The editorial decision to change the masthead title from Newsletter to Review is not so much driven by its increased content, but rather the recognition that Masters today are tending to communicate news to members more regularly. A Newsletter is now being distributed each month by email. Avoiding possible confusion, it is therefore timely to differentiate this newsletter with a title more descriptive of its nature.

A highlight of this year for me has been the official opening of the Elizabeth Line on 17 May by Her Late Majesty, finally providing a new high capacity rail link under central London.

This November we can hope to see the full route established with a reduced need to change trains – and then simply by waiting on the same platform. This will connect Reading and Heathrow in the West, with Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the East with fast, high frequency trains – all serving the City of London and its livery halls.

Originally named Crossrail, it has been an amazing large-scale project with construction taking 13 years to date, overcoming many challenges. All of our crafts have been variously employed in the wide range of architecture and construction along the line. While modern concrete linings are used today on tunnel walls, floor tiling has been used extensively in passageways and platforms. For interesting examples of decorative brickwork one only has to wander out to exciting new stations such as Woolwich. We congratulate the skilled members of our trades who have helped to give London this wonderful, if overdue, new transport link. Do try it out if you have not yet done so.

Next, I want to sincerely thank the several advertisers in this issue who have helped make the Review fully self funding, an aim we have worked towards achieving for several years. It has meant providing a few more pages so we do not lose space for general articles in a busy year for the Company. We are now in a position to not only maintain a large issue, but print more copies and facilitate wider distribution beyond our own membership.

Lastly, as Editor I am conscious of how few photographs of members we can fit into this publication from the many taken at our major events. I would urge members to download free images or order photographs taken professionally on these occasions. I have deliberately inserted more into this issue from the Annual Dinner to show just what fun we have!

Dr Helen Schofield and the 2022-23 Master, Professor John Schofield

www.tylersandbricklayers.co.uk

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Master Piece

Engaging, Educating, and Enabling “It is a great honour to be installed as the 441st Master of the Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers since our first recorded Master, Thomas White, in September 1416. I will do my utmost to ensure that we maintain and enhance the values and standing of our ancient Livery Company over the next year and into the future.” commitment to the role of Master over the last year has been exceptional.

Invariably courteous and caring, Simon has become a good friend and will be a hard act to follow.

Representing the Company is an exciting challenge, and I am very keen that we should develop our relationships in the City, in particular with the Lord Mayor, the Livery Committee and the Corporation.

We need to maintain and develop our support for the three trades of roof tiling, wall and floor tiling, and bricklaying. With your help, I particularly want to provide additional assistance for apprentices in these trades. Working with the Wardens, our Clerk and the Events Support Group, I hope we can provide a programme of events which will engage and entertain members of the Company in the year ahead. My wife Helen will be my consort and is looking forward to accompanying me to events whenever possible.

I want to pay tribute to Past Master Simon Martin whose energy and 4

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My association with the Company goes back to 2007 when I was introduced by my work colleague, Dr George Bird, when he was Master. I have always been fascinated by architecture and building, particularly from the 18th and 19th century, and this seemed a good enough reason to join. I much enjoyed the various activities of the Company and made a number of good friends but was quite surprised when in 2015 I was invited to join the Court. At that time, as well as a full time Consultant in the NHS and private practice, I was President of the Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association, a professional association and trade union for hospital doctors. The Company became even more important to me at this stage, and I became involved with the Communications Committee, chairing this for two years, before joining the Finance Committee and more recently the Craft , Treasures, and Nominations Committees. I was privileged to chair one of the three workstreams which contributed to the recent Strategic Review in 2020.

I have always enjoyed meeting people and in 1999 I joined the Reform Club in Pall Mall. The Club is famous for a number of reasons including “Around the World in 80 days”. The complex renovation of the Clubhouse roof was a T&B triennial award winner, and an image of the roof was on the front page of our website for several years. When I stepped down from my role as HCSA President, which was followed by a very enjoyable period as Director of the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Clinical Research Network, a good friend suggested I might seek election to the Club’s general committee. Thinking I would be unlikely to succeed, but might find the process of interest, I was proposed and seconded, and duly elected! A year later I was fortunate to be elected by the committee as its Chairman. It was a fascinating two years involved in all aspects of the running of a membership organisation of 2600 with a large Grade 1 listed building from 1841.

I now want to lay out my vision for the year, and give you a taste of some of the events and activities which are planned.

The theme for my year will be Engaging, Educating, and Enabling. With the cost of energy rising by the day, we will also be seeking to explore sustainability in everything we do, avoiding unnecessary travel and looking at greener alternatives where these are available. The Company has joined the Livery Climate Action Group and will help deliver the City’s climate action strategy. We will have a zoom craft lecture on sustainable building in October, avoiding the need for members to travel. We will also organise a zoom craft roofing event in January 2023, hosted by Liveryman Andy Rowlands, and a zoom Common Hall. However, there is no doubt that fellowship comes by meeting in person

Professor John Schofield Master 2022-23 and sharing good food, good wine and good conversation. We will maintain our regular programme of lunches and dinners, whilst adding zoom events to engage with members who cannot easily attend in person.

Another element of the engagement theme will be to work more actively with the Lord Mayor, which we will start by taking a ‘walking float’ in the Lord Mayor’s Show this November. We will engage more with the Royal Engineers and army cadets, with a Craft Visit to the Royal School of Military Engineering (RSME) in Chatham, and extending an invitation to Lt Col Guy Cheesman, Commander of the Chatham Station to be our principal guest at the Craft Awards Luncheon once more at Trinity House. Cadets will attend the Annual Guest Dinner as a guard of honour.

In addition, the Court has recently endorsed the proposal of an affiliation with HMS Magpie and we will develop this relationship during the next few months, leading to broader engagement with the armed services.

On education, the Court has agreed a bursary scheme for apprentices in our three trades, to support them in their first steps into a career in roof tiling, wall and floor tiling or bricklaying.

These bursaries will give much need financial assistance to apprentices at a crucial time in their careers and will also serve to publicise the Company and its objectives. Successful applicants will also receive mentoring from a member of the Company. The craft bursary scheme will become part of our charitable activities, and I hope members of the Company will help by making one-off or regular donations to what will be ‘The Master’s Fund’ for 2022/2023. Through the encouragement of the Chairman of the Craft Committee, Court Assistant David White, several organisations have already pledged funds. Many other livery companies run similar programmes and I am convinced that we can make a real difference for individuals starting their

careers and remain relevant, actively supporting our three crafts in the 21st century.

of Surgeons. Other trips and visits are planned, many laid out in Diary Dates on the back page.

Enabling can take many forms, including providing funding to individuals such as our presentees at Christ’s Hospital and apprentices through the bursary scheme.

Our donations to charities in turn enable them to achieve their particular goals.

The Company endorses the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion statement made by the City of London Corporation.

We are committed to the elimination of discrimination of all types in the Company.

I close with a plea. One of the most important elements of the Company’s activity is its charitable work and a member’s obligation is to help support this. If you are not currently contributing to one or more of the charitable funds, please do consider making a regular donation, however small. If you are already donating, I thank you; if you might be able to increase the level of donation, which may have been in place for some time, please do give this some thought. Finally, please consider leaving a legacy to the Company in your will. The Noreen Dickins Fund had been enriched this year by a most generous bequest for which we are extremely grateful.

Please do everything you can to allow the Company to continue to support of a wide range of good causes. Details are available via the Clerk or the Chairman of the Charitable Trusts, Court Assistant Alan Dodd.

I am delighted that in 2023 we will be making a donation to the Barts900 campaign, the appeal on the 900th anniversary of the founding of Priory of St Bartholomew. This was the forebear of St Bartholomew the Great and St Bartholomew’s Hospital, the oldest teaching hospital in the country. Barts is one of the most respected medical training establishments and the only one within the City. A visit to Hogarth Stair and the recently restored Great Hall is already planned.

The Master’s trip in June 2023 will be to Kent. Highlights will be visits to Canterbury Cathedral for evensong and to Sissinghurst Castle when the white garden should be at its peak. No air miles will be needed for most members, and it will be a very “green” trip. The Charter Day visit will be to Greenwich, site of the Palace of Placentia where Queen Elizabeth I was born and raised. We will visit the Royal Naval College with its famous painted hall and chapel, and the Queen’s House, which contains the remarkable Armada portrait of Queen Elizabeth I. The Annual Guest Dinner will be at Drapers’ Hall, one of the best loved Livery Halls which has recently been renovated. There will also be a guided tour of Sir John Soane’s Museum including the newly restored drawing studio, and the recently re-opened Hunterian museum of the Royal College

I am very grateful to the members of the Court for allowing me the opportunity to serve as Master, and would also like to thank our learned Clerk, Heather Smith, for her help during my time as a warden and her continued assistance in the coming year. Our Almoner, Renter Warden Jenny Rolls is a great support to many in the Company, and I would like to thank her personally for all that she does. Finally, a huge thank you to the editor of the Review, Court Assistant David Williams.

I do hope that this newsletter whets your appetite for what I hope will be a wonderful year to come. Helen and I look forward to seeing you, your family and friends, at as many events as possible.

www.tylersandbricklayers.co.uk

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Installation of the New Master Rightfully regarded as one of the highlights of the Company’s year, not only does the Installation mark the transition from late summer to early autumn but also it bears witness to the continuity of the Company’s work and its sense of tradition within our contemporary society.

Ten years ago, we began the practice of installing the Officers in the church immediately before the Annual Service: previously the installation had been held in the Court Room at Carpenters’ Hall in rather secret circumstances. It is now done in front of the congregation and can thus be witnessed by all members as well as the family of the new Master and office-bearers. The new team installed on 6 October for the year 2022-23 were John Schofield (Master); Christopher Causer (Upper Warden); and Jenny Rolls (Renter Warden). With around 100 Liverymen, Freemen and guests present, there was an almost tangible feeling of support for the new officers.

After a warm welcome from the Rector of St Margaret Lothbury (our good 6

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friend Prebendary Jeremy Crossley), the service was conducted for the first time by our new Chaplain, the Venerable Dr Jonathan Smith. In his sermon, reflecting on the miracle in the lesson read by the Master, the Chaplain emphasised the importance of sight and regretted the generally muted recognition of the achievements of Louis Braille two centuries ago in developing a tactile script for blind people. He went on to mention that we go through the fourfold process of looking, seeing, discerning and understanding in so much of our daily lives, illustrating his theme in a brief but punchy address that included examples of his dry wit. The Lothbury Singers, under the direction of Richard Townend, led the congregational singing admirably as well as performing beautifully some Tudor motets.

We had to negotiate what seemed interminable sets of roadworks on our short walk to Carpenters’ Hall for an excellent lunch preceded by a glass of champagne. The new Master welcomed us and paid handsome tribute to the considerable achievements of his predecessor, Simon Martin. After the

Colin Menzies Liveryman and Steward

meal, Past Master Michel Saminaden presented a gift to the Company to mark his year in office, delayed by the restrictions in force at the time of his demission of office and subsequently by his own serious illness from which he is making a great recovery. He had been able to acquire copies of menus and song-sheets from the 18th and 19th centuries, which with assistance from Roger Westbrook and Tom

Christopherson had been beautifully re-bound in leather. They will be of considerable interest to those wishing to know more of the somewhat jolly nature of the Tylers & Bricklayers in those times.

It was appropriate that our new Master should have invited a distinguished medical man, Dr Roy Palmer, to respond to his toast proposed to the Guests. He reminded us that bricklaying was a very old craft, evidenced by the survival of Roman bricks in the City and elsewhere in England. He also pointed out that the first official photographs of the new King had been taken against the background of a brick wall (St James’s Palace) and he surmised that those bricks would last longer than most modern materials and, no doubt to His Majesty’s relief, were carbuncle-free.

In his response concluding the luncheon, the Master took up Dr Palmer’s theme by pointing out that the great masonry dome of St Paul’s was supported on unseen brick pyramids and as the name of our Company history reminds us, Tylers and Bricklayers built London.

He stated the priorities for his year in office as Engaging, Educating, and Enabling. With these objectives, a craft bursary scheme would be developed for apprentices in our three trades, supported by mentorship from members of the Company. He was also pleased that closer links were being forged between the Company and the Royal Navy, to augment our existing relationships with the Royal Engineers and Army Cadet Force. He outlined some of the events organised for his year, including the Master’s trip to Kent with visits to Canterbury Cathedral and Sissinghurst Castle gardens, and the Charter day outing to the Palace of Placentia in Greenwich, birthplace of Queen Elizabeth I. His address was greeted with enthusiasm and the diners left with the assurance that another interesting year in the Company’s long life lay ahead of them.

The Master and Wardens recess after the Installation

Dr Roy Palmer

Christopher Causer (UW), The Master, Jenny Rolls (RW) www.tylersandbricklayers.co.uk

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Reflection Every Master of the Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers remarks at the end of his or her year that it has been an honour and a privilege to serve as Master of our great Company – and it is. And every Master advises his or her successor to make the most of every minute and to grasp every opportunity because the year will fly by – and it has!

It has been a wonderful year, with many memorable Company, Livery and City events, but also punctuated by national milestones and landmarks.

Simon and Jenny Martin 8

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Simon Martin Immediate Past Master

I was installed as the 440th Master on the last day of September 2021, just three months after the last of the Covid pandemic lockdown restrictions had been lifted and as many people were cautiously returning to the workplace and social gatherings. But by December 2021, the Omicron Covid variant was rampant, the Government reintroduced the wearing of masks in shops and other indoor venues and on public transport and we took the difficult but necessary decision to cancel the Christmas supper.

By the spring of this year, events were back in full swing and mask wearing and social distancing now seems very remote.

embodied our sense of nationality. That is perhaps why so many people have mourned her loss so deeply. With the death of the Queen, we leave the second Elizabethan Age and enter a new era of King Charles III.

In June 2022, we celebrated the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with two additional public holidays and a series of national celebrations. The Queen appeared frail as she made what we now know to have been her last appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, waving to the vast crowds on the Mall after the Jubilee Pageant Parade. We thought that Her Majesty would go on forever so her death on Thursday 8 September 2022, just two days after she had formally appointed Liz Truss as her 15th Prime Minister, was sudden, unexpected, shocking and deeply saddening. For most of us, the Queen was an ever-present monarch, and she

We have upheld the traditions and celebrated the long history of the Company. We have recognised the skills of many generations of bricklayers, roofers and tilers and the heritage of old buildings, most recently on the Charter Day visit to St Albans and the craft visit to Craven Dunnill, celebrating the 150th anniversary of the founding of the firm.

The life and work of the Company has continued against this backdrop of momentous national events. I announced at the Installation Lunch that the theme for my year would be ‘Past, Present, Future’, embodying the three essential elements of the Company. As I reflect on the last 12 months, I believe that we have met these objectives.

Looking to the present, there have certainly been many opportunities for fun, friendship and good fellowship over the last 12 months. I have enjoyed all the Company events and functions, both formal and informal, with the Master’s trip to Northern Ireland being

my personal highlight. I am grateful to all those members of the Company who have supported me and the Company by attending events and visits in the last year.

I am also pleased that the Company has continued to support and nurture the present generation of bricklayers, roofers and tilers by awarding prizes to the best apprentices at Skill Build and young sappers from the Royal Engineers at the Craft Awards Lunch and by recognising Master Craftsmen from our three crafts. I am delighted that our support for apprentices will be extended next year with the launching of the Craft Bursary Scheme.

But most important is to look to the future. I said in my speech at the Installation Lunch that the challenge for every generation (and every Master) is to ensure that we pass on the Company to the next generation in better shape, stronger financially, and confident in its relevance and purpose. I hope that we have achieved this objective. I am pleased that we have admitted 12 new Freemen and one Craft Freeman in the last year and that overall membership is strong and growing. It is notable that more than half of the new Freemen have a direct connection with one of our three crafts thereby further strengthening the crucial links between the Company and the crafts.

We also look to the future with the Company’s commitment to the Livery Climate Action Group. I know that the entirely vegetarian and UK sourced menu which I chose for the September Court and Livery Lunch was not universally welcomed. My purpose was to demonstrate that a meal without meat or fish can be delicious and to encourage

T&B visiting the Giant’s Causeway people to think about their personal meat and dairy consumption.

to my wife Jenny and my family for their love and support.

Undoubtedly, the most satisfying achievement of my year has been the success of the Christ’s Hospital Appeal.

The original target was £36,600, of which half was match funding from the Company. The total raised currently stands at more than £70,000 so we are within touching distance of raising enough to send a fourth presentee to Christ’s Hospital School. This is a staggering achievement, and I am immensely grateful to all of you who have supported the Appeal, with a special mention to Past Master David Szymanski who raised over £20,000 by cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats.

I wish John and Helen every success and happiness in the year ahead. I know that I leave the Company in good hands and that you will have a lot of fun.

And so to finish where I started: it has been an honour and a privilege to serve as Master of this great Company – thank you.

I must finish with some thanks. First, to the Wardens, John and Chris, to Keith, the Chair of the Finance Committee, and to our Clerk, Heather, for all your help, support and guidance – it has been a great team effort. Second, to all of you who give your time to sit on the Court and on Committees – your hard work contributes to the smooth administration and work of the Company. And thirdly, www.tylersandbricklayers.co.uk

9

Court & Livery Dinner On 3 February, we received the usual warm welcome to Cutlers’ Hall for the annual Court & Livery Dinner and those attending agreed it was good to get back to something near normal, although the City was still relatively deserted.

After canapes and a pre-dinner glass of champagne we were formally greeted by the Master and Wardens.

Dinner was held in the more intimate surroundings of the Court Room and Dining Room, with the doors between the two rooms drawn back to allow us to sit at one long table. As is customary at this event, places at table were drawn at random.

The dinner was of the high standard always provided by the Cutlers’ kitchen staff and was accompanied by a selection of fine wines. The Upper Warden described the wines with the authority of a Bordeaux negociant. Few of us were able to place the Sauvignon Blanc 10

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which accompanied the fish starter as from South Africa. We next had the opportunity to taste two vintages from Bordeaux, a Chateau Lagrange St Julien 2005 and a Chateau Tour St Bonnet 2010, the former courtesy of the Master. These were followed by a Graham’s LBV 2011 and, as the wines were drunk, the volume of lively conversation rose.

After the loyal toasts the Master formally welcomed all present. The Master stressed how important this event is to the Livery, it being the only occasion open to just the Court and Livery without personal guests present, therefore providing the opportunity to build relationships sitting with just fellow members of the Company and promoting good fellowship. The Master set a challenge for everyone present: to encourage a friend from within the Company to attend an event in person over the next 3-4 months.

Reception at Cutlers’ Hall The toast to the Company was proposed

by Liveryman Ed Rolls. Conversations then continued at table as the decanters circulated until the last members of the Company headed home just before 11pm, having enjoyed an excellent evening with good friends.

Craft Awards 2021 and 2022

Alan Dodd Court Assistant

In welcoming members of the Company, their guests and prize winners to the Tylers and Bricklayers’ 2022 Craft Awards, the Master commented that it was very gratifying to see that so many had taken the opportunity to meet in person once again at a Tylers and Bricklayers’ event.

The annual Craft Awards and Luncheon was held on Thursday 10 March 2022 in the splendid surroundings of Trinity House. Overlooking the Tower of London, it is a familiar venue that has often hosted our Craft Awards in previous years. The Awards lunch was preceded by a Court Meeting to admit six Freemen into the Company.

Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 restrictions at the time, some Awards could not be made in 2021. The Craft Committee took the decision that the 2021 prize-winners should instead be invited to this year’s event to be recognised.

The annual Craft Awards are regarded by many members as one of the most significant events in the Tylers and Bricklayers’ calendar. It is the event that forms a showcase for young craftsmen and women beginning their careers; those who teach, train and mentor them,

Six Freemen admitted at Trinity House and those who in the opinion of their peers should be recognised as Master Craftsman, for having demonstrated the very highest standards in their craft.

Our awards recognise three categories: Master Craftsman – Heritage Bricklayer, Master Craftsman – Roofer Slater and Tiler and Master Craftsman – Wall and Floor Tiler.

The Tylers and Bricklayers have a long association with the Corps of Royal Engineers (the Sappers) and the Army Cadet Force and awards prizes to young servicemen and women who, in training, excel in construction-related skills such

as traditional and modern brick and block laying. In the case of the Army Cadets an award also goes to their Adult Volunteer in recognition of their support.

The Stokes Royal Engineers Awards – Bricklaying. The Tylers and Bricklayers make annual awards to outstanding Class 1 and Class 2 construction trainees from Number 1 Royal School of Military Engineering Regiment based at Chatham. The Royal School of Military Engineering provides the third and final phase of a Sapper’s training before they are posted to an operational unit.

www.tylersandbricklayers.co.uk

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The Cadet Force Award is made to the Best Cadet and Best Adult Volunteer Instructor.

All members of the Company attending the Craft Awards, their guests, and prizewinners each receive a comprehensive brochure on the day detailing the awards being made. A page in this is dedicated to WorldSkills, WorldSkills UK and SkillBuild and this details the relationship between each and eligibility to receive a Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers’ Craft Award.

Very briefly, “WorldSkills UK is an independent charity and a partnership between employers, education, and governments. Together, they are using international best practice to raise standards in apprenticeships and technical education so more young people and employers succeed. WorldSkills UK is a member of WorldSkills, a global movement from over 80 countries. WorldSkills supports young people across the world via competitions-based training, assessment, and benchmarking, with members’ national teams ultimately testing their ability to achieve world-class standards in the biennial global ‘Skills Olympics’.”

“WorldSkills UK National Finals are called WorldSkills UK LIVE. …Finalists must first complete a number of remote and offline tests before taking part in Regional Qualifiers. …The winners of these Regional Qualifiers …prepare for and enter the National Finals. Winners of the National Finals are then eligible for selection onto the international “Squad UK” and showcase their skills on the world stage in both European and Global competition”.

Dr Anna Keay OBE 12

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“SkillBuild is UK construction’s specific skills competition. It is run by GoConstruct who are funded from the CITB levy.

GoConstruct, under their SkillBuild banner, organise and run the construction specific Regional and National construction skills competitions on behalf of WorldSkills UK”.*

Company and guests were invited by the Beadle David Wylie to make their way up the staircase where a Champagne Reception awaited along with a very friendly welcome from the Master Simon Martin; Upper Warden John Schofield and Renter Warden Christopher Causer.

The finals of each of the competitions, held in November 2021, were attended by the Master Simon Martin and the Chairman of the Craft Committee, David White. The Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers recognises and rewards the winners of these competitions in the following categories:

House Library. The Master, having proposed the Loyal Toast with all present responding, then proposed a toast to welcome our guests, and introduced Principal Guest Dr Anna Keay OBE, Director of the Landmark Trust.

The E & R Fuller Award for Bricklaying The Mason-Elliott Award for Roofing and Slate Tiling, including the special book award The Pattern of Traditional Roofing (Book kindly donated by its author Liveryman Gerald Emerton).

The Montgomery Award for Floor Tiling There are usually only the three awards above. However, for the first time, the Company both sponsored and presented an additional award this year, rewarding the winner of the Bricklaying Stretch (speed) Test. A balance of skill, speed and millimetre accuracy that requires competitors to build a decorative pillar in one hour with bonus points for the speed element.

A further award is a Special Recognition Award – Services to Industry, Roof Slating and Tiling.

Having collected their menu and seating plan while in the very stylish Entrance Hall of Trinity House, members of the

Dr Keay responded with thanks, on behalf of all the guests, and then gave a brief history of the Landmark Trust. It is a building conservation charity that rescues buildings of historic interest or architectural merit and then makes them available for holiday rental. Those who rent Landmarks provide a source of funds to support restoration costs and building maintenance. Landmark sites include forts, farmhouses, manor houses, mills, cottages, castles, gatehouses, follies and towers and represent historic periods from medieval to the 20th century. Anna Keay commended the Tylers and Bricklayers for their commitment to the crafts, to the development of the education and training of young people and for recognising Master Craftsman status as evidenced by the Craft Awards.

Dr Keay accepted a cheque from the Master, a donation to the Landmark Trust from the Tylers and Bricklayers’ Craft Trust (photo below). The Toast to the Company was proposed by Liveryman Adrian Blundell.

Court Assistant and Chairman of the Craft Committee, David White, then invited the Master and Principal Guest, Dr Anna Keay OBE to present the Company’s 2021 and 2022 Craft Awards.

The Stokes Royal Engineers Award Class 1 Winner 2021 – Lance Corporal Taylor. Assigned to 101 Engineering Regiment Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search (EOD&S), Lance Corporal Taylor was promoted from Sapper whilst on his A1 Bricklayer and Concreter course in Chatham and is the 2020 winner of the Archbold Award for tradesman of the year in 2020.

The Stokes Royal Engineers Award Class 2 Winner 2021 – Sapper Kieran Green. A former Best Recruit, Sapper Green attended his 0-2 Bricklayer and Concrete course at 1 Royal School of Military Engineering. On completing his trade training, he was posted to 35 Engineer Regiment EOD&S. Best Cadet Winner 2021 – Cadet Sergeant Amy Erin Vaughan. “…She is one of those unsung senior cadets who is always present and involved, but never seeks the limelight. She is a great credit to her Royal Engineers cap badge.”

Cadet Sergeant Vaughan was unable to attend to collect her prize. It was collected on her behalf by her brother Christopher, who is also a Cadet.

Best Adult Volunteer Winner 2021 – Sergeant Instructor Joshua Delius. “…SI Josh Delius is an outstanding young adult volunteer who has quickly shown himself to be a force multiplier at all levels…

Enthusiastic, loyal, and professional, he is an outstanding role model to cadets and adults alike”.

Master Craftsman John Gorman

Stokes Royal Engineers Award Class 1 Winner 2022 – Lance Corporal Hawkes.

Originally enlisted as a Royal Marine in 2001, he later joined the Army in 2017 becoming a member of the Corps of Royal Engineers. “…His practical bricklaying skills were excellent from the start, demonstrating the finesse required to finish his work to a very high standard, reinforced by a sound understanding of brickwork theory.” Lance Corporal Hawkes was unable to attend to collect his prize which was collected on his behalf by Major Paul Hurst.

Stokes Royal Engineers Award Class 2 Winner 2022 – Sapper Charles Sykes.

A self-taught bricklayer and plasterer, he joined the Army in 2019. “…His bricklaying skills are to the highest level of professionalism with a keen eye for detail. …and would make a fine candidate to represent the Corps in the WorldSkills competition.”

Best Cadet Winner 2022 – Cadet Drum Major (Sgt) Rami Ahmad. “…one of the most outstanding cadets…a founder member of the Contingent’s Corps of Drums, since taking over as Drum Major last September, he has led it with tact, stringent standards, and an attention to detail.”

Best Adult Volunteer Winner 2022 – Lieutenant Richard Scully. Starting as a non-Uniform Volunteer, Lieutenant Scally joined the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) in 2010 and was later commissioned in 2015. A PE teacher at Queen Elizabeth’s School, Richard is described as, “… a highly dedicated Cadet Force Volunteer who always puts the welfare of his cadets first, always brings a smile to the faces of the cadets and his creativity allows the unit to develop new training strategies”

Master Craftsman Danny Lyon

The Company recognised the WorldSkills UK competition winners with the following awards: The E & R Fuller Award for Bricklaying 2022 Winner – Mitchell Proctor.

Employed by SMW Construction Limited of Preston, Mitchell also attended Preston College where he is highly regarded by his tutors and peers. “…Mitchell carries himself with maturity and is very well respected within our college and amongst work colleagues.

His tutor commented, “…On a personal level, having worked with Mitchell for 3 years, seeing what he has achieved filled me with so much pride and justified to me why I became a lecturer.”

The Mason-Elliott Award for Roof Slating and Tiling 2022 Winner – Jordan Maley. A slating apprentice from South Lanarkshire College (SLC), Jordon’s tutor said, “…I would like to say a massive congratulations to Jordan on his performance, the standard of work on show by all competitors was fantastic, and this must have been an extremely difficult task for the judges. Jordan showed that all his hard work both in college and on-site under guidance from his employer Owens LRJ Roofing and SLC Roofing Department, has been well worth the effort.” Jason was presented with an additional award this year, a copy of the comprehensive roofing reference book, The Pattern of Traditional Roofing

by Liveryman Gerald Emerton.

The Montgomery Award for Wall and Floor Tiling 2022 Winner – Aaron Gillespie. A tiling apprentice employed

by Kevin Smyth Elite Tiling and a student at Southern Regional College, Armargh.

Aaron was tutored by Paul Doran. Paul is well known throughout the industry and the Southern Regional College was

Master Craftsman Mark Exley www.tylersandbricklayers.co.uk

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Guests Dr Anna Keay OBE and Col Anthony Dennison with the Master & Wardens

Master Craftsman – Wall and Floor Tiler – Mark Exley. Leaving school aged 15, Mark spent a year completing extended work-experience with his father, an already established and experienced tiler. Here he grasped the fundamental knowledge of the craft that aided his progression on his chosen career path.

Working with his father allowed Mark to learn both old and new tiling techniques.

His introduction to the demands of construction industry sites came when he joined Hayland Tiling, taking part in large-scale projects. Later, Mark began working for Arvin & Sons Ltd, becoming an expert in terrazzo and floor screeding.

Mark and his father Ken now work together at W B Simpson & Sons.

Each Master Craftsman was later invited to sign their entry in the Register of Master Craftsman.

Special Recognition Award – Services to Industry, Roof Slating and Tiling – to Robert (Bob) Coutts for services to the roof slating and tiling industry through his long-served career as an educationalist and mentor for countless apprentices.

Prize Winners at the Craft Awards 2021 & 2022 recently designated a Tile Association (TTA) Centre of Excellence.

The Bricklaying Stretch (speed) Test Winner 2022 – Harvey Enwright. The Master presented Harvey with his award on the day of the competition.

Recognition of Master Craftsman 2022.

There were three recipients of this award, and each demonstrated, inter alia, an extremely high level in their own training, practical site experience and willingness to assist in the training of others.

Master Craftsman – Heritage Bricklayer – John Gorman. John left school in 1970 and was apprenticed to Sid Massey Builders of Stevenage.

He then spent the next 25 years honing his bricklaying skills and, for various contractors, undertook both new build and refurbishment projects.

For several years, before founding his 14

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present company, Herts Renovation, John traded in his own right as smallscale housebuilder. Herts Renovation specialise in restoration brickwork using, where appropriate, traditional methods, tools, and materials, whilst working on a variety of buildings including Tudor cottages, Manor Houses and Listed Period buildings. * Master Craftsman – Roof Slater and Tiler – Danny Lyon. Danny began roofing as an apprentice; 3 years later he completed his City & Guilds in Roof Slating, Tiling and Cement Work Craft. He went on to study a Level 3 NVQ in Understanding and Repair and Maintenance of Traditional Pre-1919 Buildings. Danny is now a Member of the Institute of Roofing. He now owns his own company, Lyons Roofing Solutions Limited and prides himself on the technical nature of his craft, his ability to find solutions to the trickiest of roofing situations and the quality of his finished product.

In announcing this award, David White, Chairman of the Craft Committee said, “For those of us lucky enough to know Bob personally we cannot thank him enough for everything he has contributed to careers of our youngsters embarking on their apprenticeships, nor put into words the passion and enthusiasm he exudes to the roofing trade. It is with great honour that we bestow this special award on Bob Coutts in 2022 in special recognition of all the great work and commitment that he has shown during his lifetime to the training, encouragement and support of our apprentices and young roofers.”

Each prize winner was applauded by members and guests as they received their award, a framed certificate, medal, and prize.

The formalities complete, and with many individuals thanking the staff at Trinity House for their hospitality, the Craft Awards 2022 came to an end. *Excerpts taken from the Craft Awards brochure, with thanks to David White, Chairman of the Craft Committee.

The Lord Mayor’s Platinum Jubilee Big Curry Lunch Over 25 Tylers and Bricklayers attended this special ‘Platinum Jubilee’ edition of the Lord Mayor’s Big Curry Lunch at Guildhall on 7 April 2022, at the invitation of The Rt Hon The Lord Mayor Alderman Vincent Keaveny and in the presence of their Royal Highnesses Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

beach hut (donated by Past Master Jeff Fuller and Catherine Fuller), a tour and tea at Lambeth Palace for four people (arranged annually by the Revd Sally Muggeridge with support from the Archbishop of Canterbury), and many other exclusive trips, private visits and experiences.

This annual event is held in support of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity (formerly known as the Army Benevolent Fund), whose Patron Her Majesty The Queen sent a personal message of appreciation.

Since 2018 funds are also given to veterans of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. This was the 15th annual ‘Big Curry’ Lunch which over the years has raised £2,850,000. The first took place in 2008, with a recent gap of two years due to Covid 19. Held virtually last year, it is particularly appropriate that it returned physically to Guildhall in Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee year.

The Prize Draw included a Pastry Masterclass at the National Bakery School, courtesy of the Worshipful Company of Bakers, two places at the London Bridge Sheep Drive, courtesy of the Worshipful Company of Woolmen, and a unique insect hotel from the commemorative garden in Guildhall Yard, courtesy of the Worshipful Company of Gardeners.

The Master, Simon Martin, is a longstanding supporter of the charity, and has served on the organising committee of this event since its inception. He stood down as trustee of the Charity earlier this month after nine years in the role, and was delighted to see such strong support from the Company at the lunch.

On arrival, after a short queue for security clearance, we were issued with green lapel badges which ensured entry into the Great Hall for lunch for the 1.15pm sitting. A glass of Pol Roger champagne was served on entry to the Livery Hall to start proceedings, with the pleasure of meeting friends old and new in the remarkable bright, sun filled hall, and an opportunity to participate in the silent auction and prize draw.

The large number of prizes were all generously donated by individuals or organisations in support of the charity.

The silent auction included a pair of Wimbledon Centre Court debenture tickets (donated by the Master, Simon Martin), one week’s hire of a Southwold

The Master kindly arranged for Sean Bonnington, Director of National Fundraising at ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, to meet with members of the Company to give us insight into the background to the event and the remarkable works undertaken by the charity. These projects include initiating and supporting the Pain Management Programme at King Edward VII’s Hospital, and the “Lifeworks” programme, supporting those struggling with the transition into civilian life upon leaving the services, covering both physical and mental health issues.

We then went up the stairs into the Great Hall in orderly fashion to queue for the buffet lunch, a splendid feast of

Professor John Schofield Upper Warden 2021-22

chicken korma, rice, vegetables, dhal, mini-poppadom and naan, with a glass of Cobra beer or wine, followed by mango kulfi delivered to the table. Seating was “as you can find”, so we sat in groups of four to six, enjoying the company and the occasion. We were welcomed over the public address system by the Lord Mayor, who was clearly delighted to be hosting the event.

Feeding over 1300 people with a two course luncheon in two hours is a complex feat of organisation, and it worked exceptionally well with military precision.

After lunch, we went out via the West and South Ambulatories, where several of the Companies were selling their wares, with a proportion of the purchase price going to the charity. There were stalls selling house plants (Gardeners), bread (Bakers), fruit (Fruiterers), knitted goods (Framework Knitters) and turned wooden items (Turners) amongst others. Finally, we congregated in the Livery Hall once more to see the countdown of the silent auction. Last minute bids were made, only some of which were successful!

We are very grateful to our event organiser, Liveryman Diana Maltzer, who ensured we all turned up at the right place, properly dressed and at the right time. A most enjoyable experience, and supported wholeheartedly by our Company once again, the 2022 lunch raised a magnificent £310,000 for its service charities.

Freeman Onyinye Udokporo, Past Master Lesley Day and Upper Warden John Schofield www.tylersandbricklayers.co.uk

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Photographic Competition In their travels, Tylers and Bricklayers often come across interesting executions of our crafts. From previous entries to our annual competition, we know eye-catching examples of tiling, roof tiling or slating, or bricklaying clearly abound – good, bad or unusual.

The Company wants to encourage you to take photographs of what you see “worldwide”. If something catches your imagination, the image of it you capture with your phone or digital camera

will be judged on the interest in the subject matter but also the quality of the photograph taken. Again, members are reminded that composition, focus, resolution and camera shake can all affect the quality of images taken.

We would like to achieve a more balanced entry over our three trades.

If entries are heavily dominated by brickwork, those taking photos of ceramic tiling or roofing stand a much better chance of winning!

Each year there are chances to win a bottle of champagne to a winner in each of our three trades. The winning photographs will be published in the Review in October 2023. All entries should be sent as images by 31 December 2022 to the Chairman of the Craft Committee, Court Assistant David White with details of the subject matter taken. (eg: date and place).

Last year’s submissions were again of a high standard and the winning photographs chosen by the judges are shown here:

Brickwork: Liveryman Ian Wilson Mount Pleasant Halls, St Edmund’s College Cambridge

Roofing: Past Master Lesley Day A roof in Godstone

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Commended: Liveryman Martin Reading A rainbow over a golden Kings Cross station

Ceramic Tiling: Upper Warden Chris Causer Sao Bento Railway Station, Porto

Annual Dinner The 2022 Annual Dinner was held at Haberdashers’ Hall in West Smithfield on Thursday 12 May. The Worshipful Company of Haberdashers is one of the Great Twelve Livery Companies, and the hall is their fourth, the first having burnt down in the Great Fire in 1666, the second destroyed in the Blitz of 1940 and its 1956 replacement, the third built on the same location in Gresham Street, totally redeveloped as a modern office block in 1996.

The current hall in Farringdon was built on a new site acquired by Haberdashers, with the hall on one side, and an office development on the other. Opened by HM the Queen in 2002, the Tylers and Bricklayers awarded the building the Triennial Award for Brickwork in 2005.

It is an attractive design in red brick and is light and airy throughout. The detailing can be inspected closely whilst

Charles Collins Court Assistant

climbing the fine spiral staircase to the first floor, as within its curved brickwork walls it gives the appearance of headers throughout, with a flat rubbed red brick arch at the top, leading to the Anteroom to the hall itself.

After greetings from the Master, Upper Warden and Renter Warden on the receiving line, champagne was served while the guests mingled and chatted.

The old bell of Haberdashers’ Aske’s school was sounded to usher us into the Hall, with its tall windows and timber pyramidal ceiling, where Honorary Freeman Richard Townend was playing the piano. The Master, Wardens, Clerk and the Honoured Guests, including representatives from the Haberdashers, the Royal Engineers and the Royal Navy, were clapped into the Hall, the incoming Chaplain said Grace, and we seated ourselves for the meal, which started with fish, then a delicious main course of duck, and finished with pannacotta,

Professor Dame Carol Black www.tylersandbricklayers.co.uk

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all accompanied by very approachable white, red and dessert wines, port, coffee and mints.

Toasts followed, the Guests were formally welcomed by Court Assistant Tom Christopherson, and we listened to an informed speech from the Principal Guest, Professor Dame Carol Black. Dame Carol has had a long and

distinguished career in medicine and in public service. She is currently an independent adviser to the Government on illicit drugs and chairs the Boards of the British Library, the Centre for Ageing Better and Think Ahead, the Government’s fast-stream training programme for Mental Health Social Workers and was previously Principal of Newnham College Cambridge and President of the Royal College of Physicians. Dame Carol reminded us of the importance of Health, Safety and Wellbeing in Construction, of the distressing rate of suicide within the industry, the unsavoury levels of anxiety and high workload, particularly among self-employed workers, and the stigma of admitting to poor mental health. The charity Mates in Mind is trying to tackle some of these difficulties, including those who self-harm or use recreational drugs. Dame Carol concluded by proposing the toast to the Company and the Master.

The Master responded to the toast. He spoke of the Haberdashers’ Company, and queried where the Triennial Award certificate from the Tylers and Bricklayers was now displayed. It had moved and he had not been able to locate it! We were reminded that people – our members and those who we support through our charitable giving – are central to the Livery and to the Company. The Christ’s Hospital Appeal was reported as doing very well, and well on the way to providing further life-changing educational opportunities to pupils, offered a superb secondary education.

The Master concluded by thanking the Clerk, the Caterers and all those who had contributed to the evening’s enjoyment, and adjourned the Company outside to the Ante-Room, where the Master, Wardens, members and guests could relax with a well-earned stirrup cup.

L-R Mrs Fiona Power, Master Haberdasher The Revd James Power, Dr Helen Schofield, Upper Warden Prof John Schofield, Prof Dame Carol Black DBE, Master Mr Simon Martin, Mrs Jenny Martin, Renter Warden Christopher Causer, Mrs Gilly Causer, Dr Christopher Morley, Mrs Rachel Boxall, Brigadier Guy Boxall MBE 18

Issue 33 | 2022

BU

IS T I R YB

K C I R HB

Buy your clay bricks from a Brick Development Association Member and ensure quality every time Bulmer Brick & Tile Co Ltd www.bulmerbrickandtile.co.uk

Michelmersh Brick Holdings Plc www.mbhplc.co.uk

Forterra Plc www.forterra.co.uk

Northcot Brick Ltd www.northcotbrick.co.uk

H.G. Matthews www.hgmatthews.com

Raeburn Brick www.raeburnbrick.co.uk

Ibstock Plc www.ibstockbrick.co.uk

W H Collier Ltd www.whcollier.co.uk

Ketley Brick Company Ltd www.ketley-brick.co.uk

Wienerberger Ltd www.wienerberger.co.uk

Matclad Ltd www.matclad.co.uk

York Handmade Brick Company Ltd www.yorkhandmade.co.uk

The Brick Development Association is the national authority on clay bricks and pavers.

Our membership accounts for almost 100% of the sector’s productivity here in the UK. Our role is to communicate the collective interests of our members and to ensure their products remain the material of choice in the UK’s built environment.

The Brick Development Association The Building Centre, 26 Store Street London, WC1E 7BT brick@brick.org.uk 020 7323 7030 www.brick.org.uk

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www.tylersandbricklayers.co.uk

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L-R: The Master, Kiyan Rahmann, Onyinye Udokporo, Lesley Day with Head Teacher Simon Reid

Christ’s Hospital Appeal In 2007 the Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers launched an appeal to raise sufficient funds to educate a child from a disadvantaged background at Christ’s Hospital School in Horsham. That appeal was so successful that the Company was able to cover the costs of educating two children. The first was Onyinye Udokporo, and the second Kiyan Rahmann.

Onyinye is a prime example of what can be achieved. After completing seven years at Christ’s Hospital Onyinye went on to university and now, at the age of 22, runs her own successful online tutoring educational platform with lessons taught by qualified tutors. Our second Presentee Kiyan began his third year in September 2022 and is doing very well at the school.

Why do this?

Our support for Onyinye and the opportunity which a Christ’s Hospital School education has given her has been 22

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genuinely life changing. Collectively we have done something which would be beyond most of us individually. It is a great example of one of our core objectives – to help others through charitable giving. Quite simply, it is the Tylers and Bricklayers at our best. We are proud of Onyinye and what she has achieved. We have similar hopes for Kiyan.

The 2020 Strategic Review highlighted the importance of our charitable giving.

One of the key recommendations was that we should, where possible support people – not buildings, places or fabric.

An appeal to raise funds to support our next Christ’s Hospital presentee would meet this objective.

Christ’s Hospital School – A school like no other For nearly five centuries Christ’s Hospital School mission has been to pioneer social mobility and challenge social inequality to provide an unrivalled start in life for disadvantaged children. As economic and

Lesley Day Past Master 2018-19 Chairman, Christ’s Hospital Appeal Committee

social inequality continue to grow in the UK, this becomes ever more relevant.

By providing first class free or supported education to talented young people from all backgrounds, they help pupils to reach their full potential and transform lives in a way that no other educational establishment in the UK can match.

The time came for the Company to plan ahead and raise funds to support a third presentee at the School. Our target was £36,600 (one year’s school fees), part of which would be match funded by the Company; the rest we had to raise ourselves. A fundraising Committee was put together, chaired by Past Master Lesley Day and consisting of the Master Simon Martin, Upper Warden John Schofield, T&B Charitable Trust Honorary Secretary Alan Dodd, and Past Masters David Szymanski and Tom Rider. The Committee began by inviting donations from Company members and by mid-February, we had received £21,844 from members of the Company. This together with the

Growing the Membership After the recent Strategic Review, it was decided that a designated Membership Committee should be formed. I was asked to chair this, helped by Past Master Lesley Day, Liverymen Keith Aldis, Piers Wigan and Ed Rolls.

Past Master David Szymanski receives the Company’s appreciation from the Master for his magnificent fund-raising effort Company’s match funding of £18,000 meant that we quickly reached our target. On 14 March the Master Simon Martin, Deputy Master Lesley Day, Liveryman Keith Aldis and Freeman Onyinye Udokporo visited the school to present a cheque for £36,600.

The Committee agreed that fundraising should continue to the end of the current livery year in an effort to raise funds towards the cost of a fourth presentee at Christ’s Hospital School. At a Fundraising Committee meeting Past Master David Szymanski offered to invite sponsorship for the Appeal as part of a Land’s End to John O’Groats Cycle ride in which he was to participate in May 2022. This offer was quickly accepted and full details of the ride and sum raised follow.

With donations from the Company, plus residual funds from the previous appeal, we expect to raise over £67,420 by the end of the livery year and the close of the Appeal, including the estimated Gift Aid. This means we have raised almost double the sum originally sought.

The Charitable Trust Trustees are now seeking to make an early payment to the school for a fourth presentee.

On behalf of the Tylers and Bricklayers’ Company, I should like to thank everyone who has contributed to the Christ’s Hospital School Appeal. We could not have achieved this without your support.

The problem of recruiting and retaining members is not new to the Tylers and Bricklayers. Indeed, it seems to be an issue with most livery companies. The Committee therefore looked at ways of attracting new members; through craft, family and fellowship. To this end there have been six new members this year, with more to follow. A good start.

We have hosted a new members’ evening – a more informal event, where new members could meet with the Master in a relaxed setting. This proved to be successful and will be repeated in the future.

Our Admission Pack has been given a much-needed facelift by Keith Aldis.

As a result members are now able to complete and submit their admission forms online. There is more information given about the Company and its history than before and it is hoped that this new pack will soon be available on our website.

Jenny Rolls Renter Warden

The Committee works with the Communications Committee, so that information on our new members is readily available on the website, where details and photos can be seen.

It was felt that it is very important to make sure new members are made to feel welcome, and the Committee is informed when a new member is to attend an event. The Company prides itself on its well-deserved reputation of friendliness.

We are very aware that different members enjoy different type of events.

We therefore try to make sure there is a variety in what to attend, while not diluting the very important main events which make our Company so special.

If you have any suggestions for events, please let one of us know. We are here for you, and we do listen!

We are constantly looking for ways to attract new members, but as always it seems that probably the best way is by word of mouth and personal introduction. So if you enjoy belonging to the Tylers and Bricklayers, please think of any of your friends and family who might enjoy the Company too.

Livery Schools Link This voluntary membership organisation for livery companies acts as a link between schools in the Greater London area in need of help, and individual members of the Livery who wish to offer them assistance. This helps children from less advantaged backgrounds to receive an enhanced educational experience at school and to

have their personal aspirations raised, thereby increasing their employability and career options. LSL provides a forum for the exchange of ideas and the exercise of best practice. It also runs one day events on various topics as well as helping form ongoing partnerships with schools. liveryschoolslink.org.uk www.tylersandbricklayers.co.uk

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Christ’s Hospital Appeal – LEJOG cycle trip

David Szymanski Past Master 2016-17

The thought of cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats had never crossed my mind until a good friend completed the journey in 2021 and recommended that I should give it go.

Another good friend Mark Vose agreed to join me. The die was cast. We found an events company that organised such trips and paid our entry fee, which included most of the necessities for the trip. No going back now!

We studied the route, read the instructions and planned our training.

Whilst we were comfortable with 50 mile rides, 90 or 100 miles day after day would be a challenge. Anyway, the training went well and we scheduled to leave Land’s End on Sunday 22 May for the ten day ride.

Due to the hilly terrain of Cornwall and Devon, the first two days would be the most challenging. Five of us started the ride, along with two guides, one cycling with us and the other driving a support vehicle. On the second day, we had the first drama. One rider crashed on a fast steep narrow descent and hit a stone wall. He was taken to hospital to discover he had broken two bones in his neck. We were down to four.

We cycled our way north for five days with overnight stops in Launceston, Wookey Hole, Ludlow, Wigan and Penrith. Weather was mixed but generally fine with just a half day with rain and one with a strong headwind. The highlight of this section was the steep hill out of Wookey Hole – 500 metres climb including one section at 19%! We made it. At the end of day five we lost another member of the team suffering with a chronic knee pain. Now down to three.

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On day six we crossed the border into Scotland and another drama. I hit a pothole hard and almost fell off. My front wheel punctured which was not so much an issue. However whilst repairing it my bike fell over onto the kerb and bent the gears. Disaster! After some head scratching, I managed to use my thumbs to straighten the gear set and everything was fixed. Phew! After a night in New Lanark, we cycled through Hamilton, East Kilbride, Paisley, over the Erskine Bridge, through to Dumbarton.

Not the most scenic part of Scotland but Loch Lomond ahead was delightful and we overnighted in Crianlarich. The next day was a real joy, cycling through the wonderful Glencoe with a super five mile downhill section towards Fort William and Fort Augustus on the southern end of Loch Ness.

Day nine saw us riding alongside Loch Ness before turning off for what proved the most difficult part of the ride – a long 16% climb that went on and on.

Close to getting off to walk, sheer doggedness saw us to the top and a well earned breather. We overnighted in Lairg before setting off on day ten to Thurso. We finally got to John O’Groats

on the Tuesday afternoon at about 4.45pm, in surprisingly good shape. We had averaged 94 miles per day. Despite inevitable aches and pains our legs stood up extremely well. You effectively ride yourself fit.

The following day we caught a flight home from Inverness. On arrival at Bristol, we had a wonderful surprise.

Both of our wives, my Hilary and Mark’s Hilary were there with a welcome banner.

When I decided to take on the challenge, I hadn’t thought of raising money for charity, but after a while it became an obvious thing to do. The T&B’s Christ’s Hospital Appeal was the perfect choice, resonating with everyone I wrote to.

The support we received from family, friends and colleagues was wonderful and we raised almost £20,000. I find this difficult to believe as I had an original target in my head of £3000. I cannot thank everyone enough for their generosity.

Always up for a challenge, I have had clear instructions that this is the last!

New Honorary Chaplain – the Venerable Dr Jonathan Smith At the Court Meeting on 9 June 2022, the Venerable Dr Jonathan Smith was installed as Honorary Chaplain to the Company, to serve for a three year term from 1 October.

Jonathan was brought up in Suffolk where he developed an appreciation for wide skies. Educated locally at Ipswich School, he was a keen member of the Debating Society and the Hockey Team and went on to read Theology and History and King’s College London. His university days were marked more by a growing appreciation of all the capital had to offer, especially in the area of sport and the theatre, rather than by any particular distinction in the lecture room and examination hall.

Continuing his education at Cambridge, Queens’ College and Westcott House, he took a year out living and working with the Mission to Seafarers in Singapore before being ordained into the Church of England in 1980.

Jonathan’s ecclesiastical career has seen him serve in parochial ministry in Newcastle and Essex before returning to university life as Chaplain of City University. Thence to the Diocese of St Albans where he was Incumbent of two delightful villages either side of the River Great Ouse in North Bedfordshire, subsequently Vicar of Harpenden St John and latterly as Archdeacon of St Albans and Canon Residentiary of St Albans Cathedral, retiring in 2020.

Jonathan lists his interests as sport, literature particularly poetry, the theatre, opera, travel (Crete is an annual favourite) and enjoying the company of friends. Unusually for an Anglican clergyman, he has absolutely no interest in steam trains!

His appointment as Honorary Chaplain to The Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers is a happy new chapter in ministry for Jonathan who is very much looking forward to the liturgical

occasions of corporate worship at the Annual Service and Carol Service and also to give pastoral care to members of the Worshipful Company who may seek it from him. He sees an important part of his role to offer support to the Master and Wardens in their responsibilities for ensuring the flourishing of the Tylers and Bricklayers.

In terms of theological tradition and churchmanship the Honorary Chaplain would describe his position as embracing a generous and inclusive Anglican Catholicism. His ministerial style has been described as ‘relaxed and reverent’, celebrating the love of God which is our firmest foundation. He has long been of the view that one of the chief hindrances to mission is humourless and judgemental religion.

In God is all our trust, let us never be confounded. Jonathan hopes and prays that his ministry will amplify and bear witness to this great truth. www.tylersandbricklayers.co.uk

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Focus on the Company’s Coat of Arms

John Peck 1998 Clerk of the Company 1971-85

The Fleur-de-Lis The devices which make up the Company’s Coat of Arms are selfexplanatory. The brick axes and the brush or bundle of laths are certainly so. The chevron may represent roof rafters but in many cases in heraldry it was merely used to divide the field into sections. The one exception is the Fleur-de-Lis.

to the Company’s number in the order of precedence being no more than a coincidence.

The respective dates of grants of arms of the building craft companies are as follows: the Carpenters (11th) 1461, the Masons (15th) 1472, the Painters (22nd) 1486, the Plasterers 1545, the Tylers

First, we must consider the companies known to have had religious fraternity origins. If we include the Tylers and Bricklayers, there are some 33 such companies, and of these, 25 companies have, or appear to have, a reference to the fact in their armorial bearings. Of these 33, 13 are believed to have been associated with fraternities with vows to the Virgin Mary, and of these 13, seven have a reference to the fact in their armorial bearings. In five cases the reference takes the form of charges consisting of lilies, either in their natural form, or in their heraldic form of Fleurs-de-Lis. These are generally regarded as being associated with the Virgin Mary. These latter five companies are the following:

As long ago as 1960 John Bromley, Deputy Librarian at the Guildhall Library, in his book The Armorial Bearings of the Guilds of London suggested that the Fleur-de-Lis in the Company’s arms might point to the Company’s early existence as fraternity with vows to the Blessed Virgin Mary. It seems timely to try and examine Bromley’s suggestion further, and to do so by considering the problem in relation to the armorial bearings of the other livery companies.

The science of heraldry was invented in the 13th century as a means of enabling knights to identify each other on the battlefield by selecting and arranging devices called ‘charges’ on shields and as crests on helmets. Its extension to unincorporated and incorporated bodies might seem unlikely, but it happened nevertheless. Some guilds that later became livery companies adopted unauthorised armorial bearings and continued to use them without a formal grant from the College of Arms. The senior livery company, the Mercers, did not obtain a grant for the arms they had used for several hundred years until 1929. However, the first known grant to a livery company was to the Drapers in 1438, and there were 25 more before 1500 and another 11 before 1569, making the granting to the Tylers and Bricklayers in that year probably the 37th, the correspondence 26

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less obvious, and in some cases companies obtained fresh grants of arms omitting the religious symbols appearing in earlier ones. The date 1534 is also significant in relation to the wording of Charters of Incorporation, in that before that date reference is often made to the body being incorporated as being or having been a ‘Religious Fraternity’, and thereafter this appears seldom if ever to be the case.

• The Pewterers incorporated 1473 with a grant of arms (including lilies) 1451

and Bricklayers (37th) 1569, the Joiners 1570, the Plumbers 1588, and the Glaziers 1929 although their Arms had been in use since the middle of the 16th century. These dates are significant to the extent to which they fall before or after 1534, the date of Henry Vlll’s Act of Supremacy which marks the final break with Rome. Thereafter all religious fraternities were likely to feel the burden of Royal disapproval and investigation so that symbols of religious significance in Armorial bearings thereafter became

• The Parish Clerks incorporated 1441, with a grant of arms (including Fleurde-Lis) 1582 • The Coopers, incorporated 1501, with a grant of arms (including lilies) 1509 • The Plaisterers, incorporated 1500, with a grant of arms (including Fleurs-deLis) 1545 • The Tylers and Bricklayers, incorporated 1568, with a grant of arms (including Fleur-de-Lis) 1569

The Motto

Of these five companies only the Tylers and Bricklayers is incorporated after the crucial date of 1534, and our Charter is the only one which makes no reference to a fraternity with vows to the Virgin Mary.

Secondly, we must consider the case of the Joiners’ Company. This is a company well known to have originated in a fraternity with vows to St James of Compostella and which to this day attends services in the Church of St James Garlickhithe dedicated to that saint. The Joiners’ Company Charter of Incorporation granted in 1570, as one would have come to expect, makes no reference to the fraternity connection.

However when one looks at that company’s arms, granted in the same year 1570 by Robert Cooke Clarenceaux King of Arms, one sees at once that the design is very similar to that of the Tylers and Bricklayers, and that where the Fleur-de-Lis appears in the Tylers and Bricklayers’ arms there appears in the Joiners’ arms an ‘escalop’, or scallop shell, the emblem of St James of Compostella.

It remains to add that not only are the Tylers and Bricklayers’ armorial bearings remarkably similar in design to those of the Joiners, but they too were granted

by Robert Cooke Clarenceaux King of Arms, albeit for some reason by the other two Kings of Arms as well. Both companies were granted a Charter not referring to a religious fraternity with vows to Saints. Clearly by the 1560’s they felt it safe to ask the same Tudor monarch through the College of Arms to grant them armorial bearings which included discreet references to those saints.

There, for the present, the case must rest, but to me at least it appears that John Bromley’s tentative solution to the problem of the Fleur-de-Lis is on examination found to have been correct ‘beyond reasonable doubt’’. It is perhaps worth mentioning that there exists a

“In God is all our trust, let us never be confounded”

The Arms of the Joiners’ Company book by an anonymous author published c1825 entitled The Coat of Arms of the Newcastle Trade Guilds. Among the 60odd guilds whose arms are illustrated is that of the ‘Bricklayers and Plaisterers’ who appropriated to themselves the combined Arms of the corresponding livery companies, and so the two Fleursde-Lis of the Plaisterers and the single Fleur-deLis of the Tylers and Bricklayers were apparently displayed together in Newcastle for some centuries.

Finally the question must be asked, if the Tylers and Bricklayers did not themselves come into existence as an independent religious fraternity with vows to the Blessed Virgin Mary, then with what similar parish fraternity could the Company have been associated.

There were a dozen or so such parish fraternities that were known to have existed in the City in the Middle Ages, but probably the one most likely to have been supported by the Company was that which was connected with the Church of All Hallows London Wall and which is first mentioned in 1361. The church was situated only about one hundred yards from the Tylers’ first hall in Wormwood Street.

(First published in the T&B Newsletter in 1998)

It would appear that our motto was first adopted by our Company in 1569 when the Coat of Arms was approved by the College of Heralds. The words will be most familiar to many as the end of the Te Deum Laudamus, “O Lord, in thee have I trusted, let me never be confounded”. A short version of the motto “In God is all our trust” had already been adopted in 1544 by the Brewers’ Company, the use of the word “God” being more concise. Our Company would certainly have been aware of the Brewers’ motto, and it seems rather than duplicate, chose to lengthen it.

A Christian canticle traditionally dated back to 387AD, the Te Deum appears in BCP as part of Morning Prayer, once an obligatory daily reading for every priest. While most of this canticle is not from scripture, some petitions from the book of Psalms were added at the end.

Our motto originates from the last of these. While the word “confounded” was used in the English translation of the ancient Vulgate Bible, by the time of the later King James Version a modified translation appears in both Psalm 31 and 71 “In thee O Lord I have put my trust; let me never be put to confusion.”

Hoping never to be “confounded” or “confused” our motto encourages us as a Company, and as individuals, to place our trust in God. This sentiment, so long used by the Brewers and T&B, was much later chosen as the motto of the United States of America – In God We Trust. www.tylersandbricklayers.co.uk

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Visit to The Fifth Trust

On 30 June 2022, Past Master Tom Rider and Court Assistant David Williams visited Barham, Kent to witness the opening of the new Fifth Trust Skills Centre.

The Fifth Trust supports adults with learning difficulties offering a wide range of activities to their students to help them live productive and fulfilled lives, reaching their full potential. In order to achieve these goals the Trust had to replace its out of date facilities and provide a safer environment better designed for disabled access. The Fifth Trust has been the recipient of three-year funding from the Tylers and Bricklayers and was the beneficiary of Lesley Day’s charity donation as Master in 2019.

Companion Maureen Wilson-Wright, acting as The Fifth Trust’s enthusiastic fundraiser and company secretary, successfully managed a colossal £1.6 million fundraising project which saw the opening of three superb new buildings as replacements for their old sheds. For Maureen this was quite a fanfare for a second career spent in the charitable sector. It had taken six years, hundreds 28

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David Williams Court Assistant and Editor

of appeal letters and grant applications, and endless patience and perseverance to make The Fifth Trust’s dream a reality.

The opening of the buildings coincided with her retirement and she regarded the completion of the Barham skills centre redevelopment as “just tremendous”.

Maureen commented “When we started the project I said I would stay on until it was finished but at that point I had no idea how big it was going to be!”

Widow of Past Master John WilsonWright, Maureen certainly has plenty of fundraising experience under her belt. She began working for The Fifth Trust in 1989, having originally started out with the charity Spadework. She has secured the necessary money for countless projects big and small, including the opening of the The Fifth Trust’s nearby Vineyard Garden Centre and the purchase of specialist equipment for students.

“Looking back on my time with The Fifth Trust I think of it as a privilege,” she says. “I have met some super people, both staff and trustees, and every time I visited I got such a lift from the students, seeing them so happy and fulfilled.

I couldn’t have achieved anything like as much if it wasn’t such a great organisation to promote with so many good stories to tell.”

The three new buildings will enable the Trust to take in more students. The

Tom Rider with Maureen WilsonWright largest provides a central hub offering event space and new facilities. Two smaller ones offer IT, photography, design and life skills training, and art classrooms. The build standard witnessed by Tom and David on their visit was impressive and there now only remains the task of raising funds to fully landscape the gardens surrounding them. The company wishes Maureen a well-deserved retirement.

The Guildhall at Bluewater, Kent Built hidden in a disused chalk quarry and opened in 1999 at the dawn of the new millennium, Bluewater was pioneering and bold in presenting a new approach to retailing.

Designed as a shopping and leisure experience, clearly less worries existed at that time about Amazon and the rise of on-line shopping. Its principal architect was Eric Kuhne and the main building comprised a right-angled triangle of three two-storey malls, two straight and one curved acting as a quadrant to the others.

John Lewis, House of Fraser and Marks and Spencer were the key anchor stores, each situated at a corner. Curved and tapered glass sections form the roofing providing an unusual amount of natural lighting to the two shopping levels.

The malls are known as Rose Gallery, Thames Walk and Guildhall but it is the latter that contains particular interest for the Livery. High up each side on the walls of the Guildhall, above the upper shopping level, are carvings of historic trades within rectangular recesses. From the names below each of them we would quickly identify these as representing livery companies, although strangely no explanation or elucidation is offered to the visiting public. The relevance might therefore well be lost on the average shopper – would they even bother to glance up to study just what was being so artistically portrayed on the walls above.

Clearly, the Guildhall at Bluewater, with so many beautifully carved tableaux, entailed considerable design thought

Clare Banks Liveryman

and craftsman endeavour. One wonders whether it would have been done today in our more straightened and uncertain times. The order of precedence is faithfully followed clockwise around the walls for the first 100 companies but then gets lost in the very last group of five. The Hackney Carriage Drivers (at 104) were clearly the last to make the cut, but received their grant of livery in 2004, notably long after the opening of the mall. The World Traders (at 101) were strangely given a much larger tableau, indeed forming a huge centrepiece.

The Parish Clerks and Watermen (not livery companies) were obviously roped in to fill up the 105 rectangular niches available. www.tylersandbricklayers.co.uk

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The Tylers and Bricklayers niche is above the jeweller Mappin and Webb and is fascinating for two reasons. Firstly, it portrays a female bricklayer. Secondly, the lady is holding the trowel in her left hand. A left handed female bricklayer must be something of a rarity in the trade.

Outside the M25, Bluewater is well removed from the City of London. In this location this huge artistic installation seems to lack context and relevance – it is perhaps a decorative extravagance.

It may have been a designers’ flight of fancy but it is well worth visiting and admiring for that. Just a shame it is not in the City.

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Masters & Clerks Lunch As the Master, Simon Martin expressed in his June 2022 letter to members, it was a joy to be “able to pay our own tribute and mark Her Majesty the Queen’s remarkable 70 years of selfless and dedicated service to the nation” at the Masters and Clerks lunch held on 9 June at the majestic Armourers’ Hall.

The Armourers and Brasiers’ Company has occupied their site at 81 Coleman Street since 1346. By 1835 the building was costing more to maintain than it was thought to be worth and the Court decided to rebuild. The New Hall, first occupied in 1841, was designed by Joseph Henry Good, the Company’s surveyor.

We were honoured by the presence of the following masters and their clerks: • Architects Philip Cooper (Clerk: Cheryl Reid) • Plumber Nick Jones (Clerk: Adrian Mumford) • Constructors Arthur Seymour (Clerk: Kim Tyrrell) • Masons Martin Low (Clerk: Major Giles Clapp) • Paviors Neil Sandberg (Clerk: Jennifer Athill)

• Painter-Stainers Lewis Cohen (Clerk: Christopher Twyman) • Glaziers Phil Fortey (Clerk: Liz Wicksteed) • Joiner-Ceilers Christopher Chivers (Clerk – Tanya Ingram) Once the Master, Wardens, Principal Guest Hugo Vickers, Clerk and Chaplain processed into the Hall accompanied by Honorary Freeman Richard Townend playing Zadok the Priest on the piano, 85 of us sat down to a delicious lunch with a Royal theme.

The menu consisted of the following: The starter was Salmon and Sole Balmoral with a champagne sauce. The main course was Crown of Lancashire Grass Feed Lamb accompanied with King George Potatoes, Wye Valley Wilted Spinach and Grilled Yellow Courgette.

The theme continued with a pudding of The Queens Duo of Chocolate Perfection Pie, ATS Camberley Custard and Sandringham Estate Honey Ice Cream. The meal was rounded off with “3 Cheers for Her Majesty”; Windsor Red Cheese, Castle of May Biscuit and, most importantly, Dubonnet Jelly.

The Toast to the Company on this

The Master speaking with (from left) the Junior Warden, Mr Hugo Vickers, the Master Painter-Stainer, Mr Lewis Cohen

Piers Wigan Liveryman

occasion was proposed by the Junior Liveryman, Clive Mathews.

The response to the Toast to the Guests was given by Hugo Vickers; renowned writer, broadcaster and royal biographer.

Hugo gave a very interesting summary of the many achievements and milestones of Her Majesty during her 70 years as Monarch and they were numerous. This was interjected with anecdotes which included Winston Churchill’s comment on the Queen coming to the throne and the ironic lesson from Philippians 4:8 read by Boris Johnson at the Platinum Jubilee Thanksgiving Service. He gave the example of how the Queen was very much seen as a conciliator with Martin McGuiness present at a State Dinner.

The anecdote that probably received the most laughs was when Hugo regaled the story of when the Queen was walking on the Balmoral Estate with a gillie and they came across two American walkers. They asked in conversation “Have you met the Queen?”. The Queen replied “I haven’t but he has”. They were so impressed with this that they induced Her Late Majesty to take a photograph of themselves with the obviously well-connected gillie.

This concluded what was a very memorable lunch.

Mr Hugo Vickers speaking www.tylersandbricklayers.co.uk

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Just Another Brick in the Wall?

While the Tylers and Bricklayers are fortunate to own several items of considerable age, without doubt the oldest item in the Company’s Collection is “the Jericho Brick” donated to the Company in 1956 by Dr R G (Dick) Bird.

The Brick comes from the famous archaeological excavations carried out by the late Dame Kathleen Kenyon, Director of the British School of Archaeology in Jerusalem between 1952 and 1958. This series of excavations at the site of ancient Jericho – Tell asSultan – was instrumental in establishing Jericho as the oldest site of (almost) continuous occupation known to history, dating back to 9,000 BCE or 11,000 years ago Thought to be at least 6,000 years old, the Brick consists of sun-dried mud from the Jordan Valley – kiln firing being a much later development. Unusually, it shows no sign of any straw content as a

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binding element. They bear herringbone patterns of the brickmakers’ thumbs, apparently not evidence of rough handling but a deliberate step to improve bonding. The thumb prints are clearly visible on our Company’s Brick, bearing direct witness to the ancient work of an individual brick maker.

How did the Brick come to our Company? Dick Bird was a liveryman of the Company who, like his cousin and friend Canon Leyland Bird (Father of the Company 1978-1992), had served as a missionary.

Tom Christopherson Court Assistant, Chair – Treasures Committee

In Jordan, Dick worked with the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees and as a pathologist for the World Health Organisation in Jerusalem.

Rosemary worked as a nurse running a Welfare Clinic for refugees with a significant refugee camp right next to the archaeological site at Tell as-Sultan.

Presumably it was here that Dick and Rosemary came to know Kathleen Kenyon who later described them in a light hearted fashion as “the team’s medical advisers”. They had to return to England in late 1953 when Dick contracted TB, presumably with the Jericho Brick as a gift from Kathleen Kenyon, seemingly in exchange for the use of their Land Rover. The TB was to prevent Dick from ever returning to Palestine. He died in 1985 and Rosemary in 2016, but their son John Bird is also a liveryman, living in Switzerland. The author’s thanks go to John and his family for digging out the biographical details for this article.

T&B to affiliate with HMS Magpie At the Court Meeting on 1 September 2022, it was agreed that the Company would seek formal affiliation with HMS Magpie, pennant number H130, a modern inshore survey vessel commissioned in 2018.

An invitation had been received by the Company in May to affiliate with HMS Magpie – a surprise because today there are many more livery companies than ships in commission in the Royal Navy.

Any new affiliations are normally offered first to livery companies losing their existing affiliations at “end of ship’s life”.

Too late to bring the matter to the Court Meeting in June, the invitation was held over until September to be properly considered, with a decision to be taken by the Court.

While a small vessel, Magpie is a key addition to the Royal Navy’s Hydrographic Squadron and is deployed to undertake crucial underwater survey work for the Ministry of Defence (Navy). Hydrographic survey ships have long fulfilled a vital role in the Royal Navy, helping to update charts and identify the position of hidden

hazards to navigation. Work includes the investigation of ancient wreck sites, surveying and monitoring the harbours used by ships, and being on the alert for any significant changes to the sea-bed whether man made or caused by currents and tides. Her state of the art equipment comprises an advanced sensor suite including a high resolution multi-beam echo sounder and side scan sonar. Additionally, the ship is expected to play a key role in developing future capability by testing a range of off-board, remote and autonomous systems – probably better described as underwater drones.

Magpie is the ninth ship to bear the name, a previous being the battle honoured World War Two frigate F82 which famously came under HRH The Duke of Edinburgh’s command in September 1950. Shortly before he passed away last year the Duke expressed his delight that the name HMS Magpie lived on in the Royal Navy and personally endorsed the ship’s motto Lux in tenebris lucet (Shine light into darkness).

The Commanding Officer Lt Cdr Hywel Morgan was already aware that HMS Magpie appeared to be the only ship in commission in the Royal Navy which did not have a livery affiliation and was personally enthusiastic for the ship to have one. HMS Magpie was matched to ourselves within the Ministry of Defence. Lt Cdr Morgan is qualified as a navigating officer and advanced surveyor.

While the ship’s company is small, most of the surveying is of a technical nature with much data processing being carried out ashore. As such, the work of the ship is felt to hold considerable interest for our members. For the past six months HMS Magpie has been deployed on the east coast of the North of England and Scotland and is expected to return to Plymouth in October. We shall be seeking opportunities to visit the ship either as it makes its way south via the west coast or after arrival in Plymouth.

If formally approved by MOD, HMS Magpie will not be our first affiliation. In the 1940’s we had one affiliation with the battleship HMS Anson but with war’s end time for these capital ships was rapidly running out and she was placed into reserve in 1952 and later scrapped.

www.tylersandbricklayers.co.uk

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“Architecture starts when you carefully put two bricks together. There it begins.”

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

WINCHMORE BRICKWORK complete brickwork management service

Winchmore Brickwork is a North London based brickwork contractor established in 1985. The Winchmore Brickwork team is headed by Tony Yianni the Managing Director and owner of the business, who has managed the company’s growth from the ‘scaffold to the boardroom’ for over 30 years.

With a long-standing track record of working closely with blue chip contractors across London and the South East, Winchmore Brickwork delivers not only outstanding service but a willingness to offer their complete expertise.

Involvement in the design, planning and logistics enables XV WR DGYLVH RXU FOLHQWV RQ WKH PRVW HI¿FLHQW FRQVWUXFWLRQ processes – saving them time and money. It is this expertise and desire to work as partners with our clients that sets a standard for the level of service we offer and ensures the strength of our relationship with our clients. We are proud of our long-standing reputation and continue to earn the trust, FRQ¿GHQFH DQG UHVSHFW RI RXU ZLGH UDQJH RI FOLHQWV

Our Services Winchmore Brickwork can Offer: • Design, supply and installation of all brickwork and blockwork secondary support systems i.e. shelf angles, wind posts etc

• Supply of trade materials • Supply of trade plant • Supply and installation of all scaffold for our works • Supply and operate all and any distribution and logistics requirements

&RQVXOWDWLRQ WKURXJK WUDGH VSHFL¿F GHVLJQ GHYHORSPHQW The carrying out of all brick, block and reconstructed stone installation requirements

• Health and Safety Training

Traditional Values Tony Yianni, MD, says: I am proud to be born and raised in a City with such a proud history in the traditional methods of EULFNOD\LQJ 7UDGLWLRQDO EULFN EXLOW EXLOGLQJV GH¿QH WKH /RQGRQ landscape.

I feel this landscape drew me into the trade. Winchmore Brickwork trades on my passion for bricklaying. Through a sensibly managed growth structure, we have developed a VLJQL¿FDQW SRUWIROLR RI EOXH FKLS FOLHQWV ZLWK GR]HQV RI NH\ London projects and excellent references. Our commitment to training over the years is one we are particularly proud of. The QHHGV DQG EHQH¿WV RI LQYHVWLQJ DQG GHYHORSLQJ LQ VNLOOV LQ RXU trade is an obvious one. To this end and as part of marking our thirtieth year in business we were pleased to announce the rolling out of our bricklaying development centre.

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Our London based initiative involves Winchmore Brickwork’s three key training facilities and several local schools and councils. Adding to our existing apprenticeship scheme, we hope to be providing additional training in our trade for a VLJQL¿FDQW QXPEHU RI VWXGHQWV HDFK \HDU FDOOLQJ RQ RXU PRUH H[SHULHQFHG EULFNOD\HUV WR SDVV RQ VSHFL¿F NH\ VNLOOV ³WULFNV of the trade” and of course their love for the craft. Key to the VXFFHVV RI WKH SURJUDPPH LV D VWHDG\ ÀRZ RI ZRUN IURP RXU clients. It is our hope that together with our concerned clients, we can ensure that this skill base is developed and available WR IXO¿OO WKH UHTXLUHPHQWV RI RXU LQGXVWU\ ZHOO LQWR WKH IXWXUH WRJHWKHU DV QXPHURXV RWKHU EHQH¿WV WR WKH ODERXU PDUNHW 7KH VLJQL¿FDQW HFRQRPLF XSWXUQ DQG WKH YDULRXV RSSRUWXQLWLHV it brings is something we should all embrace, and indeed VHL]H WKH RSSRUWXQLW\ WR ³JLYH EDFN ³

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7KH 7RZQ +RXVH /LWWOH 3DUN *DUGHQV (Q¿HOG 7RZQ (1 3* Email: info@winchmorebrickwork.co.uk Web: www.winchmorebrickwork.co.uk 7HO )D[

Master’s Visit to Northern Ireland 27-29 June 2022

Ian Mitchell Grimshaw Past Master

This year the Master chose Northern Ireland as his chosen destination and he was happily joined by twenty members of the Company and their partners. The three-day trip in late June started off in Belfast and following the beautiful Antrim Coast, ended in Derry Londonderry.

Monday 27 June Arriving from locations around the UK via air, ferry and car the group assembled for a casual luncheon in the Drawing Office Two bar in the Titanic Hotel in Belfast. Those arriving early were encouraged to explore the nearby Titanic slipways and plaza and walk along the Maritime mile to look at HMS Caroline, a C-class cruiser launched in 1914.

Following luncheon, the group gathered at the museum situated next to the hotel, for a pre-booked self-guided tour.

Titanic Belfast, as the museum is known, was opened on 31 March 2012 and forms the centrepiece of an area named the Titanic Quarter, an concept that is fast becoming a model for waterfronts around the world. Already at work on the Master Plan for Titanic Quarter, the architects “sought a place to position a structure that would welcome the world to

its threshold: its first plans were sketched on the very site where Harland & Wolff’s Plating Works stood. Aligned with the hallowed slipways where RMS Titanic and RMS Olympic were built, opposite the Drawing Office where they were planned, greeting the working neighbourhoods of those who built her and towering over the river Lagan where she was launched over one hundred years ago”. Having spent a good couple of hours in the museum several of us visited SS Nomadic in a neighbouring dry dock one of RMS Titanic’s two tender ships. The tender was used to transfer passengers and mail at Cherbourg as well as Queenstown and is the last remaining White Star vessel in the world.

The evening’s festivities started at The Crown Liquor Saloon for pre-dinner drinks and a welcome pint of Guinness for some. The Crown is a gem of Victoriana and one of the great bars of the world. It is a rare surviving example of the Victorian gin palaces which once flourished in the industrial cities of the British Isles. Dating back to 1826, it is now owned by the National Trust.

On the short walk to the James Street Restaurant, the writer pointed out the site of the Presbyterian Hostel where he had lived during the Troubles in 1971.

Tuesday 28 June Having breakfasted in the hotel’s Woolf Grill and boarded the coach, our guide for the day Paul O’Kane and trusty driver Peter conducted a tour of the city that included the historically important Peace Wall, the Falls Road, the Shankhill Road and the famous Maze Prison. Happily, the torrential rain eased enough for us to disembark en route and pay our respects at the Titanic Memorial Monument and Garden next to the City Hall.

As we motored north along the beautiful Antrim Coast the weather improved further and we stopped for a coffee break at the Marine Hotel in Ballycastle, an ancient and picturesque port where the first railway in Ireland was built in 1721. At its height it was one of the most important industrial towns in Ireland. Not

www.tylersandbricklayers.co.uk

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only coal was exported but barrels of salt, linen, wine bottles and leather.

The next stop on the Causeway Coastal Route was at Portaneevey, a vantage point that looks out over several islands namely, Rathlin, the only inhabited one, Carrick-a-Rede, renowned for its rope bridge access and Sheep Island designated a Special Protection Area (SPA) as a nationally recognised breeding site for cormorants. On a clear day the Isles of Islay, Jura, Arran and the Mull of Kintyre can be seen.

Shortly before noon we arrived at the Giants Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the auspices of the National Trust, Northern Ireland’s largest conservation charity. Flanked by the Atlantic Ocean and dramatic cliffs, these unique rock formations have inspired artists, stirred scientific debate and captured the imagination of all who have visited.

The walk from the Visitor Centre to the Causeway is just under a mile on a well surfaced track and many opted to stroll downhill with our guide Paul. Others took the shuttle bus and even more returned on it!

National Trust members were able to visit the Visitor Centre for free, while others checked out the Causeway Hotel and the thirsty ones settled into the cosy Nook Pub. Back on the coach we enjoyed a packed lunch overlooking Dunluce Castle, one of the most picturesque and romantic castles in

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Ireland with evidence of a settlement from the first millennium. Used as one of the locations in the Game of Thrones series, visiting fans are warned of some digital reconstruction on screen!

Leaving the castle we drove past the Old Bushmills Distillery, the oldest licensed whiskey distillery in the world. From there we headed to Coleraine where we bade farewell to our guide Paul and arrived late afternoon at the Bishop’s Gate Hotel in Derry Londonderry. Predinner drinks were served in the Hervey Library and a delicious dinner ensued in the Northern Counties Ballroom with the customary speeches ending yet another enjoyable day.

Wednesday 29 June After an excellent hotel breakfast, we gathered on the 400-year-old walls of Derry with our new guide Gleann Doherty.

The walls are of particular interest to the Tylers’ & Bricklayers’ Company as it was one of our very own liveryman, Peter Benson who built them. They were begun in 1613 and completed in 1619 at a cost of £11,700. It was reported at the time that they were very strong, 20 feet high and 6 feet thick, rising from an earth rampart 12 feet thick with a circumference of 5,124 feet, interspersed by four battlemented gates and bulwarks for cannons. This monumental construction sealed Benson’s reputation and his fame spread far and wide culminating in further

construction projects for, in many cases, several of the other livery companies. He later entered the political arena and was the city’s Mayor for 1639-40.

The tour started by the Cathedral which was built in 1633 by the City of London.

As one of the first cathedrals to be built after the Reformation it has been added to significantly and contains a museum with artefacts exemplifying the connection with London. The present spire (the third one in its history) at 58 metres high was completed in 1822 and dominates the city skyline.

It was at this place on the wall that we came across the first of the cannon – all donated by the Great Twelve Livery Companies. On this plaque it read: LIVERY COMPANIES OF THE CITY OF LONDON DEMI-CULVERIN (G11) BORE 4.6” LENGTH 120” WEIGHT 3988LB THE SECOND OF A PAIR SENT TO THE CITY IN MAYJUNE 1642 BY THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF MERCHANT TAYLORS. PROBABLY CAST BY JOHN BROWNE AT ONE OF HIS WORKS IN KENT. As we walked, we paused at the Double Bastion (on which was located the Vintners’ cannon) to admire the panoramic views towards the Inishowen Hills and the area known as the Bogside.

We passed by the Royal Bastion on which was constructed a memorial pillar in honour of the Governor during the Great Siege of 1689. From here we

The Guildhall, Derry walked along the Grand Parade, lined with 14 sycamores (one for each of the 13 apprentice boys and one for their lookout James Morrison during the Siege). Further along we came to St Augustine’s Church, where people have worshipped for over 1400 years and nearby there was the Apprentice Boys Memorial Hall opened in 1877. A little way forward the First Derry Presbyterian Church came into view. It was on this site in 1690 that Queen Mary donated money towards their first meeting house. It was here too that the Bluecoats School was founded in 1773.

Society. It now houses the chamber where the Derry City and Strabane District Council meet. The Guildhall is renowned for its collection of stunning stained-glass windows donated by City of London Livery Companies. It also delightful to learn that the recent refurbishment of the Guildhall’s slate roof had been undertaken by Penrose Roofing Limited, the company of which Liveryman Gordon Penrose is MD.

The next bastion, known as the Platform, projected out from the line of the walls and was designed to give a better field of fire. Our last stop atop the walls was Butcher Gate named from its slaughterhouses and butcher’s shops in the 17th & 18th centuries. Leaving the walls, Gleann guided us through the Bogside, the associated murals and the Bloody Sunday Memorial (see above featuring Bernadette Devlin) on which his father Patrick’s name is engraved.

He was only six months old when his father died and he spoke eloquently and movingly about his family, the Troubles and the Good Friday Agreement.

As part of the guided tour within, we visited an exhibition entitled “The Plantation of Ulster”. It describes how there was unrest and rebellion in Ireland throughout the reign of Elizabeth I and into the early years of James I. The fear of a Catholic uprising in England culminated in the Gunpowder Plot. In 1609 James I persuaded 55 Livery Companies to undertake the settlement and development of large tracts of Northern Ireland. The land was divided into 12 portions, each administered by one of the Great Twelve Livery Companies and the Tylers and Bricklayers’ Company was allocated to a consortium led by the Vintners’ Company. It was five years later that our Liveryman Peter Benson commenced the building of the walls.

The finale of our morning’s tour was the Guildhall, fashioned in a neo-gothic style, it is one of the most striking buildings in Derry and was originally built in 1887 by The Honourable The Irish

With the formal part of the tour over, we wandered through the streets of Derry stopping off for luncheon and some last-minute shopping before embarking on our coach for our journey home. En

route, the Master-Elect John Schofield thanked the Master for organising such an interesting and enjoyable trip, acknowledging that there was clearly an ongoing dialogue from one side of the political divide to the other and back. It was listening to that dialogue and getting a sense of what it was really like that helped put the present situation into its historical perspective.

With grateful thanks from all of us, John presented the Master with a copy of The Great Guns Like Thunder, The Cannon from the City of Derry by Brian G Scott together with a signed copy of a print of The Guildhall by our guide Gleann Doherty.

Knowing the Master’s love of the occasional G&T, John slipped him a bottle of Earhart Gin produced by the Walled City Brewery. The gin is made with botanicals grown from Robert Gallagher’s field in Ballyarnott in Derry where Amelia Earhart landed on her way from Newfoundland to Paris in 1932.

Finally, in praising the Master for taking us through thick and thin on an exceptional journey, for being unflappable and unsinkable, John produced a plastic Titanic Captain Duck…to much applause!

To quote the Master…” What a trip amongst friends”. www.tylersandbricklayers.co.uk

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Charter Day visit to St Albans Cathedral On Saturday 30 July the Master led a group from the Company and their guests to St Albans Cathedral to celebrate the anniversary of Queen Elizabeth I’s signing of our Royal Charter on 3rd August 1568. It was a very apposite choice of location as the monarch was at that time staying at Gorhambury on the outskirts of St Albans.

We gathered in the newly-built Welcome Centre, opened in 2018 and successfully designed to fit in with the south transept, using the same building materials of flint, stone and brick. The bricks in the central tower of the Cathedral are reused Roman bricks, salvaged in the 11th century from the ruins of Verulamium

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at the bottom of the hill. When the Chapter House was built in the 1980s a local brickmaker supplied bricks to match the Roman bricks in the tower (being longer and thinner than standard modern bricks). The bricks used for the construction of the Welcome Centre were also specially made, in this case by York Handmade Bricks, the company of which Liveryman David Armitage is chairman.

Alban was the first British Christian martyr. He was a citizen of the Roman Empire, and as such was entitled to wear a cloak of a particular colour: on being asked for urgent help from a good Christian friend Amphibalus who was to be executed, he gave him the cloak, enabling the man to escape. When Alban’s act, regarded as treachery, was discovered by the authorities, he was executed. St Amphibalus, who had taught Alban the Christian faith, was later caught and also executed.

His relics were placed in a shrine near to that of St Alban, restored in 1993.

Amongst the range of carvings on the recently restored medieval shrine of St Amphibalus, there is a face wearing a face-mask (see left) to commemorate the restoration project taking place during the pandemic.

Colin Menzies Liveryman and Steward

The cathedral became a centre of pilgrimage, especially after King Offa established a Benedictine abbey in 793.

It went through hard times during the 9th and 10th centuries and nothing remains of those first buildings. In the 1080s, Archbishop Lanfranc of Canterbury appointed his nephew Paul of Caen as the reforming abbot; he started the construction of what soon became one of the largest monastic buildings in England. In 1323 part of the south side of the nave collapsed (the foundations proved inadequate) and

The entrance to the Welcome Centre with the tower of St Albans Cathedral behind

was rebuilt in the contemporary style of Gothic. The monastic foundation was forcibly dissolved by Henry VIII in the late 1530s and the monastic buildings gradually became ruins, denuded of its brick and stone to supply building materials to other projects. Protestant Reformers defaced the wonderful series of 13th century wall paintings on the round-arched north side of the nave, leaving headless figures; an ingenious and very successful lighting installation has been installed recently to show how the originals would have looked.

In the 1870s the church building became the cathedral of a new diocese covering Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and the London Borough of Barnet. Sir Gilbert Scott had been slowly working on the

medieval building; on his death, the brash amateur architect Lord Grimthorpe imposed his will on the restoration, some of which was ill-considered. Today the cathedral is in excellent condition and one of the largest in the country, and Alan Younger’s memorable stained glass of the 1980s in the big window of the north transept deserves mention.

After our enjoyable tours we repaired to Lussman’s, a restaurant yards from the cathedral, for a fine lunch with much animated conversation. Thank you, Master, for taking us on such an interesting visit – with much help from our Learned Clerk, who was the administrator of the cathedral until joining the Company last year.

Brick Restoration in: London, Home Counties, South East and East Anglia

Climbing St Albans Tower There are 211 steps from the floor of the north transept to the roof of the 11th century tower. Relatively broad at the bottom, the spiral staircase gets progressively steeper and narrower as you climb higher. We were able to go into the roof space above the chancel roof and visit the bell chamber. The 13 main bells were installed in 2010 and are named after the apostles. The largest bell (the tenor) is called Alban and weighs a tonne. There are also eight bells attached to a carillon. These chime the hour and they can be programmed to play a tune.

During the 2012 Olympics the Chariots of Fire theme rang out for every medal Great Britain won.

The view from the top looks over the city of St Albans and the surrounding countryside, and even a glimpse of one of the pair of peregrine falcons which successfully raised a chick on the roof of the Cathedral in the spring.

Simon Martin Master 2021-22

Herts Renovation is run by John Gorman, a craftsman bricklayer who has been in the industry for 40 plus years. He was trained by Dr Gerard Lynch, an internationally acknowledged master bricklayer.

We offer a specialised service and go the extra mile to ensure that the highest quality workmanship is attained.

SERVICES INCLUDE: • Gauged brickwork • Enrichment restoration • Conservation pointing • Tuck pointing • Arch construction and repair • Flint work • Lime work • Colour washing • Polychromatic brickwork • Professional masonry cleaning • Brickwork consultant • Carved brickwork Herts Renovation, 97 Shephall View, Stevenage, Hertfordshire SG1 1RP

T 01438 352762 M 07775 925483 E info@hertsrenovation.co.uk

www.hertsrenovation.co.uk

Roman bricks in the bell chamber www.tylersandbricklayers.co.uk

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Court and Livery Luncheon The final formal function of the Master’s year was a Court and Livery Luncheon held in Watermen’s Hall on 1 September.

Five Freemen and one Craft Freeman were admitted at the Court Meeting immediately before the Luncheon and were made welcome in the reception.

The lunch was memorable for the Company and worth recording as being the first time in our history that we ate a vegetarian meal, all ingredients grown or sourced in the United Kingdom. This decision was taken following our joining the Livery Climate Action Group and in identifying ways we can help reduce our ecological impact in support of this excellent initiative, reported elsewhere in this Review by the Upper Warden. The menu chosen by the Master comprised a chilled pea and mint soup, a roasted charlotte and leaf spinach tartin, with a smoked cheese crumble,and a lemon and raspberry tart with a Pimms sorbet.

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David Williams Editor

The consensus was that the meal was delicious but that the chosen wine from New Zealand had perhaps incurred too long a journey for an eco-friendly lunch.

English wines are clearly improving with climate change so should perhaps be considered for future lunches like this.

Watermen’s Hall is the only remaining Georgian Hall in the City, originally quite small when constructed in 1780. We dined in the Freemen’s Room, originally part of the old Fellowship Porters’ Hall next door but later purchased for expansion by the Watermen and Lightermen Company. (Porterage and Metage were important activities conferred by Edward IV on the City itself by whom this trade was controlled and regulated. The relationship between the City and the Porters was never comfortable and the City eventually acted forcibly to close them down in 1894.)

The principal guest and speaker was General Sir James Everard KCB CBE who has enjoyed a long and distinguished career, finally serving as NATO’s Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe. He is President of ABF The Soldiers Charity which the Company has supported for several years. Sir James spoke with great insight and knowledge about the situation in Ukraine. He gave us a better and more balanced understanding of the reasons why it is so important that the United Kingdom stands with the United States and our European partners in support of the people of Ukraine. This is also why we must face the impending energy crisis and the other economic consequences of the war against Russian aggression with fortitude. His speech was educational, appreciated by all and wellreceived with applause.

Upper Warden

Christopher Causer I joined the Tylers and Bricklayers in 2002, having been introduced to the Company by Past Master Tom Hoffman MBE. Tom was my first boss in banking in the late 1970s and early 1980s and we kept in touch after we both moved on to other posts in the City. I worked for 35 years in and around the City of London, first in the Temple as a barrister, then in banking and finally as a City solicitor. Company events are now once again the chance to walk down familiar streets and see what has been pulled down or put up.

For the last 20 years my work was centred on large construction projects, not as a tiler or bricklayer but as a lawyer advising on the structure of the project and negotiating the contracts. I helped develop schools, the UK synchrotron

near Oxford, toll roads and teaching hospitals such as the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh and Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham. I also enjoyed working on overseas projects, in India, Bhutan, Mexico and elsewhere. If you go trekking from Thimphu you will ride on one of my buses.

My main activities now are sailing, fell walking and playing the cello (slow movements only). I am trying to complete all 214 Wainwright fells in the Lake District and have got to 151. So only 63 to go. Following retirement, I was appointed Chairman of the Independent Advisory Panel for the Army Training Regiment (Winchester) and this takes up some time each week – it is very worthwhile, mostly outdoors watching the recruits training, and huge fun.

I am married to Gilly, also a lawyer, and we have a son George and a daughter Rosie. We live in the Test Valley in Hampshire.

Renter Warden

Jenny Rolls Like my predecessor Christopher Causer, I find I have written about myself several times for previous Newsletters, so I thought that I would also write little on the past year of having been Renter Warden in Nomination, and a little more about my role as Almoner.

I am the first member to have served for two separate terms on the Court which I consider to be a great honour and subject to Court approval look forward to becoming Master in due course – especially as I will be only the second Lady Master in the Company’s history.

I have become more involved in the business side of the Company, serving as Chair of the Membership Committee, am also a member of the Finance Committee and continue as Almoner.

The role of Almoner in the Company is very important, and I enjoy my time fulfilling its duties enormously.

I try to keep in touch with members who may have been unwell, or those who for whatever reason can’t attend many events – as well as recognising celebrations of birthdays, wedding anniversaries and more recently, births.

I hope that I am available to members, and that they feel able to contact me whenever necessary. I do rely on members letting me know when anyone needs a phone call, letter, card or just contact, which makes it a two-way process. I think we are fortunate that the Tylers and Bricklayers is known rightly to be a very friendly and welcoming Company.

Recently, the Almoner’s Support Group has been set up by PM David Szymanski.

The group is made up of Past Masters who contact Members who may not have been able to attend recent events and to make sure that they don’t feel neglected. This has proved to be an excellent initiative so many thanks to the team. www.tylersandbricklayers.co.uk

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Renter Warden in Nomination

Alan Dodd MSc FRSA I became a Freeman of the Company in December 2013 having retired earlier in that year from the role of chief executive officer at The Children Today Charitable Trust, a position I held for just over ten years. My membership of the Tylers and Bricklayers was entirely due to Past Master Lesley Day who, during a very pleasant lunch following my retirement, asked very casually, whether I’d considered becoming a Liveryman.

At that time Lesley was CEO of The Tile Association (TTA). In 2007, at the instigation of its then Chairman, David Forbes, MD of Nicholls & Clarke Limited, The Tile Association had adopted Children Today as its official

charity. I am delighted to say their support continues to this day.

Since joining the Company, I have been a member of the Communications Committee, serving for a short time as Press Officer and I have been involved in a number of Company initiatives and reviews. In 2018 I was elected Honorary Secretary and Treasurer of the Company’s Charitable Trusts and in 2019 was elected a Court Assistant.

I currently serve on the Finance Committee.

I am Chairman of Trustees at The Sweetpea Charitable Trust, a grantgiving charity supporting disabled children. I am married to Patricia, who is

also a trustee of Sweetpea Charity. We have six grandchildren.

New Court Assistant

Keith Aldis Aged 62, I am the Chief Executive of the Brick Development Association.

Operations Director for the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board.

I started work in the mid-1970s as an electrical installation engineer with Drake & Scull Engineering Limited in London, moving on into teaching electrical installation, IT & electronics in further education as well as teaching design technology in FE & secondary schools in and around South London.

I was the CEO of the IT Service Management Forum (itSMF), a global body operating in 53 countries and based in the UK near Reading and was previously CEO of the British Institute of Cleaning Science based in Northampton as well as the Chairman of the SFIA Foundation, a body charged with developing and delivering an open-source skills framework for the information age, operating across 100 countries.

My industrial relations skills were honed when working as the training manager for the JIB for the Electrical Contracting Industry where I played a major role in setting up and running the sector’s non-statutory training organisation JTL which went on to become the largest independent industrial training organisation in the UK. I was the Director of Training and Education at the Building Employer’s Confederation (now Build UK), and then moved into the public sector as 42

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Have also held several other executive and non-executive roles in industry, notably as CEO of the JIB for Plumbing and Mechanical Engineering Services, CEO of the Industrial Rope Access Trade Association, Chairman of the Pet Industry Federation & Chairman of the Pet Charity. Currently Chairman of the RSPCA In Canterbury, Kent and Stort Valley near Bishops Stortford.

A Freeman of the City of London and a former Liveryman with the Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners and Information Technologists, my spiritual home is with the Tylers & Bricklayers.

Married to Ally with five children (all grown up now, thankfully!). We live in Canterbury.

New Freemen admitted 10 March 2022

Nicholas North Nick was introduced to the Company by Past Master Jeff Fuller, with the support of his father, Peter.

A Director of Marine Claims, his career has been spent handling clients’ claims emanating from all classes of marine business within the international insurance market, predominately with Lloyd’s brokers in the City.

He has had a long affinity with traditional architecture and the associated crafts – specifically bricklaying, including two years of evening classes learning its theory and practice. Nick is married to Trish and lives in Loughton, Essex. His hobbies include property development/ renovation, cycling, antiques, and wine.

Phil Pinto Phil’s connection to the T&B stems from his longstanding friendship with Simon Martin (Master 2021-22).

Having worked for a number of Investment Banks in the City since 1983, he has long been aware of the excellent service to the tiling and bricklaying industry and to the wider community which the Company provides.

A keen historian, Phil has worked in an area steeped in heritage and tradition and now has an opportunity to help ensure the continuation of this for future generations. He looks forward to a long and happy relationship with the Tylers and Bricklayers.

Kim Walker Kim has worked as a solicitor in the City specialising in intellectual property, data protection and technology law.

He has been very aware of the ancient livery companies and the fellowship they provide, the traditions they upkeep and the good works they do. The Master, a regular adversary on the golf course, introduced him to the Company.

Always interested in architecture and heritage property, the Company appealed to him immediately. He looks forward to taking part in our events.

Kim has lived for most of his life in Hertfordshire and enjoys travel, good food, music and watching sport.

Jack Fuller After studying BA History and Politics at Newcastle University, Jack spent 9 months helping with Covid testing before becoming an Insurance Broker in August 2021.

His chief interests include History, Football and Formula 1.

Jack was proposed by Past Master Jeff Fuller and seconded by Father of the Company, Peter Fuller.

Charles Cooper Charles was educated at Repton School and Reading University.

He is a Chartered Accountant and in 1986 moved from accountancy to corporate finance, and later into investment management.

In 1990 he became Chairman of BRI Wealth Management. In 2003 he left BRI to pursue other business interests including wine and hospitality businesses.

He maintains a lively interest in stock markets, but his main occupation has been property development and renovation.

Charles is interested in promoting the skills of talented craftsmen and the training in these being recognised as of equal benefit to society as academic courses.

Wayne Sheppard Wayne is a Chartered Engineer and after a few years in railway engineering moved to the building materials industry. He was mainly responsible for the manufacture of roof tiles, architectural masonry and bricks. He developed the innovative “Gemini” roof tile whilst MD of Forticrete.

In 2014 in partnership with Bain Capital, Wayne led the acquisition from CRH Plc of their UK and US brick, masonry and roof tile businesses. As CEO he led the IPO of these businesses on the London Stock Exchange in 2015 as Ibstock plc and its listing as a FTSE 250 company.

He was a Director of the British Ceramic Confederation from 2004-17 and its President from 2009-11. www.tylersandbricklayers.co.uk

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New Freemen Admitted 9 June 2022 Christian Robert Brash Christian has been connected with the roofing industry all his life. Before retirement he was the Chairman and major shareholder in John Brash & Co Ltd, a 4th Generation Family Business specialising in the manufacture and distribution of Roofing Battens and Scaffold Boards. He was closely

involved with the technical and standards development of both products and was key liaison with both trade and British Standard Committees. Since retirement he has lost touch with the industry and sees joining the Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers as a chance to contribute to the industry again and reunite with old contacts; as well as making new ones!

He enjoys a wide variety of activities including golf, photography, running, sailing and cycling; together with a weakness to rallying classic cars with his son!

Admitted 1 Sept 2022 Bob Richardson Bob is the Head of Technical and Training services at the National Federation of Roofing Contractors. He has spent over 30 years in the construction profession in the roofing and cladding industry and has a depth of practical on-site experience installing roofing and cladding systems and working on multi-million pound construction projects . Originally from Manchester, Bob lives with his partner Nicky in Northern Ireland. He has two children. When not working, Bob likes walking, golf, clay pigeon shooting and collecting and drinking fine wines. “ Martyn Hoare Introduced to the Company by Master Craftsmen John Gorman and Dr Gerard Lynch, the latter having trained Martyn in tuckpointing.

Martyn is a heritage brick mason with an NVQ Level 3 in Heritage Brickwork.

Martyn is self-employed and works frequently with Herts Renovation. He lives in Bedfordshire with his partner Dawn.

Outside work, Martyn is a keen gardener and is interested in history and reading.

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George Spreckley George is the Event professional working for the Brick Development Association.

Although relatively green in the construction industry he has quickly become passionate about it especially clay brick architecture. He has met so many fantastic people already and hopes to continue to so aided by his involvement with the Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers. His other big passion is rugby, having played at Dorking RFC since the age of 5 and he still plays as much as he can.

Myles McMillan Myles was introduced by his father Terry who is a Liveryman.

Myles has a degree in Business Management and Finance, and with a background in property development begun his career in residential lettings and strategic land, before joining the family business where he dealt with all aspects of property at The Trademark Group. Myles lives in Kent. He is an active sportsman with a particular interest in rugby, boxing, football and clay pigeon shooting. He is also a trustee for the McMillan Family Trust and a Juror for the Court Leet of Southwark.

Simon Dixon Simon is Training Manager and Technical Officer of the National Federation of Roofing Contractors.

He is an expert in training, learning and development of students of all ages, specialising in roof slating and tiling courses and accredited vocational qualifications. A regional and national Skill Build judge and IFD mentor, Simon’s also a World Skills UK judge and the Roofing Competitions Manager. He lives with his partner Julie in Bradford. Simon has two children and enjoys fell walking.

Our Honorary Freeman Richard Townend A familiar and welcome face at many Tylers and Bricklayers events, Richard is normally to be found playing music for the entrance of the Master, Wardens and principal guests to formal luncheons and dinners to the customary handclap.

While most livery companies content themselves with Scipio, Richard is not adverse to ringing the changes, surprising us with the opening bars to Zadok the Priest earlier in the year.

Richard Townend has been the resident recitalist at St Margaret Lothbury for 50 years and has presented over 2,500 lunch hour programmes there. From up in the balcony, he also contributes hugely to our Annual Service and Carol Service and has ensured these annual events always manage to fill the church with members and guests.

A Colles Prize winner at the Royal

College of Music, he also studied in Switzerland with Lionel Rogg and Guy Bovet. He has travelled all over Europe giving recitals and has recorded historic organs for BBC radio and TV, Belgian radio, EMI and other commercial labels both in England and the USA. Specialist in the music of the Renaissance and Baroque, in 1975 he was the first English organist to play in the International Organ Festival in Sion Switzerland on the oldest organ in the world. Well known for his lecturerecital series in England he has also been a visiting lecturer at the International Organ Academies at St Vith, Belgium, Eindhoven, Holland, Vastervik Sweden and the Fachakadamie fur Evangelkische Kirchenmusik, Bayreuth, Germany.

Active in the City, in 2010 he was invited to give a Gresham College lecture on

the development of the organ and its music which has since had over 2,000 hits on YouTube. In 2015 and 2017 he was again a Gresham lecturer speaking on Bach and Buxtehude. Richard was elected an Honorary Freeman of the Tylers and Bricklayers in 2005. He was Master 2007/8 of the Parish Clerks’ Company. In other City appointments, he is Director of Music of the Scientific Instrument Makers’ Company, Organist to the Armourers and Brasiers’ Company and also to the Ward Clubs of Coleman Street and Broad Street and the Institute of Chartered Accountants.

From 2002 to July 2022 he was headmaster of Hill House International Junior School in Chelsea. He is delighted to be a member of the Garrick club where he can enjoy his love of fine wine and good food! www.tylersandbricklayers.co.uk

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Typical Yates three storey home Capital for small housing projects was normally raised within the building trade itself, typically by loans or credit from other builders, builders’ merchants, or land owners. However, finance for larger development came from a narrower range of institutions. Most London banks and building societies were not ready to advance money on mortgage on houses yet to be built. Their preference was to loan to upper and professional classes on the safe security of established property.

Edward Yates (1838 – 1907) Master Tyler and Bricklayer 1902-3 A Victorian Builder par excellence To some, the term ‘speculative builder’ may conjure up some of the worst practices of the construction industry in the 19th century – inadequate foundations, bad design, poor mortar mixes, use of unseasoned timber etc.

Indeed, the word ‘Jerry-built’ was coined in Victorian times for houses built rapidly and cheaply for a quick sale without too much regard for quality.

Edward Yates was a successful speculative builder. Born in Lancashire, Yates arrived from the North in the early 1850’s almost penniless to dig foundations for barracks at Aldershot. By the time of his marriage in 1859 to Mary Ann Scarborough he was a bricklayer and soon after established himself as a house builder in South London. In 1867 he took a sub-lease of land at Nine Elms where he built 12 houses. The following year he took a lease on land at Dragon Road, Camberwell where he erected a further 42 houses.

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David Williams Court Assistant

At this time development of land for housing in South London was rampant, ‘speculative builders’ saw opportunities to make money in housing estate development and were prepared to risk anticipating a future demand for homes. Beyond being able to obtain the finance – it was also a necessity to install drainage, sewers and roads, ensure a water supply, and then choose the right place in which to build. They needed luck in the timing of having completed houses available – the latter half of the 19th century was noted for a series of crests and troughs in housing demand. Realisable prices could be affected by the development of railways, docks, factories and other essential community infrastructure such as public houses, schools and churches.

Parallel construction taking place by other speculative builders could cause temporary over supply in the market.

Large scale building of whole streets or estates was still considered a reckless area of business and the substantial sums of money needed were instead mainly provided by insurance companies and solicitors. What really distinguishes Edward Yates as a developer (apart from unusually actually being a builder) is that from the early outset of his business career he chose not to sell the houses he completed. Yates built with the express purpose of renting to lower-middle and working class residents. He managed to establish and build his business based on successfully securing a succession of mortgages or loans. Able to expand rapidly, Yates carried out much of the 19th-century residential development of east Walworth, just south of Elephant and Castle and New Kent Road, living locally with office and building yard on the nearby Walworth Road. He was generally within walking distance from all his building sites. The design of his terraced houses was simple but practical, built uniformly along the street to a high standard.

Employing a large team of skilled tradespeople he oversaw all works himself. Retaining ownership of the properties he built, he had a vested interest in achieving a high quality of construction thus minimising the consequent costs of maintenance.

He established a sound reputation for well-built and easily let properties, and his success and ultimate wealth lay in his continued ability to raise money in the City. By 1888-90 he was regularly completing around 150 properties each year. By 1895, he had managed to obtain £282,000 on 270 mortgage loans which met between 50% and 70% of his expenditure – the rest was met by land dealing. Yates employed his labour at piece rates negotiated directly with each employee and kept close control

on both quality and quantity of building materials delivered. Putting up long runs of densely packed 19th-century terrace housing, mostly of a uniform design, was clearly a sound business model for a builder – obtaining the scale and efficiency in construction akin to a production line. The materials and labour required for each house were identical and time to build could be accurately pre-determined and monitored. On completion his houses readily attracted tenants, being attractive, up to date with back boilers, gas stoves, bathrooms and neatly fitted cupboards. Most of his properties cost £350-£450 to build and were let for £28-£38 per annum.

By 1905 he not only owned 2345 houses but had fully repaid all his mortgage loans on the basis of the steadily growing rental income received on this huge property portfolio.

Visiting the residential estates built by Yates today and talking to residents one finds his streets and properties still held in high esteem. While some of this historic working class area has been redeveloped, many of the Yates estates appear to have escaped the Blitz and remain as a coherent and controlled suburb. The general character is of long terraced rows of identical Victorian houses built in London brick.

It is refreshing to see original building frontages retained and remaining largely unaltered externally apart from modern double glazing. These were punctuated by landmark buildings built by others at corners or in former garden spaces, including public houses, board schools and churches. The estates built by Yates are today conserved as surviving pieces of well-enclosed 19th-century urban fabric.

Yates served as Master Tyler and Bricklayer in 1902-3 becoming a man of considerable wealth and property.

He was a self-made millionaire and by the time he died in 1907 he had built over 2500 houses in south London and elsewhere.

Inevitably, this housing today is often being redeveloped internally into flats, but goes on serving and shaping the lives of the thousands of the people who occupy them.

Chatham Street

Henshaw Street

1896 Ordnance Survey Map showing area of development south of New Kent Road (Bricklayers Arms top right) Sources: H. J Dyos The speculative builders and developers of Victorian London The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Yates Estate and Victory – London Borough of Southwark

www.tylersandbricklayers.co.uk

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Life after being a Master?

Christine as Master Mason in 2020 The world does not end after serving as Master. Friendships made and knowledge gained of the City during a term in office often create new opportunities. Most Past Masters continue to stay in touch with their contemporaries via their Past Masters’ Association, and/or the Lady Masters Association, whilst some also join other livery companies. Such intense Livery activity for a year often also leads to a lifelong interest and involvement in other City organisations.

For some, that involvement includes public office, with the opportunity of serving as an Alderman or Common Councilman. The City’s 25 wards each elect one Alderman and an average of four Common Councilmen on a six and four year cycle respectively. This could also lead to serving high office as Aldermanic Sheriff and Lord Mayor, or one could simply stand for election as non-Aldermanic Sheriff. The electoral wards also have Ward Clubs; there are 22 such clubs, with some wards sharing, together with the United Wards Club. All are inexpensive to join and hold a range of social events annually.

Other Livery focused organisations include the City Livery Club. Based in the City for over a century, their current premises in Crutched Friars provide bar and dining facilities for members. There are seven special interest groups within the Club offering a range of additional activities for like-minded individuals.

The Guild of Freemen has members worldwide, as does the Royal Society of St George and their City of London Branch is where you will find many from

Dr Christine Rigden Liveryman

the Livery world. This is by no means an exhaustive list, indeed organisations are to be found south of the river, such as the Guildable Manor of Southwark.

A Master’s year will have included attendance at very many functions.

As well as lunches, dinners, award presentations and lectures, many services of worship take place each year at guild and parish churches in the City, as well as St Paul’s Cathedral. Becoming a Friend of a church, or even a Steward at St Paul’s Cathedral is a route taken by some.

Fundraising events are a significant part of modern City life, and assistance with these is always sought – one volunteer is worth ten pressed men. Such events include the biennial Red Cross Christmas Market, and the annual Sheriffs’ Ball and Lord Mayor’s Big Curry Lunch.

The opportunities are almost endless.

For many, a year as Master is just the beginning, not the end.

(Christine was Master Constructor, served as Non-Aldermanic Sheriff and later Master Mason)

New Liveryman Clive Mathews Clive was admitted as a Freeman of the Company back in 2005 so it was perhaps a case of “better late than never” when he finally became a Liveryman at the Court Meeting on 1 September 2022, seventeen years later!

Born in Paddington, Clive lived in various parts of London throughout his childhood. He was educated at a local grammar school in Ilford, Essex.

He began work in a large Mechanical Services Engineering Company in London where he trained as a Surveyor.

The group opened a new office in Bristol where he located in 1970 and worked on many major projects in the South West of England.

His career then moved into two main spheres. He became Managing Director 48

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of a company manufacturing and building large liquid storage tanks. The development plan focused on increasing their export business which necessitated travelling overseas for 4/5 months of the year and basing himself in the US for a while. His company was delighted to receive the Queen’s Award for Export in 1985.

The second part of Clive’s career (25 years) was in the distribution of heavyside building materials mainly bricks, stone and timber. He joined the Taylor Maxwell Group during the 80’s and subsequently became Chairman and Chief Executive in 2000 before retiring in 2008.

He lives in Somerset with his wife Sarah and they have two children and three grandchildren.

For many years he was a keen private

pilot and was Chairman of a flying group using our aircraft for both business and personal use throughout Europe.

His main pastimes are now cycling, walking and golf, together with spending time at their other home in Portugal.

Climate Change and the City

drink. To move towards sourcing most or all of our produce from the UK and enjoying seasonal food. Our luncheon at Watermen’s Hall in September was the first ‘vegetarian’ T&B lunch enjoyed by members.

The City of London Corporation has adopted a radical Climate Action Strategy which sets out how the organisation will achieve net zero, build climate resilience and champion sustainable growth, both in the UK and globally, over the next two decades.

By adopting the strategy, the City Corporation has committed to: • Achieving net zero carbon emissions from its own operations by 2027 • Achieving net zero carbon emissions across its investments and supply chain by 2040 • Supporting the achievement of net zero for the Square Mile by 2040 • Investing £68m over the next six years to support these goals of which £15m is dedicated to preparing the Square Mile for extreme weather events In response to this strategy the Livery established the Livery Climate Action Group (LCAG) in 2021. It is led by Sheriff Alison Gowman. After a Court discussion in March 2022, the T&B decided that we should join LCAG and consider in what ways we could help the City deliver the targets summarised above.

Christopher Causer Upper Warden

LCAG is set up as a central source of advice and guidance for livery companies and others working in the City. Commissioning a great deal of work from academics and other experts in the field of climate change, the LCAG website https://liverycag.org.uk contains well researched guidance notes on such topics as heritage and listed buildings, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, and waste management. There are also exemplar Climate Action Plans for livery companies, although some of the guidance is of greater relevance to those that own and operate halls (which we do not) or control property portfolios.

Improvements in insulation and fittings, changes to heating and lighting systems and changes in waste management all help to reduce carbon emissions.

The Court also decided that we should have a LCAG Working Group to keep under review our contribution towards the wider City initiatives and the group is chaired by the Upper Warden. Actions agreed to date include: • Working with our caterers to discuss sustainability in sourcing our food and

• Introducing an award at the next Triennials (July 2024) to recognise a contribution towards climate friendly design or construction methods • Keeping the issue of climate change on the agenda when discussing investment strategy with our investment advisers Rathbones • Organising Zoom lectures, open to members of the Company but also other livery companies, by experts addressing specific topics relevant to climate change and construction.

The first lecture will happen in our 2022/23 year.

We have set up an LCAG page on our website and you will be able to follow progress there. There is also a link to the main LCAG website. If you have a strong interest in climate change and environmental issues, and/or any professional engagement in this field, do contact the Upper Warden – we are always on the lookout for potential new members of the Working Group, or just for ideas as to what more we should be doing as a Company.

Pan-Livery Initiative

Vegetarian main course served at Court Luncheon

Members are encouraged to visit the Pan-Livery section of the Livery Committee website to access a copy of the Pan-Livery Impact Report Shared Philanthropic Endeavour 2022. Recently released at the end of September, the report details the collective charitable giving of the livery companies which now exceeds £75,000,000 a year. It also touches on a number of other pan-livery initiatives including the Livery Climate Action Group.

The Livery Committee commenced activities in July 1864 created with the purpose of organising and overseeing the elections of the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs at Common Hall. 150 years later the Committee still fulfils this role but has also become the main forum of communication both between companies in the Livery, and the officers at Guildhall and Mansion House. www.liverycommittee.org www.tylersandbricklayers.co.uk

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The Charitable and Craft Trusts The 2020 Strategic Review took an in-depth look at the way the Tylers and Bricklayers supports charities.

Achieving diversity in the range of good causes supported by the Company’s charitable trusts is not something that happens by chance. The Trustees take their responsibilities seriously, often requesting detailed information about a project or cause before making a grant.

Charities are experiencing their own challenges caused by the consequences of Covid-19 and as demand for funding increases, the Trustees were also being challenged. Several questions persist. These include: Are we making a difference? What impact does an often modest donation make? Can we help to improve that impact? Can we give more?

What can we do to help in different nonfinancial ways? Asking such questions does have positive results, and others also arise, but with limited resources pragmatism must rule the day. For example, one of the very clear findings from the recent Strategic Review was the importance of supporting ‘people’ charities. Not that support for the crafts or heritage related projects is any less important. It does mean looking at funding applications in a different way when assessing needs, urgency and benefit.

Flexibility important Both the general Charitable Trust and the Craft Trust provide grants on an annual recurring basis. The former provides funding for three consecutive years. Both Trusts also give one-off donations. This flexibility is important and valuable for many reasons. Not least is cash-flow management, a consideration that is as important to the Trustees as it is to the beneficiary.

Sources of funds In the main, the Trusts’ income is derived from three sources. These are: donations from members of the Company, income from investments, and Gift Aid. The majority who donate do so on a regular basis, usually by standing order with

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Alan Dodd Court Assistant

their bank. Income from investments is received monthly. Gift Aid, where a signed declaration is completed, can be collected at any time during the year.

• The Guildhall School of Music and Drama

Recent Legacies

• City of London School for Girls – Noreen Dickins prizes

However, the Trusts, and more specifically the prize funds, have benefitted significantly from legacies.

The late Past Master Jeremy Stokes bequeathed £10,000 each to the Charitable Trust and the Stokes Royal Engineers Craft Awards for Brickwork prize fund. The Late Mrs Jean Margaret Stokes, a Companion of the Company, bequeathed £10,000 to the Charitable Trust and £20,000 to the Stokes Royal Engineers Craft Awards for Brickwork prize fund. A cash donation of £200,000 was recently received for the Noreen Dickins prize fund.

While not strictly a legacy, the Trustees believe the gift was inspired by the late Noreen Dickins’ generosity and support for education in its widest sense. The solicitor representing the Trustees and Executors wrote: “In the terms of her Will, it was left to the discretion of her Executors and Trustees as to who may be given cash legacies from her estate. I am pleased to inform you that your charity has been left a legacy of £200,000. This legacy is to be specifically used for the Noreen Dickins prize fund.”

Each of these gifts was gratefully acknowledged on behalf of the Company and Trustees.

The Tylers and Bricklayers’ Charitable Trust: Annual recurring grants: • The Lord Mayor’s Appeal • The Master’s nomination • St Paul’s Cathedral Foundation • The Brunswick Youth Club Trust • The Church of St Margaret Lothbury

• Clergy Support Trust

• City of London School for Boys – Noreen Dickins prizes • City of London Freemen’s School – Noreen Dickins prizes • City of London Police Widows’ and Orphans’ Fund • St Paul’s Cathedral School (COLET) • St Paul’s Cathedral School – Martin Fund prizes • RE Cadets London Area prizes • Lord Mayor’s Big Curry Lunch for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity • Guildhall Library & London Metropolitan Archive • London’s Air Ambulance Charity • The Sheriffs’ and Recorder’s Fund • Royal Engineers Cadets Open Day Sponsorship The Trustees approved the following charities to receive one-off donations: • Charity of the Year: St Edmunds Society • Grove Adventure Playground • Pembroke House • Boxes of Basics

The Trustees approved the following charities to receive a 3-year recurring grant: • Tower Hamlet’s Mission

The Tylers and Bricklayers’ Craft Trust: The Trustees approved the following annual recurring grants: • The Ironbridge Gorge Museum (Jackfield Tile Museum)

• Maggie’s Barts • The Prince’s Foundation • Kol Bonaich • Blind Veterans UK The Trustees approved the following grants, the second payment of 3-year funding:

• Weald and Downland Open Air Museum • Bursledon Brickworks Museum

• Charity of the Year. St Edmunds Society • WorldSkills UK • CRASH The Construction Industry Charity • Rainy Day Trust • Build Up Foundation

• Cavell Nurses Trust • Toynbee Hall • The Creative Dimension Trust The Trustees approved the following grants, the final payment of 3-year funding:

• The Springhead Trust • Cura Art In closing, on behalf of all beneficiaries, the Trustees extend their thanks to all Freemen and Liverymen who have supported the Charitable Trusts. THANK YOU.

• Salvation Army

For more information about any aspect of charitable giving or if you have any questions, please contact Court Assistant Alan Dodd, Honorary Secretary and Treasurer to the Charitable Trusts.

• The Bletchley Park Trust

charities@tylersandbricklayers.co.uk

• Newham All Stars Sports Academy

• The Medway Queen Preservation Society • KidzAware

The Sheriffs are traditionally elected on Midsummers Day 24 June, a quarter day. This year, despite an opportunity arising for a possible contest for the non-Aldermanic post, in the event it was uncontested.

Alderman Alastair King took office as the Aldermanic Sheriff on Thursday 28 September 2022, while Andrew Marsden became the non-Aldermanic Sheriff.

• Building Crafts College The Trustees approved the following one-off donations:

• The Stuart Low Trust

Election of the Sheriffs and Lord Mayor for 2022-23

Alastair King qualified as a solicitor in the City in 1995 and practiced in the Square Mile and Asia, before joining a venture capital company in 1999. He founded his own fund management firm in 2006 and a London Stock Exchange-quoted infrastructure fund. Alastair has lived in the Queenhithe Ward of the City since 1991 and was elected to the Court of Common Council in 1999 and has represented the Ward since then.

A professional marketer and Past Master Marketor, Andrew Marsden began life in Unilever and has spent his career building global brands. Following the successful float of Britvic, he is now an international strategy consultant, serial non-executive director, and a consultant in the corporate finance sector. Since 2017, Andrew has been chairman of the 15-strong Financial Services Group (FSG) of livery companies, which assists the Lord Mayor in his or her role as an international ambassador for the financial and professional services industries of the City.

The election of the Lord Mayor traditionally takes place on Michaelmas Day 29 September, three months after the Shrieval elections with the newly installed Sheriffs in attendance.

There will be little rest for Alderman Nicholas Lyons. Stepping down from his role of Aldermanic Sheriff only the day before, he was duly elected Lord Mayor for 2022-23 and will move into the mayoralty on Friday 11 November at the Silent Ceremony. The Lord Mayor’s Show follows the next day Saturday 12 November 2022. www.tylersandbricklayers.co.uk

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David White Court Assistant

Craft Visit to Ironbridge It was a warm and sunny Tuesday morning when a group of 22 Liverymen and their guests gathered outside the Jackfield Tile Museum on 20 September, at the heart of the network of Ironbridge Gorge Museums in Shropshire.

We were met by Liverymen Adrian Blundell and Chris Cox, both members of the Craven Dunnill Jackfield team, who gave us an introduction to the history of the site and of the exciting day that would lay ahead for us. We then headed off on a walking tour of the site with Chris as our guide.

We saw what remained of the original kilns, boilers from a bygone age, the now derelict clay storage ‘arcs’ and many examples of historical tile designs.

A well-earned rest was then taken at the museum café after which we split ourselves into two groups, one led by Adrian and the other by Chris, and filled the rest of the day with each group having a series of talks, walks and hands on practice.

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The operational factory for wall and floor tile manufacture at Craven Dunnill Jackfield employs many traditional production techniques but sets them in modern surroundings. The care and attention given to each tile is quite outstanding in this modern age, but quality is clearly at the heart of their philosophy and quite rightly so.

Following lunch, again in the museum café, we resumed our activities with one group enjoying a guided tour of the museum while the other rolled up their sleeves ready to make their own encaustic tile. The tile making was instructed and supervised by Jennifer Kelleher who explained the age old technique employed in the production

of encaustic tiles. (Encaustic tiles are ceramic tiles in which the pattern or figure on the surface is not a product of the glaze but of different colours of clay). We were then let loose on full scale tile production! What soon became clear was how difficult the process was by hand and relies a time served apprenticeship in order to produce high quality tiles in large numbers, something we discovered during the course of the afternoon. In the time available the tiles we made ourselves could not be fired, but Jennifer kindly offered to do this after we had left for the day.

The Craven Dunnill Jackfield museum maps the history of the company from when Craven Dunnill & Co. Ltd was founded by Henry Powell Dunnill in 1872 to the present day. The purposebuilt tile factory in Jackfield, Shropshire which now forms part of the museum, was at the forefront of technology in its day. It was the work of Charles Lynam, an architect from Staffordshire who specialised in the design of industrial buildings. At the dawn of the industrial revolution the Ironbridge Gorge was the ‘Silicon Valley’ of its day, offering a unique variety and abundance of raw materials and water essential to industrial innovation and invention.

Craven Dunnill became renowned throughout the Empire for its ceramic floor and wall tiles, in particular its encaustic floor tiles and highly decorative wall tiles. In the 1950’s Craven Dunnill & Co. moved to its current headquarters based in Bridgnorth.

The original Craven Dunnill factory was acquired by the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, becoming one of their main Museum sites, situated in a world heritage site. Manufacturing returned to the site in 2000 where today it is the oldest surviving purpose-built tile factory in the world and the company is now the leading manufacturer of traditionally styled, decorative tiles for projects globally. We were lucky enough to receive a guided tour of the museum by its Curator, Kate Cadman.

Kate explained the history of the site, its production and some of the exquisite items it now houses. Part of this tour included a detailed review of the famous tile collection of John Scott.

another beautiful day in the Shropshire countryside. Today was to be a guided tour of the Iron Bridge and Tollhouse followed by a walking tour of the Blists Hill Victorian Town.

At the world-famous Iron Bridge, we were met by our guide who explained in detail the history of this magnificent structure and how so little has been recorded of its construction. Abraham Darby III, the ironmaster, was commissioned to build it and work began in November 1777. Darby’s Bridge was the first in the world to use cast iron structurally, and artists, writers, spies and engineers came from all over the world to marvel at ‘that most incomparable piece of architecture’. The adjoining Tollhouse still displays the charges levied on its variety of early users. The bridge was finally closed to traffic in 1934.

We then moved to another part of the Iron Bridge Gorge where the Blists Hill Victorian Town has been created in all its glory.

The town is now home to over 50 Victorian shops, homes and craft centres that are all in full occupation and use, showing visitors just how Victorian life in an industrial town would have been.

We were free to walk at our leisure, exploring the homes and businesses from a world gone by.

The 2022 Craft Visit ended early afternoon following a very enjoyable pub lunch in the New Inn Public House nestling in the heart of the town.

Our thanks go to the Master, Simon Martin for his impeccable organisation and to the team at Craven Dunnill Jackfield who so generously gave up their time to host our visit.

Editor: For many years, the Ironbridge Gorge Museums were the regular chosen destination for an annual Away Weekend of the Masters, Prime Wardens and Upper Bailiff of the livery companies, usually in late May or early June. The Masters’ gettogether this year was in Sheffield, hosted by the Cutlers of Hallamshire.

At the end of our first day, we then retired to our hotel, The Lion and Pheasant Hotel in Shrewsbury, where we later met for dinner and enjoyed a marvellous three-course meal.

We awoke the following morning bright and early to be greeted by www.tylersandbricklayers.co.uk

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The shadow of the gnomon showing the time as 10.53

A New Sundial for the City Inspired and designed by Past Master Piers Nicholson, the Fleet Street Heritage Sundial was officially opened by the Lady Mayoress Hilary Russell on 21 October 2021.

The sundial in Bouverie Street today forms a key part of the Fleet Street Heritage Project. Fleet Street, and Bouverie Street which runs off it to the south, were once the thriving hub of the printing industry. This is due to printer Wynkyn de Worde, who worked under Caxton until the latter’s death transferring the fast growing printing business from Westminster to Fleet Street in 1500. The area remains synonymous with newspapers and periodicals today.

In 2007 Piers and Gillian bought a micro-flat in Bouverie Street strangely called 62 Fleet Street. Piers could not help but notice a very large blank wall on the building adjoining their flat. Without any windows, this wall was due to the demolition 150 years ago of a building originally on the corner of Fleet Street and Bouverie Street which severely restricted access. Once carrying advertisements, these had been banned by the City above ground floor level after the Second World War. As the wall clearly faced roughly East Piers thought it could be a good place for a morning sundial. He had also noticed how little evidence and formal recognition of the once thriving newspaper industry remained in the Fleet Street.

Conceived as serving to reflect the area’s rich heritage and as a memorial to those fighting for press freedom, Pier’s sundial project had four key elements: the face 54

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of a sundial painted onto the blank wall, a gnomon on the top left corner, three explanatory panels at reading height on the wall and a fleetstreetheritagesundial. uk website. Full planning permission was achieved in December 2019 – just before the Covid pandemic hit. This delayed finding funding but fortunately the City of London’s Community Infrastructure Levy Neighbourhood Fund came to the rescue.

The design of the sundial needed first establishing the exact declination of the wall, achieved by laser survey. This produced a point cloud of several million xyz coordinates. The wall was found to decline 3.75 degrees north of east and was 0.21 degrees out of plumb. The wall also had a small step in the vertical plane sufficient to affect the shadow cast by the gnomon so this was also carefully measured so that the final delineation of the sundial could be established before painting commenced. High level work on painting the wall, the sundial

and erecting the gnomon required scaffolding, in turn needing negotiation between the highway authority seeking to limit disruption in the week, and environmental departments wishing to limit noise at weekends.

Originally, Piers wanted the sundial to record some of the great newspaper titles of Fleet Street but the City regarded use of any current newspaper name as the banned advertising and would only permit moribund titles to be listed on the sundial. The Republican was natural as once published in the demolished building on the site – and the Pall Mall Gazette, The Morning Post, News Chronicle and Daily Herald were chosen as the others.

The T&B congratulates our sundial expert Past Master Piers Nicholson at the wonderful legacy he has given to the print industry and the City – a new sundial for Central London. Do look out for it when next in Fleet Street.

Lady Mayoress Hilary Russell officially opening the Sundial installation on the wall above

Obituaries Liveryman Christopher Lawrence Bird 28 February 1949 – 13 January 2021 At any of the Company functions in the second half of the last century, it would have been impossible to avoid noticing three Court members who were also brothers: Canon Arthur Leyland Bird (Master 1951-2), Cdr David Bird RN (Master 1957-8) and Brian Hamilton Bird. Their bonhomie, wisdom and enthusiasm propelled the Company forward and infused it with a friendliness still present to this day.

Christopher Bird, son of Brian Bird, was the last remaining link the Company had with this branch of the Bird family.

Born into a prosperous legal family, Christopher’s scholarly and helpful nature made a choice of a career in law

an easy one. His trusting and friendly character also perhaps contributed to a professional disaster when he was a young solicitor. His partner in the law firm he had founded, embezzled all the accounts and disappeared to Thailand with the proceeds. When later tracked down and arrested in Amsterdam, it also came to light that his dishonest partner had attempted to have Christopher murdered to cover his tracks.

It was at this point in his life that Christopher decided to rebuild his career and start again, firstly overcoming a number of serious health conditions. He joined the Eric Robinson Partnership in Southampton and became one of their

Dr George Bird Master 2007-8

most trusted and successful partners, winning an Outstanding Award from the Good Lawyer Guide. Indeed, he would introduce himself with the unexpected “Trust me, I’m a solicitor”!

Unfortunately, Christopher did not share the same energy for the Tylers and Bricklayers of his father and uncles, and was rarely seen at Company functions.

He preferred long haul travel and exploration of exotic surroundings and cuisine. Nevertheless, on his death he was the fourth most senior member of the Livery in terms of years of membership.

Companion Ann Fuller 11 May 1935 – 25 February 2022 Ann Fuller, wife of former Master Hugh Fuller (1983-4), has died at the age of 86.

Ann was born into a textiles family on the outskirts of Manchester in 1935.

She met Hugh, then a trainee surveyor, while on holiday in Mevagissey at the age of 17. Two years later, Hugh proposed in Cologne Cathedral while on National Service in post-war Germany after Ann, just 20 at the time, had borrowed £100 from her mother and jumped on a British European Airways Dakota to visit him.

While Hugh ran Fullers Builders in Walthamstow, Ann brought up their five children Clare, Lucy, Alice, Patrick and William, with William succeeding his father as MD of the family firm.

It was in the 1970s that Ann developed an idea that would go on to build a global

business, namely the peg doll, an oldfashioned wooden clothes peg dressed in fine lace and fabric. She launched her brand, Ann Fuller Designs, in 1976 after Hugh took some samples to Jacksons in Piccadilly and soon after she was on sale in the world-famous department store, Liberty of London. Her beautiful products, from jack-in-a-boxes, to sewing kits, to moneyboxes and earrings, were made by outworkers, who made money in a flexible way from home – something we now take for granted.

She could count British royalty among her customers and was commissioned

by Liberty’s to make a wedding gift for Charles and Diana in 1981. Her products were given the coveted British Design Council Award and she even made a special edition ‘bricklayer’ jack-in-a-box as a gift for members during Hugh’s stint as Master.

Ann brought joy and laughter to those around her, going out of her way to support those who were not so fortunate. She loved attending Tylers and Bricklayers events and doted on her thirteen grandchildren and four great grandchildren. She will be greatly missed. www.tylersandbricklayers.co.uk

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Diary Dates 2023

2022 Wednesday 26 October 7pm

Zoom Craft Talk

Saturday 6 May

Coronation of King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort

Saturday 12 November

The Lord Mayor’s Show Optional spectators lunch Plaisterers’ Hall

Tuesday 9 May

Festival Service of the Clergy Support Trust, St Paul’s Cathedral

Thursday 15 December

Court Meeting, Armourers’ Hall Carol Service, St Margaret Lothbury Buffet Supper, Armourers‘ Hall

Thursday 11 May

Annual Livery Dinner, Drapers’ Hall

Thursday 18 May

Consort’s visit to Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Thursday 8 June

Court Meeting Masters and Clerks’ Lunch, Apothecaries’ Hall

Monday 26 June

Common Hall Election of Sheriffs Optional lunch venue tbc

Wednesday 28 to Friday 30 June

Master’s visit to Kent, including Canterbury Cathedral and Sissinghurst

Saturday 29 July

Charter Day visit to Greenwich, Royal Naval College and the Queen’s House

Thursday 10 August

Visit to the Royal Academy Summer Show and the Reform Club

Thursday 7 September

Court Meeting and Luncheon, Saddlers’ Hall

Tuesday 12 September

Craft visit to Royal School of Military Engineering, Chatham

Wednesday 27 September

Tylers and Bricklayers’ Golf Day Burnham Beeches Golf Club

Friday 29 September

Common Hall Election of the Lord Mayor Optional lunch venue tbc

Thursday 5 October

Court Meeting. Installation and Service at St Margaret Lothbury.

Luncheon, Carpenters’ Hall

2023 Monday 16 January Zoom Craft Event at A Rowlands Roofing Thursday 26 January

Common Hall Zoom Meeting

Thursday 2 February

Court and Livery Dinner, Cutlers’ Hall

Tuesday 21 February

Livery Pancake Race

Thursday 9 March

Court Meeting, Craft Awards Luncheon, Trinity House

Friday 24 March

United Guilds Service, St Paul’s Cathedral Optional lunch venue tbc

Thursday 30 March

Lord Mayor’s Big Curry Lunch

Good Friday 7 April Easter Monday 10 April

Easter

Tuesday 18 April

Visit to Sir John Soane’s Museum and the new Hunterian Museum, Royal College of Surgeons

This list gives the basic details of functions currently planned for the coming year – please note the dates. Full information on these and any further events will be sent by the Clerk in good time to allow for bookings to be made.

Master Tyler and Bricklayer: Professor John Schofield E: master@tylersandbricklayers.co.uk Upper Warden: Christopher Causer E: upperwarden@tylersandbricklayers.co.uk Renter Warden: Jennifer Rolls E: renterwarden@tylersandbricklayers.co.uk Deputy Master (Immediate Past Master): Simon Martin E: srmartin17@outlook.com Deputy Master: Dr Michel Saminaden E: msaminaden@hotmail.com Clerk: Heather Smith E: clerk@tylersandbricklayers.co.uk

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The Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers The Clerk 25 Glenferrie Road St Albans AL1 4JT T: 07749 163430 E: clerk@tylersandbricklayers.co.uk www.tylersandbricklayers.co.uk The Review is published annually by the Upper Warden on behalf of the Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers Editor: David Williams E: Davidwilliams31266@gmail.com Photographers: Marcus Jamieson-Pond www.jampondphotography.com Andy Sillett www.sillettphotography.co.uk Design and Print: T: 01522 529591 E: sales@ruddocks.co.uk www.ruddocks.co.uk