The Distillate - Autumn 2009
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The Distillate
An Annual Review of the Master’s Year
The Worshipful Company of Distillers
Autumn 2009
As is now customary, members of Livery together with the Master’s family and friends were admitted to the Court room on 19th November 2008 to witness the Installation of our new Master and his Wardens. A capacity turn out at Vintners Hall welcomed the incoming Master, Wellwood Charles Maxwell, to his year of office. Charles, quite remarkably and historically, is the 8thgeneration of his family to be involved in the distilling industry. Not surprisingly, then, it was a particularly spirited evening with Juniper Green organic gin and tonic being offered alongside whisky at the reception, the toast to “The Master” being in pink gin, the loyal toast in 14 year old Clynelish malt, and for the first time the Loving Cup contained sloe gin – a rare and special change from the normal questionable content. The Master had selected the tastiest of menus accompanied by an excellent Pouilly Fumé, a delicious Tourelles de Longueville 2000, and Fonseca 1995. The toast to the guests was proposed most ably and amusingly by our first lady Steward, Susannah Grant, who it was rumoured was sorely tempted to create a limerick for the occasion when she learnt that the Master’s principal guest was a Bishop, and the Renter Warden’s guest an actress.
The new team, installed on 19th November 2008: from left Terry Barr (Renter Warden); David Sills (Middle Warden); Charles Maxwell (Master) and Simon Leschallas (Upper Warden) 25th June. This is our tri-annual visit to bring one of our events closer to our Scottish members. The Surgeons Hall is housed in a magnificent building and the evening promises to be a special one. The following day there is some golf planned, and an alternative attraction of a proposed visit to inspect HMS Montrose’s bottom! She will be in dry dock at Rosyth undergoing a refit. Then in the evening there will be a chance to visit the Scotch Whisky Heritage centre and, having experienced the new tour, have supper at the centre. The following day we are planning a charity walk probably through part of historic Edinburgh, raising funds for our Distiller’s Charity.
we received our Royal Charter some 370 years ago, and his ancestor George Bishop was apprenticed to a Distiller of the company some 43 years later. Since then there has been an unbroken line of involvement by the Bishop Family [that is the Master’s Mother’s As the response was made by the Master’s family] in distilling in London. very good friend, David Urquhart, the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of Birmingham, it He went on to say: was possibly just as well that she did not succumb to the temptation, and during his “I therefore take on the honour of being Masinteresting and amusing speech we were to ter of our venerable livery company very learn that he and our Master were room aware of the weight of history, but also with mates in their younger days. Sadly his discre- the real wish to assist in making our livery tion also prevailed, and there were no dra- more relevant to our trade today, while at the matic revelations about men behaving badly! same time being keen to maintain our broad base which makes our fellowship so special. Accompanied by his wife Anne, close family To help expedite this we will be putting toand friends, the Master then paid fitting trib- gether a revised management structure to ute to the outgoing Master Derek Plant, and cover the various fields in which we wish to to universal acclaim thanked him for a most advance. This structure will call for more inexcellent year. He also thanked the Livery for volvement by members of the court and livtheir splendid turn out at the dinner and ery, so you have been warned you may well looked forward to the exciting events he had get a call asking for your assistance in one or planned during the course of his year. another field.
The Lord Mayor is planning to celebrate London Bridge’s 800th Anniversary, with a fair to be held on the bridge on 11th July. Livery companies have been encouraged to participate by taking a stand and demonstrate their craft and its development over the years. We The new Master described his feelings upon In June we shall be having a livery dinner in hope to take part and will be looking for volbeing installed by reminding the Livery that Edinburgh at the Surgeons Hall on Thursday unteers to assist.”
Mistress’s Badge-passing lunch
Shortly before the Master’s Installation, a company sat to an elegant and welcoming more recent tradition was observed, that of table in the Selkirk Room passing the Mistress’s badge from the outgoThe absence of the Renter Warden from the ing Master’s consort to the new Mistress. picture above should not be construed as a To effect this rite of passage, as has become disciplinary matter, nor marked down to late customary in recent years, Derek Plant enter- arrival. He was the only one with a camera, or tained the Immediate Past Master and the as they are nowadays known, a telephone. Wardens, all with their ladies, at a relaxed lunch in the Caledonian Club on 7th Novem- There was a degree of panic amongst the ber. The ceremony of passing the Mistress’s diners when they saw the gaping omission on Badge usually takes place a few days before the left side of the menu reproduced above. the Installation of the new Master. . . . but their anxiety was allayed by the outAfter a refreshing glass of champagne, the going Master’s kind provision of some first-
rate mercy rations to fill the blank space and accompany the excellent smoked salmon, some very meaty and toothsome grouse, and a perfectly-timed soufflé. Suffice to say, the mood was jolly when Mistress Tina Plant called for order and started the speech she told us she had got off pat earlier that morning. Pat was not there however, so the full text was abandoned at an early stage in favour of an impromptu address and the ceremonial passing. Anne Maxwell, the Mistress-elect, donned the Badge and the way was clear for the Installation of Charles as Master a few days later.
magnificent Grocers’ Hall, which had been the most sought-after speakers in Scotland beautifully restored on its 1427 original site keeping us all amused with his illuminating, Before going to St Lawrence Jewry for this after a tragic fire in 1970. and razor sharp humour. year’s Carol Service, the majority of the congregation had been in Brewers Hall to listen It was attended by 153 liverymen and guests. In thanking Professor Purdie the Master exto a most interesting lecture given by Captain The evening was memorable as no fewer pressed the hope that more events in ScotAndy Hogben on the latest deployment in the than eight Masters attended (one of them land would become the norm and would furGulf of HMS Montrose. We learned a great being a Grand Master) - Grocers, Brewers, ther enhance the goodwill which clearly exdeal about the involvement of the ship in Apothecaries, Coopers, Clothworkers, Glass ists whenever Liverymen meet, be it in Lonsome of the world’s most hostile sea-lanes, Sellers, Merchant Taylors, and Keepers of don, Edinburgh or elsewhere. and were hugely impressed by the achieve- the Quaich - a record for the Company. ments of the Captain and his crew. Grape and Grain Dinner Other guests included the High Sheriff of Whether it was the inspiration of the lecture, Suffolk and four travelling Canadians experi- The Distillers made up a party of 20 amongst or the pre-service glass of champagne, the encing the UK spirit industry at its best. Past the 350 who attended this dinner, which singing of the well known traditional carols Master Christopher Hayman welcomed all raised over £50,000 in aid of The Lord was more hearty than ever. The Catherine the guests with a magnificent history of the Mayor’s Appeal. The Master was fortunate Ennis choir were in the best of form, keeping Company and its relations with the other to be on the same table as Bill Tidy, and was us all in tune, and the Master and Wardens’ Companies present. The Master Grocer, even more fortunate to take away this perreadings reminded us of the nativity story. Robert Hollingworth Ringrose, responded sonally monogrammed back-of-an-envelope with a welcome and declared that the ancient which Bill kindly addressed to him. We were indebted to The Revd Stephen problems between our respective Companies Heard, Parliamentary Chaplain to the Bishop were well and truly in the past. of London, for the sympathetic way he conducted the service. June Dinner at Surgeons’ Hall Some sixty Liverymen then adjourned to Innholders Hall, where we were made most welcome, and following aperitifs, enjoyed an informal supper, where a choice of fish pie or lasagne was followed by a delicious apple pie or chocolate mousse, mince pies, coffee and chocolates.
Christmas Carol Service 2008
in Edinburgh
The Master presided over the tri-ennial Court and Livery Scottish Dinner which was held on Thursday 25th June in the splendid surrounds of the Surgeons’ Hall Edinburgh.
Over a hundred Liverymen and guests sat down to dinner before being royally enterApril Dinner at Grocers’ Hall tained by the speeches. Kenny Mackay proposed the toast to “The Guests” in his inimiThis splendid affair took place by courtesy of tably relaxed style. In his response Professor the Master of the Grocers’ Company at the David Purdie demonstrated why he is one of
February Lunch—the Learned Clerk retires
The usual February Livery lunch was unusual this year as it marked the retirement of the Learned Clerk of 20 years, Christopher Hughes. It is Clerks who provide their Companies with wisdom, knowledge and continuity, and Christopher has excelled in all these areas, guiding in turn a succession of Masters, all of whom are inevitably different, but who have all appreciated his tactful, good-natured prompting, even if they didn’t always see eye to eye! He has been our centre of knowledge on all matters relating to our charter, our modus operandi, our Liverymen and matters relating to City and Corporation of London affairs. And much more besides, not least his incomparable ability to produce table plans which left everybody happy! Clerks are, practically, forever, whereas Masters come and go on an annual basis, but our Masters have always acknowledged how helpful and receptive Christopher has been to new ideas. He can certainly take much credit for steering the Company through many changes during his time, as we have moved from being little more than a fine lunching and Clerical reflections with us, but as is customdining club, to the more active and inclusive ary after people retire, he has been busier than ever with his day-job as a Solicitor, so Company we are striving to become today. we shall hope to see his reflections in a later As the continuing face of the Distillers in the edition when he has had time to reflect. Livery world Christopher has long since been much respected amongst his fellow Clerks, The February lunch also saw another recent and in 2005-6 he had the honour of being custom continued when twenty ladies of elected President of the Fellowship of Clerks Liverymen met for the third Ladies' Luncheon, where his wisdom and counsel were much presided over with great aplomb by the Masappreciated. ter's Lady, Anne Maxwell. We were all very pleased to see and welcome Anne Burrough, widow of Past Master Norman Burrough, who has attended all the Ladies' Luncheons. Before the lunch the ladies visited St. James Garlickhythe Church for an interesting and informative talk by Steve Marsham: many thanks to him for his input in making this such a successful visit. On returning to the Vintners' Hall the ladies enjoyed a glass of champagne in the lovely Swan Room before sitting down to an excellent lunch with wine and conversation flowing; and finishing with the Master's Sloe Gin. After lunch, the Ladies joined the Livery and their guests in the Hall to witness the presentations to the Learned Clerk, Mr. Christopher Hughes, and his ammnuensis Mrs. Pat Vallas on the occasion of their retirements. The Master then invited the Ladies to join him and the Livery upstairs in the Drawing Room to take a Stirrup Cup, and make a fitting end to Christopher was also invited to share his a lovely day. The Court is delighted that Christopher has accepted to be our Clerk Emeritus, and we will look forward to his continuing presence at our events. He was of course present at this Livery lunch for the first time as a plain Liveryman, and was presented with a beautifully illustrated scroll to mark his retirement.
Pat Vallas also retires
Nothing is ever more welcoming than a friendly smile, and none have been given more spontaneously to members of the Court and Livery, than by our much loved Pat Vallas, who is taking her retirement alongside that of our Learned Clerk. Pat will be much missed by us all, not just at our many functions, where her breadth of organisational abilities ensures the seamless passing of a meeting or dinner, but also in her role behind the scenes, where she fields countless questions from the Livery on a myriad of subjects, always with efficient courtesy and good humour. Pat had not been working for Christopher for very long, when he said he had been asked by Bruce Dehn if he would like to be the Clerk of the Distillers Company. It was explained to her that her views were important, as if he, Christopher, agreed to take over the Clerkship a lot of the work would fall on her shoulders. Pat tells her own story: “Although Bruce gave Christopher guidance, it was a case of the blind leading the blind where I was concerned. My main memory of the first luncheon that I attended was the feeling of panic, particularly, as when checking the table plan I told the manager of the caterers at the time, that there were too many places on one table, and then, when he had re-arranged the table, I realised I had read the plan in reverse so had to ask him to put it all back. Was I embarrassed! From the very start all “my boys” were kind and helpful, and although we didn’t get everything right all of the time, we soon got into the routine of a “Livery Year”. It has been a very pleasant 20 years and I have appreciated the fact that I have been to places where I would not have had the chance to go in the normal course of work, and have helped with and gone to events which have all been most enjoyable. I will very much miss “my boys”, particularly my “bad boys” (and they know who they are!), but as I have always been “well behaved” I am looking forward to my new career of “acting badly”, like the lady in the poem, “When I am Old” (so look out for the “lady dressed in purple, sitting on the pavement and drinking whisky, port and wine” as I have been trained to do whilst working for The Worshipful Company of Distillers!” Pat will be very much missed by her “boys”, good and bad, who have appreciated so much her efforts during the years, and who all hope that she will enjoy her retirement in the Weald of Kent, and return to see us at our functions from time to time.
Kim Lyons joins the clerical team
Kim has worked in various guises for partners at Lee Bolton Monier-Williams for nearly 30 years, and with our new Learned Clerk, Ed Macey-Dare, for the past 16 years. Her main areas of work have been with the company/commercial side of the law firm. Kim is married and lives at Orpington, and whilst claiming she has no time for hobbies as she runs a taxi service for her two teenage children, she manages to find time to be Secretary and Administrator to the Claire Milne Trust, and a Trustee of CEDA, a day care centre for the disabled in Exeter. Recent attendees at the Banquet and Carol service will already have met Kim, who we welcome, and wish a long and happy association with the Distillers Company.
Liverymen in the public eye during the Year
Allan Westray – High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire
Liveryman Allan Westray has been appointed High Sheriff for Buckinghamshire for 2009/10. This is an important ceremonial office representing the Sovereign in the County. The office dates back to pre-Conquest times, with the major historical role having been to collect taxes on the Sovereign’s (as well as his own) behalf. This is mercifully no longer required, and neither is it expected of him to die leading troops against the Conqueror at Hastings, the fate which befell Godric, the first High Sheriff of Bucks. Allan has spent most of his career in the wine trade working in and around Buckinghamshire. He is on the Council of The Wine & Spirit Trades’ Benevolent Society. He is looking forward enormously to having the opportunity to learn more about the county and to getting an insight into many Buckinghamshire authorities and organisations. He also looks forward to meeting, and being able to thank personally, many of the people who work, often as unpaid and unacknowledged volunteers, for the good of the county quietly doing wonderful work.
Tony Mair – Master Brewer
Liveryman Tony Mair is to be congratulated on his election to be Master of the Brewers’ Company this year. He is a drinks industry veteran of more years than he cares to admit, much of which was with GrandMet and Diageo, working in senior management roles in the Untied Kingdom, America and Europe. He is a past Chairman of the Wine and Spirits Trade Benevolent Society, and a past Chairman of the Gin and Vodka Association.
Tom Hudson – endurance swimmer extraordinaire
trunks, no touching the boat; swimming in wetsuits does not count. This is a notoriously windy part of the world so some luck with the weather is needed, and Thursday 9th July provided the day with not too much wind and very hot. There are complex currents and tides at the mouth of the Med and using the strong Easterly flow into the Med from the Atlantic can assist in sweeping you in towards the Moroccan coast. That worked and the boat chart shows that this time the swim took an almost straight line to the tip of 'Punta Cires', Morocco's equivalent of Cap Gris Nez. Tom takes up the story a couple of hours into the swim: hours without progress, the tide began to slacken, and the last push for land took only 40 minutes. At 2.35am English time after 17 hours and 35 minutes of swimming, he finally felt made French landfall. The charts showed His Channel swim had taken 18 months of he had swum at least 35 miles. The shortest hard preparation and over 1,500 kilometres route is 21.5 miles but you do not get there in swum in training. On Friday 15th August, a straight line!. 2008, with a clear blue sky and a flat sea, the marina at Dover was busy with a back log of Tom is the 973rd person to swim the Channel swimmers waiting for these good conditions since Matthew Webb first succeeded in 1875. and Tom was one of 11 solo swimmers atAppetite whetted for his next challenge, he tempting the crossing that day. was at it again in July 2009. He joined an The swim began at 9am and the first 5 hours Australian colleague, Simon Murie (whose were plain sailing but by half way the sea had idea it was) for a joint swim over the Straits of become choppy. Then on reaching the Gibraltar to Africa. French shipping lane two thirds of the way over he hit gale force 4 winds and very rough The swim is from Tarifa (not Gibraltar) to Moseas. rocco, and is 10 miles (or 16km) across. The Strait of Gibraltar Swimming Association orAfter 10½ hours with 3 miles to go, hopes of ganises the swims and provided both a pilot a 12-13 hours crossing seemed within reach. boat to lead and a smaller support boat to But as night fell, an increasingly strong east- manage the feeds etc. erly tide carried him down the coast towards Calais, the lights along the seafront clearly Normal Channel Swimming rules or simivisible in the darkness. Eventually, after some lar apply - i.e. just a swim hat and normal In the summer of 2008, Liveryman Tom Hudson swam the Channel, an unusual feat in itself. As if that were not enough, in July 2009, he then swam from Europe to Africa.
“Alerted by some frantic waving from our support boat, we looked to our right and through the clear water saw that we were being approached by a group of whales. Initially I felt a little uneasy but as the whales came parallel to us they looked so docile and graceful all fear was banished and we just enjoyed the moment - and they did come very close as can be seen. They were Pilot whales - like big dolphins - 5 of them including a mother and baby. They were obviously checking us out because they looped around and came back for a second time even closer so that I felt, had I dared, that I could have reached out and touched the nearest one. After a few minutes they dived and swam directly below us. Seeing these great creatures move so naturally and effortlessly through the water was amazing. It was a wonderful moment and the highlight of the swim.” Stoked up by the experience the rest of the swim passed in no time. Morocco looked close, so we upped our pace and before we knew it we were there standing on Moroccan soil and a little bit stunned that we'd got across in 3 hours and 34 minutes – a record for an Anglo-Australian pairing, and the 225th and 226th swimmers to complete the crossing.”
Tom remains open to suggestions for his next challenge. The pink hat has to go though!
Wardens
SIMON LESCHALLAS:
Upper Warden Simon was born in 1955 and educated at Eton. Following a gap year were he visited New Zealand, Australia and USA, he skipped University and joined Blue Circle Cement Group as a management trainee salesman. After four years at Blue Circle, where he looked after Cheshire and latterly the East End of London, helping to build the north side of the Thames Barrier, he saw the light and entered the Drinks Industry. Simon joined Mentzendorff in December 1978 and remained there for over thirty years looking after Bollinger until this year, when he was appointed the Bollinger Ambassador in the UK. He became a liveryman 1982 and was elected to be installed Master in November.
DAVID SILLS:
Middle Warden After graduating in Law from University College, London in 1965, taking Solicitors’ finals and completing two year’s articles with Monier-Williams & Keeling in Vintners’ Place, David went on to the Great Adventure for two years as an instructor with the Royal Saudi Air Force in Dhahran. In 1970 he returned to Vintners’ Place as a partner. Since then he has for over 35 years dealt with the legal problems of the wine trade – particularly in relation to protection of appellations d’origine for both wines and spirits, dealing not just the well-known Champagne and Sherry cases, but protecting the names of spirits including Cognac, Calvados and Brandy de Jerez. A lawyer for the drinks trade.
TERRY BARR:
Renter Warden I am proudly a Suffolk boy born and bred. Prep school was Salter’s Hall in Sudbury then Colchester Royal Grammar School. Dispensed with University as deemed irrelevant. Spent most of my time playing many sports and eventually, at the age of 27, managed to join an industry which seemed to encourage that sort of thing. Joined Seagram’s just when they really started getting into Champagne and looked after Perrier Jouet and then G H Mumm. Never really looked back after that going on to work directly or indirectly for Lanson, Charles Heidsieck, Henriot and a number of own label and non proprietary brands. In 2000 joined Morrison Bowmore Distillers and spent 7 happy years learning about and selling Scotch Whisky. Currently running my own small wine business with needless to say a small Champagne agency.
The Father of the Court—Geoffrey Churton
Born into the Spirits and Wine trade at Heswall, Cheshire in 1913 Geoffrey was educated at Horton School in Bedfordshire and at Repton. He proved to be an able cricketer, footballer and a Champion at Fives. After leaving Repton he joined Sheard Vickers and Winder chartered accountants in Liverpool and two years later joined his family firm Churtons Limited, Wine and Spirit Shippers, who in those days acted as agents for a number of Scotch Whisky Distilleries including Dalmore, Ardbeg and Glenfarclas as well as for Da Silva Port, Calvet Burgundies and Clarets, Guisler Champagne, Bushmills Whisky, Pemartin Sherries and many other well known producers. He had from an early age been interested in field sports particularly Beagling and he was whipper-in and later Master of the Royal Rock Beagles up until the outbreak of War in 1939. After the war he hunted regularly and was Secretary to the Cheshire Hounds for 19 years. He was a good shot, cast a fair line and was a very good stalker, shooting his last stag well after his eightieth year! Geoffrey had joined the Cheshire Yeomanry in 1936 and was mobilised in 1939. Shortly afterwards the Yeomanry, with their horses, left for Palestine via a Cross Channel Ferry, French Railways and then by ship from Marseilles to Haifa. They then carried out mounted patrols throughout Palestine. He then attended an Air Liaison Officers Course and was posted to the Western Desert Force, thence in January 1941 he was sent to Greece for the withdrawal in June upon which he returned to Egypt and subsequently back to the Yeomanry.
Geoffrey Churton (r) with Keith Garrard
In early 1942 the Yeomanry was told that the horses were to go and they were to become a signals regiment. You cannot ride signals so he looked for a new home and joined the 11th Hussars with whom he fought across North Africa, winning a Military Cross and an MBE. Action in Italy, and then with the 7th Armoured Division from D Day until they entered Berlin in 1945. He subsequently rejoined the Cheshire Yeomanry, which he commanded in 1957 and finally retired in early 1965. joined a very run-down, short-of-stock, family business, which had to be brought back to life. He was also very involved in a number of other businesses across the North West including brewing, banking, book cloth, textiles and horse-racing. He became a JP, was High Sheriff of Cheshire in 1964 and also a Deputy Lieutenant for Cheshire. At the same time he indulged in his other great passion gardening and has created three separate gardens to date with many of the plants and shrubs being grown from seeds and cuttings which he Returning from the war in early 1946 he re- has collected from around the world!
Livery visits The Livery Visit to Beefeater 24th March '09
"Gin by Pailfuls..." (Sir Walter Scott) 350 Carthusian schoolboys could have crammed into the Chapel twice each day. Again seated in the Great Hall, we enjoyed the singing of Henry VIII ‘Pastime with Good Company’.
The Master walks: Charity Walk raises over £3,000
Twenty brave souls, led by the Master and the Mistress, ventured out on a bright showery morning to explore the hills of Edinburgh. with experienced guides fore and aft. We saw the site of Flodden Gate, through which the survivors of that tragic battle returned, leaving the king and the nobility of Scotland dead on the field (“the Flowers of the Forest”). We saw how £40 million of our money was transformed into £400 million by the use of novel architectural design in the Parliament building.
On the long and steep climb up we looked down on the Canongate Kirk, the Chapel Royal of Edinburgh, whose graveyard houses the remains of both Adam Smith and an ancestor of one of our Past Masters (can’t get away from Distillers). At the summit the rain Ist of England). HM The Queen is the Goverstopped momentarily and we had a splendid This was by way of an entrée before the main nor today. view of a real Edinburgh haar for our pains! event, which was a brilliant account of the history of London gin by the Master, Charles Among the famous alumni are numbered Maxwell. London gin, he explained, is the John Wesley, Robert Baden Powell and The haar turned more or less liquid as we true English drink and we should not forget it! Ralph Vaughan Williams. In sport, apparently walked. While some of the walkers were The P.R. setbacks of the 1740's and the pro- Charterhouse wrote the rules of Association better prepared than others, it was with genhibition era should be set aside, and so keen Football and went on to win the cup final. eral relief that we entered the Guildford Arms. was your correspondent to set them aside But no Green Chartreuse: for that we must that he missed the investigations of the find a different Carthusian monastery in the We didn’t climb the 287 steps in the Scott monument in Princes’ Street gardens. But 'Botanicals' preferring to do more hands-on Alps. we did admire the erotic art of the Ross founresearch into the subtleties of the 24-Martini tain which so incensed the Victorians when it and the Martinez. was brought over from the Great Exhibition in United Guilds Service Paris It was a great evening and a warm thank you to the Master for his initiative which received In February 1943 it was decided by Masters a huge response from the Livery, and to fel- of the Great Twelve Companies that a service And so, from the bottom of the ancient loch low Liverymen Desmond Payne and Nick for the Livery Companies would be held in St we toiled to the heights of Greyfriars Bobby, Bracknell and to their colleagues at Beefeater Paul’s Cathedral to help lift spirits in the City the Skye terrier, commemorated for visiting for their generous and much appreciated hos- following the Blitz. Ever since, the service has his master’s grave daily for fourteen years (will anyone remember us?). From the Grasspitality. been a major event in the calendars of all market, where we listened to the tale of the Livery Companies woman who was hanged twice, we wound up In Search of Green Chartreuse – the steep hill, wet, weary, but more knowlLivery visit Charterhouse edgeable and satisfied that we had done something for our charity fund. On a grey and lowering June evening we were greeted by James Thomson, Master of The Master also shoots Charterhouse, who guided us through nearly 700 years of history. The site was firstly a burial ground for the Great Plague, then from 1371, a Carthusian monastery until Henry VIII . . . with conspicuous success. He led the bloodily sequestered the buildings. Next it Company’s Shooters on a “reasonably sucwas home to the Dukes of Norfolk and then to cessful” (sic) day at the Inter-Livery Clay Pithe great benefactor Thomas Sutton. geon Shoot, when Distillers A Team, won the prize for the highest placed "Court Team", His legacy of 1611 still provides the 200th with a score of 250 out of 320. This means largest charity in the country. Charterhouse The Masters Distiller and Brewer with their we won the Horner's Trophy and a cheque for School evolved and prospered for over 250 Ladies after the United Guild Service. £250 to a charity of the Master’s choosing. years in Smithfield before moving to Surrey. In 1933 the buildings became part of Bart’s Our Master had the honour of processing this Hospital and are now in the care of the Uni- year, and, unlike others who seemed somewhat burdened by the occasion, did so with a versity of London. smile on his face. As usual every Livery ComWe started the musical evening with a Gre- pany was allocated their pew, and the upliftgorian chant sung by the Thomas Sutton ing service was followed by a most agreeable Singers in the Norfolk Cloister, roofed by the lunch when we were delighted to be guests of 4th Duke of Norfolk prior to his execution for the Brewers Company where their Master, treason! Then outdoors in the Chapel Court, Christopher Brain and his wife Dianne, made we heard Nunc Dimittis in a restored garden, us feel most welcome in their charming hall. fire-bombed in November 1941. In the Chapel Cloister we listened to the 23rd Psalm, In truth we were not well represented this year either in St Paul’s or afterwards at lunch, thence into the chapel. and it is to be hoped that next years date of The handsome trophy. th A welcoming pew allowed us to rest and listen Friday 19 March 2010 will find its way early The charitable donation will go to the Phyllis to Robin Wells on the organ and wonder how into more diaries. Tuckwell Hospice.
It might have been prudent, as the chap recommended, "to lay down a good substratum Upstairs and outdoors onto the Queens Wall of Madeira" before experiencing the full force the choir competed with a cockney blackbird and repertoire of the Beefeater distillery. to sing an extract from The Four Seasons Madrigal. Seated around the Great Chamber, We were ushered into the very attractive, Shakespeare’s Hamlet came to life as sung to atmospheric but practical entertainment/ us. Finally, Linden Lea completed our entertasting room where different styles of Beef- tainment in the Old Library. eater were being dispensed by experts, clearly uninhibited by the recent attacks on Great names and events surprised us as we alcohol consumption. These superb examples enjoyed the evening. Queen Elizabeth I of the distiller's art were accompanied by spent the first days of her reign at Chartereats, acting as the delicious substratum. house, as did King James VI of Scotland (and
...and so to Golf
The morning after the June dinner in Edinburgh, sixteen Liverymen and guests, descended on the links at Luffness sharp at 10 a.m. on a bright and breezy Friday morning The first game was called to the tee, and Tim Morrison teed-off down the middle, followed by his team mates who chose other directions. Three further teams of four followed. The condition of the course was excellent demanding skills in links style play, pitch and runs and lightning fast greens testing putting skills. Straying into the rough inevitably meant a lost ball! The winner was Doug Ross with 37 points who, with the winning team shown in our picture, appreciated the splendid prizes of Bruadar Gift Packs and bottles of Ginger Tam Liqueur generously donated by The Scottish Liqueur Centre.
Prince Arthur Cup 2009
Distillers’ Golf day 2009
Since we moved to the splendid West Kent Golf Club in 2007, some twenty-five members have taken part in our annual golf days, unfortunately not all at the same time as business and personal matters have had to take priority. Fifteen players made up this year’s field, and, following most excellent bacon butties and coffee, took to the sun-drenched fairways (rough and trees!) in the best of spirits.
The winning team at Luffness: Malcolm Kimmings, James Wolfe Murray, James Espey, and Mike Keiller
Distillers v Brewers
In August drizzle at Denham Golf Club, 12 Distillers and 12 Brewers lined up to do battle. For the first time it was agreed that fourball, better ball would be the order of play. Our first pairing Gregory and Parry lost, but order was restored by Strachan and Carson claiming the points. Unfortunately Spiegelberg and Leschallas lost as did Nadin and Garrard. Things were not looking good at three one down with two matches on the course. Your captain, Leschallas should not have worried as Barr and Porter, and Varney and Franklin both won to earn an honourable draw.
A word of encouragement for those on our golfers’ mailing list who fear that the standard The Company’s Prince Arthur Cup team: is such that they may be embarrassed were they to attend. Nothing could be further from The Annual Inter Livery Golf Competition was the truth: while we expect players to have a held as usual at Walton Heath Golf Club on club handicap its level is in no way important. 21st May with 54 Livery Companies represented. Our four-man team consisted of Mi- This year the handicap range was 14 to 25 chael Campbell with Ian Harris and Sir and the Stableford score range was 20 to 38, George Bull with Graham Franklin, the format Nobody need feel embarrassed as lower being foursomes against bogey (see foot- scores are not published. note). This year’s winner of The Budge Brook’s Our team recorded a total score of minus 15 Shield with 38 points was Paul Hobson off a which put us in a highly respectable 17th place handicap of 24. He is to be congratulated on and will at least ensure that we will be invited a fine effort and dismissed suggestions that back again in 2010. The winning score of the he was in any way advantaged by the fact Cutlers was plus 2 and with the worst score that both his Mother, Valerie, and Father, of the day minus 55. Robert, had been captains of West Kent in their time. The team had a disappointing morning round on the Old Course the exception being Gra- Paul Varney and Clive Parry with 35 points ham’s tee-shot on the par 3 which almost took second place holed out. But a stern team talk at lunchtime and George’s insistence on drinking only to- The team prize, with all scores counting, was mato juice revived our afternoon perform- won convincingly by the team of defending ance, with both our pairs returning an “all champion, Sir George Bull, Paul Hobson and square” result on the New Course. The high- Paul Varney. light of the afternoon was George’s tee shot on the 280-yard penultimate hole of the day which reached the edge of the green and secured a magnificent birdie. At minus 15 we That’s my held our own well with our playing group – the boy! Painter Stainers (total also minus 15) and Founders (minus 12). Footnote re Bogey Scoring for the Prince Arthur Cup: The ”playing” format is foursomes. A team recording an under-par score after handicap allowance on any hole receives one “plus” point; or a “minus” point if the hole is played over par.
Distillers v Vintners
For the second successive year led by Terry Barr, our ten man team carefully paired (pared?) into foursomes, we secured a comfortable four point win over our good friends the Vintners at Royal Wimbledon G.C. All the matches were sternly contested in blustery conditions but the team was clearly inspired by our Master joining them for nourishing bacon butties and coffee before tee-off. We welcomed Geoffrey Bush and Christopher Carson, new to the team and adding both quality and experience.
Livery Ties
Members are reminded that our very elegant, and much admired City and Country Ties are available from the Clerk’s office. The price remains £20 per tie but £30 secures the pair, with all proceeds going into the charity fund. Contact: Kim Lyons Klyons@lbmw.com Past Master Hobson bathes in reflected glory DID YOU KNOW:
• that the Distillers have three Masters of
Wine on their Court: Michael Broadbent, Vincent Larvan, and Charles Minoprio • that our Master Charles Maxwell has a passion for vintage cars • that he is also to be seen from time to time on the Cresta run
Court Trip to Ireland
Ode to Ireland
(to the tune of ‘Galway Bay’ – with apologies!)
When the Livery went across the sea to Ireland Although it was for only a short stay, We arrived in Cork in brilliant sunny weather ‘spite three days earlier rain o’er Galway Bay. The Maryborough Hotel looked inviting, Though the prices in the Spa were quite a shock, So we chose a therapy much more exciting – Sat down to drink our Guinness and to talk. And then we went into our ‘Welcome Dinner’ – Tho’ poor Ian Coombes alternate fare did take: Once he’d checked out what the local Health Board offered, Fast recovered, and came back his thirst to slake! On Thursday we set off by coach to Midleton For the ‘Jameson Experience’ they would show, And although the tour and tasting were delightful They still speak language strangers do not know: While we tasted their top Premium Reserve Whiskey, Trying hard to find the “naughtiness” therein – * Sure we might as well go chasing after moonbeams, Or for that matter drink some old Cork gin! Though we strangers came and talked to them of our way Of making Whisky as we’ve done of yore, We realized that they were not to be converted And we’d be in competition ever more. Our dinner at Ballymaloe it was wondrous, In a setting of which one could only dream. John Clement Ryan full-flowing with his folksongs – Interrupting him would surely have been mean?! And if there’s going to be a trip hereafter And somehow I’m sure there’s going to be, I would ask that it might be to some fair country Same as that dear land beyond the Irish Sea.
express it. In September, the Master arranged a short trip across the Irish Sea for a Court visit to Then a Tasting or nosing followed before Irish Distillers Ltd at Midleton (yes, only one lunch though some unauthorised sipping was d) in Cork. observed. A highly instructive tour of the Old Distillery in the morning established (especially to the Scots amongst the attentive audience) that it was the Irish who first discovered the Water of Life, in whatever language you choose to
In the evening at Ballymaloe, we were royally So ‘Thank-you’ to the Master and his Mistress entertained, not least by IDL’s very own an- (In fact to the whole Maxwell family) – For making our stay in that fine green country swer to Elvis, John Clement Ryan. Perhaps it So happily full of ‘craic’ and jollity. is best expressed by the aspiring Court Laureate, Pauleen Morton: Says it all, really. Ed Macey-Dare Ed is our new Learned Clerk. Despite his name, he is not to be confused with the Editor of this august organ.
HMS Montrose
Following our Livery’s recent visit to HMS MONTROSE in refit in Rosyth, things have moved on significantly for our affiliated warship. She returned to sea on 9th September to be put through her paces during a very busy period of training and sea trials in preparation for her rejoining the Fleet at the end of October. After a lengthy period north-of-theborder, MONTROSE has made steady progress back south during her trials and is very much looking forward to a welcome return to her base port in Devonport in mid-October. In November MONTROSE will undertake a brief maintenance period in Devonport before completing further sea trials prior to Christmas in readiness for an intense 8-week sea training package in the New Year as she works up in preparation for her East-of-Suez Deployment in spring next year. Unfortunately, due to ill health, Commander Jim Lowther is no longer in command of MONTROSE; he was relieved in August by Commander Will Warrender who has assumed temporary command until December when Commander Jonathon Lett will assume permanent command. Commander Jim has now taken up a posting in DCDC Shrivenham.
Editor’s note
This is the first edition of The Distillate to appear in its present form as a review of the Master’s year. Numerous forces have caused this evolution, but most significant amongst them is the appearance of the new electronic Distillate – the e-Distillate. This will appear in more frequent editions in your email inboxes, giving a short but more frequent update on current news and forthcoming events and activities of the Company. Event and News items for e-Distillate to iharris@wset.co.uk Please submit articles for The Distillate (this publication) to dsills@lbmw.com Printed and Published by the Worshipful Company of Distillers. © 2009. All enquiries to The Clerk, 1 The Sanctuary, Westminster, London SW1P 3JT
Some gallant Liverymen on board HMS Montrose, helping to guide her home from her tour in the Gulf. Note: those are not the steering wheels.
The Distillate
An Annual Review of the Master’s Year
The Worshipful Company of Distillers
Autumn 2009
As is now customary, members of Livery together with the Master’s family and friends were admitted to the Court room on 19th November 2008 to witness the Installation of our new Master and his Wardens. A capacity turn out at Vintners Hall welcomed the incoming Master, Wellwood Charles Maxwell, to his year of office. Charles, quite remarkably and historically, is the 8thgeneration of his family to be involved in the distilling industry. Not surprisingly, then, it was a particularly spirited evening with Juniper Green organic gin and tonic being offered alongside whisky at the reception, the toast to “The Master” being in pink gin, the loyal toast in 14 year old Clynelish malt, and for the first time the Loving Cup contained sloe gin – a rare and special change from the normal questionable content. The Master had selected the tastiest of menus accompanied by an excellent Pouilly Fumé, a delicious Tourelles de Longueville 2000, and Fonseca 1995. The toast to the guests was proposed most ably and amusingly by our first lady Steward, Susannah Grant, who it was rumoured was sorely tempted to create a limerick for the occasion when she learnt that the Master’s principal guest was a Bishop, and the Renter Warden’s guest an actress.
The new team, installed on 19th November 2008: from left Terry Barr (Renter Warden); David Sills (Middle Warden); Charles Maxwell (Master) and Simon Leschallas (Upper Warden) 25th June. This is our tri-annual visit to bring one of our events closer to our Scottish members. The Surgeons Hall is housed in a magnificent building and the evening promises to be a special one. The following day there is some golf planned, and an alternative attraction of a proposed visit to inspect HMS Montrose’s bottom! She will be in dry dock at Rosyth undergoing a refit. Then in the evening there will be a chance to visit the Scotch Whisky Heritage centre and, having experienced the new tour, have supper at the centre. The following day we are planning a charity walk probably through part of historic Edinburgh, raising funds for our Distiller’s Charity.
we received our Royal Charter some 370 years ago, and his ancestor George Bishop was apprenticed to a Distiller of the company some 43 years later. Since then there has been an unbroken line of involvement by the Bishop Family [that is the Master’s Mother’s As the response was made by the Master’s family] in distilling in London. very good friend, David Urquhart, the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of Birmingham, it He went on to say: was possibly just as well that she did not succumb to the temptation, and during his “I therefore take on the honour of being Masinteresting and amusing speech we were to ter of our venerable livery company very learn that he and our Master were room aware of the weight of history, but also with mates in their younger days. Sadly his discre- the real wish to assist in making our livery tion also prevailed, and there were no dra- more relevant to our trade today, while at the matic revelations about men behaving badly! same time being keen to maintain our broad base which makes our fellowship so special. Accompanied by his wife Anne, close family To help expedite this we will be putting toand friends, the Master then paid fitting trib- gether a revised management structure to ute to the outgoing Master Derek Plant, and cover the various fields in which we wish to to universal acclaim thanked him for a most advance. This structure will call for more inexcellent year. He also thanked the Livery for volvement by members of the court and livtheir splendid turn out at the dinner and ery, so you have been warned you may well looked forward to the exciting events he had get a call asking for your assistance in one or planned during the course of his year. another field.
The Lord Mayor is planning to celebrate London Bridge’s 800th Anniversary, with a fair to be held on the bridge on 11th July. Livery companies have been encouraged to participate by taking a stand and demonstrate their craft and its development over the years. We The new Master described his feelings upon In June we shall be having a livery dinner in hope to take part and will be looking for volbeing installed by reminding the Livery that Edinburgh at the Surgeons Hall on Thursday unteers to assist.”
Mistress’s Badge-passing lunch
Shortly before the Master’s Installation, a company sat to an elegant and welcoming more recent tradition was observed, that of table in the Selkirk Room passing the Mistress’s badge from the outgoThe absence of the Renter Warden from the ing Master’s consort to the new Mistress. picture above should not be construed as a To effect this rite of passage, as has become disciplinary matter, nor marked down to late customary in recent years, Derek Plant enter- arrival. He was the only one with a camera, or tained the Immediate Past Master and the as they are nowadays known, a telephone. Wardens, all with their ladies, at a relaxed lunch in the Caledonian Club on 7th Novem- There was a degree of panic amongst the ber. The ceremony of passing the Mistress’s diners when they saw the gaping omission on Badge usually takes place a few days before the left side of the menu reproduced above. the Installation of the new Master. . . . but their anxiety was allayed by the outAfter a refreshing glass of champagne, the going Master’s kind provision of some first-
rate mercy rations to fill the blank space and accompany the excellent smoked salmon, some very meaty and toothsome grouse, and a perfectly-timed soufflé. Suffice to say, the mood was jolly when Mistress Tina Plant called for order and started the speech she told us she had got off pat earlier that morning. Pat was not there however, so the full text was abandoned at an early stage in favour of an impromptu address and the ceremonial passing. Anne Maxwell, the Mistress-elect, donned the Badge and the way was clear for the Installation of Charles as Master a few days later.
magnificent Grocers’ Hall, which had been the most sought-after speakers in Scotland beautifully restored on its 1427 original site keeping us all amused with his illuminating, Before going to St Lawrence Jewry for this after a tragic fire in 1970. and razor sharp humour. year’s Carol Service, the majority of the congregation had been in Brewers Hall to listen It was attended by 153 liverymen and guests. In thanking Professor Purdie the Master exto a most interesting lecture given by Captain The evening was memorable as no fewer pressed the hope that more events in ScotAndy Hogben on the latest deployment in the than eight Masters attended (one of them land would become the norm and would furGulf of HMS Montrose. We learned a great being a Grand Master) - Grocers, Brewers, ther enhance the goodwill which clearly exdeal about the involvement of the ship in Apothecaries, Coopers, Clothworkers, Glass ists whenever Liverymen meet, be it in Lonsome of the world’s most hostile sea-lanes, Sellers, Merchant Taylors, and Keepers of don, Edinburgh or elsewhere. and were hugely impressed by the achieve- the Quaich - a record for the Company. ments of the Captain and his crew. Grape and Grain Dinner Other guests included the High Sheriff of Whether it was the inspiration of the lecture, Suffolk and four travelling Canadians experi- The Distillers made up a party of 20 amongst or the pre-service glass of champagne, the encing the UK spirit industry at its best. Past the 350 who attended this dinner, which singing of the well known traditional carols Master Christopher Hayman welcomed all raised over £50,000 in aid of The Lord was more hearty than ever. The Catherine the guests with a magnificent history of the Mayor’s Appeal. The Master was fortunate Ennis choir were in the best of form, keeping Company and its relations with the other to be on the same table as Bill Tidy, and was us all in tune, and the Master and Wardens’ Companies present. The Master Grocer, even more fortunate to take away this perreadings reminded us of the nativity story. Robert Hollingworth Ringrose, responded sonally monogrammed back-of-an-envelope with a welcome and declared that the ancient which Bill kindly addressed to him. We were indebted to The Revd Stephen problems between our respective Companies Heard, Parliamentary Chaplain to the Bishop were well and truly in the past. of London, for the sympathetic way he conducted the service. June Dinner at Surgeons’ Hall Some sixty Liverymen then adjourned to Innholders Hall, where we were made most welcome, and following aperitifs, enjoyed an informal supper, where a choice of fish pie or lasagne was followed by a delicious apple pie or chocolate mousse, mince pies, coffee and chocolates.
Christmas Carol Service 2008
in Edinburgh
The Master presided over the tri-ennial Court and Livery Scottish Dinner which was held on Thursday 25th June in the splendid surrounds of the Surgeons’ Hall Edinburgh.
Over a hundred Liverymen and guests sat down to dinner before being royally enterApril Dinner at Grocers’ Hall tained by the speeches. Kenny Mackay proposed the toast to “The Guests” in his inimiThis splendid affair took place by courtesy of tably relaxed style. In his response Professor the Master of the Grocers’ Company at the David Purdie demonstrated why he is one of
February Lunch—the Learned Clerk retires
The usual February Livery lunch was unusual this year as it marked the retirement of the Learned Clerk of 20 years, Christopher Hughes. It is Clerks who provide their Companies with wisdom, knowledge and continuity, and Christopher has excelled in all these areas, guiding in turn a succession of Masters, all of whom are inevitably different, but who have all appreciated his tactful, good-natured prompting, even if they didn’t always see eye to eye! He has been our centre of knowledge on all matters relating to our charter, our modus operandi, our Liverymen and matters relating to City and Corporation of London affairs. And much more besides, not least his incomparable ability to produce table plans which left everybody happy! Clerks are, practically, forever, whereas Masters come and go on an annual basis, but our Masters have always acknowledged how helpful and receptive Christopher has been to new ideas. He can certainly take much credit for steering the Company through many changes during his time, as we have moved from being little more than a fine lunching and Clerical reflections with us, but as is customdining club, to the more active and inclusive ary after people retire, he has been busier than ever with his day-job as a Solicitor, so Company we are striving to become today. we shall hope to see his reflections in a later As the continuing face of the Distillers in the edition when he has had time to reflect. Livery world Christopher has long since been much respected amongst his fellow Clerks, The February lunch also saw another recent and in 2005-6 he had the honour of being custom continued when twenty ladies of elected President of the Fellowship of Clerks Liverymen met for the third Ladies' Luncheon, where his wisdom and counsel were much presided over with great aplomb by the Masappreciated. ter's Lady, Anne Maxwell. We were all very pleased to see and welcome Anne Burrough, widow of Past Master Norman Burrough, who has attended all the Ladies' Luncheons. Before the lunch the ladies visited St. James Garlickhythe Church for an interesting and informative talk by Steve Marsham: many thanks to him for his input in making this such a successful visit. On returning to the Vintners' Hall the ladies enjoyed a glass of champagne in the lovely Swan Room before sitting down to an excellent lunch with wine and conversation flowing; and finishing with the Master's Sloe Gin. After lunch, the Ladies joined the Livery and their guests in the Hall to witness the presentations to the Learned Clerk, Mr. Christopher Hughes, and his ammnuensis Mrs. Pat Vallas on the occasion of their retirements. The Master then invited the Ladies to join him and the Livery upstairs in the Drawing Room to take a Stirrup Cup, and make a fitting end to Christopher was also invited to share his a lovely day. The Court is delighted that Christopher has accepted to be our Clerk Emeritus, and we will look forward to his continuing presence at our events. He was of course present at this Livery lunch for the first time as a plain Liveryman, and was presented with a beautifully illustrated scroll to mark his retirement.
Pat Vallas also retires
Nothing is ever more welcoming than a friendly smile, and none have been given more spontaneously to members of the Court and Livery, than by our much loved Pat Vallas, who is taking her retirement alongside that of our Learned Clerk. Pat will be much missed by us all, not just at our many functions, where her breadth of organisational abilities ensures the seamless passing of a meeting or dinner, but also in her role behind the scenes, where she fields countless questions from the Livery on a myriad of subjects, always with efficient courtesy and good humour. Pat had not been working for Christopher for very long, when he said he had been asked by Bruce Dehn if he would like to be the Clerk of the Distillers Company. It was explained to her that her views were important, as if he, Christopher, agreed to take over the Clerkship a lot of the work would fall on her shoulders. Pat tells her own story: “Although Bruce gave Christopher guidance, it was a case of the blind leading the blind where I was concerned. My main memory of the first luncheon that I attended was the feeling of panic, particularly, as when checking the table plan I told the manager of the caterers at the time, that there were too many places on one table, and then, when he had re-arranged the table, I realised I had read the plan in reverse so had to ask him to put it all back. Was I embarrassed! From the very start all “my boys” were kind and helpful, and although we didn’t get everything right all of the time, we soon got into the routine of a “Livery Year”. It has been a very pleasant 20 years and I have appreciated the fact that I have been to places where I would not have had the chance to go in the normal course of work, and have helped with and gone to events which have all been most enjoyable. I will very much miss “my boys”, particularly my “bad boys” (and they know who they are!), but as I have always been “well behaved” I am looking forward to my new career of “acting badly”, like the lady in the poem, “When I am Old” (so look out for the “lady dressed in purple, sitting on the pavement and drinking whisky, port and wine” as I have been trained to do whilst working for The Worshipful Company of Distillers!” Pat will be very much missed by her “boys”, good and bad, who have appreciated so much her efforts during the years, and who all hope that she will enjoy her retirement in the Weald of Kent, and return to see us at our functions from time to time.
Kim Lyons joins the clerical team
Kim has worked in various guises for partners at Lee Bolton Monier-Williams for nearly 30 years, and with our new Learned Clerk, Ed Macey-Dare, for the past 16 years. Her main areas of work have been with the company/commercial side of the law firm. Kim is married and lives at Orpington, and whilst claiming she has no time for hobbies as she runs a taxi service for her two teenage children, she manages to find time to be Secretary and Administrator to the Claire Milne Trust, and a Trustee of CEDA, a day care centre for the disabled in Exeter. Recent attendees at the Banquet and Carol service will already have met Kim, who we welcome, and wish a long and happy association with the Distillers Company.
Liverymen in the public eye during the Year
Allan Westray – High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire
Liveryman Allan Westray has been appointed High Sheriff for Buckinghamshire for 2009/10. This is an important ceremonial office representing the Sovereign in the County. The office dates back to pre-Conquest times, with the major historical role having been to collect taxes on the Sovereign’s (as well as his own) behalf. This is mercifully no longer required, and neither is it expected of him to die leading troops against the Conqueror at Hastings, the fate which befell Godric, the first High Sheriff of Bucks. Allan has spent most of his career in the wine trade working in and around Buckinghamshire. He is on the Council of The Wine & Spirit Trades’ Benevolent Society. He is looking forward enormously to having the opportunity to learn more about the county and to getting an insight into many Buckinghamshire authorities and organisations. He also looks forward to meeting, and being able to thank personally, many of the people who work, often as unpaid and unacknowledged volunteers, for the good of the county quietly doing wonderful work.
Tony Mair – Master Brewer
Liveryman Tony Mair is to be congratulated on his election to be Master of the Brewers’ Company this year. He is a drinks industry veteran of more years than he cares to admit, much of which was with GrandMet and Diageo, working in senior management roles in the Untied Kingdom, America and Europe. He is a past Chairman of the Wine and Spirits Trade Benevolent Society, and a past Chairman of the Gin and Vodka Association.
Tom Hudson – endurance swimmer extraordinaire
trunks, no touching the boat; swimming in wetsuits does not count. This is a notoriously windy part of the world so some luck with the weather is needed, and Thursday 9th July provided the day with not too much wind and very hot. There are complex currents and tides at the mouth of the Med and using the strong Easterly flow into the Med from the Atlantic can assist in sweeping you in towards the Moroccan coast. That worked and the boat chart shows that this time the swim took an almost straight line to the tip of 'Punta Cires', Morocco's equivalent of Cap Gris Nez. Tom takes up the story a couple of hours into the swim: hours without progress, the tide began to slacken, and the last push for land took only 40 minutes. At 2.35am English time after 17 hours and 35 minutes of swimming, he finally felt made French landfall. The charts showed His Channel swim had taken 18 months of he had swum at least 35 miles. The shortest hard preparation and over 1,500 kilometres route is 21.5 miles but you do not get there in swum in training. On Friday 15th August, a straight line!. 2008, with a clear blue sky and a flat sea, the marina at Dover was busy with a back log of Tom is the 973rd person to swim the Channel swimmers waiting for these good conditions since Matthew Webb first succeeded in 1875. and Tom was one of 11 solo swimmers atAppetite whetted for his next challenge, he tempting the crossing that day. was at it again in July 2009. He joined an The swim began at 9am and the first 5 hours Australian colleague, Simon Murie (whose were plain sailing but by half way the sea had idea it was) for a joint swim over the Straits of become choppy. Then on reaching the Gibraltar to Africa. French shipping lane two thirds of the way over he hit gale force 4 winds and very rough The swim is from Tarifa (not Gibraltar) to Moseas. rocco, and is 10 miles (or 16km) across. The Strait of Gibraltar Swimming Association orAfter 10½ hours with 3 miles to go, hopes of ganises the swims and provided both a pilot a 12-13 hours crossing seemed within reach. boat to lead and a smaller support boat to But as night fell, an increasingly strong east- manage the feeds etc. erly tide carried him down the coast towards Calais, the lights along the seafront clearly Normal Channel Swimming rules or simivisible in the darkness. Eventually, after some lar apply - i.e. just a swim hat and normal In the summer of 2008, Liveryman Tom Hudson swam the Channel, an unusual feat in itself. As if that were not enough, in July 2009, he then swam from Europe to Africa.
“Alerted by some frantic waving from our support boat, we looked to our right and through the clear water saw that we were being approached by a group of whales. Initially I felt a little uneasy but as the whales came parallel to us they looked so docile and graceful all fear was banished and we just enjoyed the moment - and they did come very close as can be seen. They were Pilot whales - like big dolphins - 5 of them including a mother and baby. They were obviously checking us out because they looped around and came back for a second time even closer so that I felt, had I dared, that I could have reached out and touched the nearest one. After a few minutes they dived and swam directly below us. Seeing these great creatures move so naturally and effortlessly through the water was amazing. It was a wonderful moment and the highlight of the swim.” Stoked up by the experience the rest of the swim passed in no time. Morocco looked close, so we upped our pace and before we knew it we were there standing on Moroccan soil and a little bit stunned that we'd got across in 3 hours and 34 minutes – a record for an Anglo-Australian pairing, and the 225th and 226th swimmers to complete the crossing.”
Tom remains open to suggestions for his next challenge. The pink hat has to go though!
Wardens
SIMON LESCHALLAS:
Upper Warden Simon was born in 1955 and educated at Eton. Following a gap year were he visited New Zealand, Australia and USA, he skipped University and joined Blue Circle Cement Group as a management trainee salesman. After four years at Blue Circle, where he looked after Cheshire and latterly the East End of London, helping to build the north side of the Thames Barrier, he saw the light and entered the Drinks Industry. Simon joined Mentzendorff in December 1978 and remained there for over thirty years looking after Bollinger until this year, when he was appointed the Bollinger Ambassador in the UK. He became a liveryman 1982 and was elected to be installed Master in November.
DAVID SILLS:
Middle Warden After graduating in Law from University College, London in 1965, taking Solicitors’ finals and completing two year’s articles with Monier-Williams & Keeling in Vintners’ Place, David went on to the Great Adventure for two years as an instructor with the Royal Saudi Air Force in Dhahran. In 1970 he returned to Vintners’ Place as a partner. Since then he has for over 35 years dealt with the legal problems of the wine trade – particularly in relation to protection of appellations d’origine for both wines and spirits, dealing not just the well-known Champagne and Sherry cases, but protecting the names of spirits including Cognac, Calvados and Brandy de Jerez. A lawyer for the drinks trade.
TERRY BARR:
Renter Warden I am proudly a Suffolk boy born and bred. Prep school was Salter’s Hall in Sudbury then Colchester Royal Grammar School. Dispensed with University as deemed irrelevant. Spent most of my time playing many sports and eventually, at the age of 27, managed to join an industry which seemed to encourage that sort of thing. Joined Seagram’s just when they really started getting into Champagne and looked after Perrier Jouet and then G H Mumm. Never really looked back after that going on to work directly or indirectly for Lanson, Charles Heidsieck, Henriot and a number of own label and non proprietary brands. In 2000 joined Morrison Bowmore Distillers and spent 7 happy years learning about and selling Scotch Whisky. Currently running my own small wine business with needless to say a small Champagne agency.
The Father of the Court—Geoffrey Churton
Born into the Spirits and Wine trade at Heswall, Cheshire in 1913 Geoffrey was educated at Horton School in Bedfordshire and at Repton. He proved to be an able cricketer, footballer and a Champion at Fives. After leaving Repton he joined Sheard Vickers and Winder chartered accountants in Liverpool and two years later joined his family firm Churtons Limited, Wine and Spirit Shippers, who in those days acted as agents for a number of Scotch Whisky Distilleries including Dalmore, Ardbeg and Glenfarclas as well as for Da Silva Port, Calvet Burgundies and Clarets, Guisler Champagne, Bushmills Whisky, Pemartin Sherries and many other well known producers. He had from an early age been interested in field sports particularly Beagling and he was whipper-in and later Master of the Royal Rock Beagles up until the outbreak of War in 1939. After the war he hunted regularly and was Secretary to the Cheshire Hounds for 19 years. He was a good shot, cast a fair line and was a very good stalker, shooting his last stag well after his eightieth year! Geoffrey had joined the Cheshire Yeomanry in 1936 and was mobilised in 1939. Shortly afterwards the Yeomanry, with their horses, left for Palestine via a Cross Channel Ferry, French Railways and then by ship from Marseilles to Haifa. They then carried out mounted patrols throughout Palestine. He then attended an Air Liaison Officers Course and was posted to the Western Desert Force, thence in January 1941 he was sent to Greece for the withdrawal in June upon which he returned to Egypt and subsequently back to the Yeomanry.
Geoffrey Churton (r) with Keith Garrard
In early 1942 the Yeomanry was told that the horses were to go and they were to become a signals regiment. You cannot ride signals so he looked for a new home and joined the 11th Hussars with whom he fought across North Africa, winning a Military Cross and an MBE. Action in Italy, and then with the 7th Armoured Division from D Day until they entered Berlin in 1945. He subsequently rejoined the Cheshire Yeomanry, which he commanded in 1957 and finally retired in early 1965. joined a very run-down, short-of-stock, family business, which had to be brought back to life. He was also very involved in a number of other businesses across the North West including brewing, banking, book cloth, textiles and horse-racing. He became a JP, was High Sheriff of Cheshire in 1964 and also a Deputy Lieutenant for Cheshire. At the same time he indulged in his other great passion gardening and has created three separate gardens to date with many of the plants and shrubs being grown from seeds and cuttings which he Returning from the war in early 1946 he re- has collected from around the world!
Livery visits The Livery Visit to Beefeater 24th March '09
"Gin by Pailfuls..." (Sir Walter Scott) 350 Carthusian schoolboys could have crammed into the Chapel twice each day. Again seated in the Great Hall, we enjoyed the singing of Henry VIII ‘Pastime with Good Company’.
The Master walks: Charity Walk raises over £3,000
Twenty brave souls, led by the Master and the Mistress, ventured out on a bright showery morning to explore the hills of Edinburgh. with experienced guides fore and aft. We saw the site of Flodden Gate, through which the survivors of that tragic battle returned, leaving the king and the nobility of Scotland dead on the field (“the Flowers of the Forest”). We saw how £40 million of our money was transformed into £400 million by the use of novel architectural design in the Parliament building.
On the long and steep climb up we looked down on the Canongate Kirk, the Chapel Royal of Edinburgh, whose graveyard houses the remains of both Adam Smith and an ancestor of one of our Past Masters (can’t get away from Distillers). At the summit the rain Ist of England). HM The Queen is the Goverstopped momentarily and we had a splendid This was by way of an entrée before the main nor today. view of a real Edinburgh haar for our pains! event, which was a brilliant account of the history of London gin by the Master, Charles Among the famous alumni are numbered Maxwell. London gin, he explained, is the John Wesley, Robert Baden Powell and The haar turned more or less liquid as we true English drink and we should not forget it! Ralph Vaughan Williams. In sport, apparently walked. While some of the walkers were The P.R. setbacks of the 1740's and the pro- Charterhouse wrote the rules of Association better prepared than others, it was with genhibition era should be set aside, and so keen Football and went on to win the cup final. eral relief that we entered the Guildford Arms. was your correspondent to set them aside But no Green Chartreuse: for that we must that he missed the investigations of the find a different Carthusian monastery in the We didn’t climb the 287 steps in the Scott monument in Princes’ Street gardens. But 'Botanicals' preferring to do more hands-on Alps. we did admire the erotic art of the Ross founresearch into the subtleties of the 24-Martini tain which so incensed the Victorians when it and the Martinez. was brought over from the Great Exhibition in United Guilds Service Paris It was a great evening and a warm thank you to the Master for his initiative which received In February 1943 it was decided by Masters a huge response from the Livery, and to fel- of the Great Twelve Companies that a service And so, from the bottom of the ancient loch low Liverymen Desmond Payne and Nick for the Livery Companies would be held in St we toiled to the heights of Greyfriars Bobby, Bracknell and to their colleagues at Beefeater Paul’s Cathedral to help lift spirits in the City the Skye terrier, commemorated for visiting for their generous and much appreciated hos- following the Blitz. Ever since, the service has his master’s grave daily for fourteen years (will anyone remember us?). From the Grasspitality. been a major event in the calendars of all market, where we listened to the tale of the Livery Companies woman who was hanged twice, we wound up In Search of Green Chartreuse – the steep hill, wet, weary, but more knowlLivery visit Charterhouse edgeable and satisfied that we had done something for our charity fund. On a grey and lowering June evening we were greeted by James Thomson, Master of The Master also shoots Charterhouse, who guided us through nearly 700 years of history. The site was firstly a burial ground for the Great Plague, then from 1371, a Carthusian monastery until Henry VIII . . . with conspicuous success. He led the bloodily sequestered the buildings. Next it Company’s Shooters on a “reasonably sucwas home to the Dukes of Norfolk and then to cessful” (sic) day at the Inter-Livery Clay Pithe great benefactor Thomas Sutton. geon Shoot, when Distillers A Team, won the prize for the highest placed "Court Team", His legacy of 1611 still provides the 200th with a score of 250 out of 320. This means largest charity in the country. Charterhouse The Masters Distiller and Brewer with their we won the Horner's Trophy and a cheque for School evolved and prospered for over 250 Ladies after the United Guild Service. £250 to a charity of the Master’s choosing. years in Smithfield before moving to Surrey. In 1933 the buildings became part of Bart’s Our Master had the honour of processing this Hospital and are now in the care of the Uni- year, and, unlike others who seemed somewhat burdened by the occasion, did so with a versity of London. smile on his face. As usual every Livery ComWe started the musical evening with a Gre- pany was allocated their pew, and the upliftgorian chant sung by the Thomas Sutton ing service was followed by a most agreeable Singers in the Norfolk Cloister, roofed by the lunch when we were delighted to be guests of 4th Duke of Norfolk prior to his execution for the Brewers Company where their Master, treason! Then outdoors in the Chapel Court, Christopher Brain and his wife Dianne, made we heard Nunc Dimittis in a restored garden, us feel most welcome in their charming hall. fire-bombed in November 1941. In the Chapel Cloister we listened to the 23rd Psalm, In truth we were not well represented this year either in St Paul’s or afterwards at lunch, thence into the chapel. and it is to be hoped that next years date of The handsome trophy. th A welcoming pew allowed us to rest and listen Friday 19 March 2010 will find its way early The charitable donation will go to the Phyllis to Robin Wells on the organ and wonder how into more diaries. Tuckwell Hospice.
It might have been prudent, as the chap recommended, "to lay down a good substratum Upstairs and outdoors onto the Queens Wall of Madeira" before experiencing the full force the choir competed with a cockney blackbird and repertoire of the Beefeater distillery. to sing an extract from The Four Seasons Madrigal. Seated around the Great Chamber, We were ushered into the very attractive, Shakespeare’s Hamlet came to life as sung to atmospheric but practical entertainment/ us. Finally, Linden Lea completed our entertasting room where different styles of Beef- tainment in the Old Library. eater were being dispensed by experts, clearly uninhibited by the recent attacks on Great names and events surprised us as we alcohol consumption. These superb examples enjoyed the evening. Queen Elizabeth I of the distiller's art were accompanied by spent the first days of her reign at Chartereats, acting as the delicious substratum. house, as did King James VI of Scotland (and
...and so to Golf
The morning after the June dinner in Edinburgh, sixteen Liverymen and guests, descended on the links at Luffness sharp at 10 a.m. on a bright and breezy Friday morning The first game was called to the tee, and Tim Morrison teed-off down the middle, followed by his team mates who chose other directions. Three further teams of four followed. The condition of the course was excellent demanding skills in links style play, pitch and runs and lightning fast greens testing putting skills. Straying into the rough inevitably meant a lost ball! The winner was Doug Ross with 37 points who, with the winning team shown in our picture, appreciated the splendid prizes of Bruadar Gift Packs and bottles of Ginger Tam Liqueur generously donated by The Scottish Liqueur Centre.
Prince Arthur Cup 2009
Distillers’ Golf day 2009
Since we moved to the splendid West Kent Golf Club in 2007, some twenty-five members have taken part in our annual golf days, unfortunately not all at the same time as business and personal matters have had to take priority. Fifteen players made up this year’s field, and, following most excellent bacon butties and coffee, took to the sun-drenched fairways (rough and trees!) in the best of spirits.
The winning team at Luffness: Malcolm Kimmings, James Wolfe Murray, James Espey, and Mike Keiller
Distillers v Brewers
In August drizzle at Denham Golf Club, 12 Distillers and 12 Brewers lined up to do battle. For the first time it was agreed that fourball, better ball would be the order of play. Our first pairing Gregory and Parry lost, but order was restored by Strachan and Carson claiming the points. Unfortunately Spiegelberg and Leschallas lost as did Nadin and Garrard. Things were not looking good at three one down with two matches on the course. Your captain, Leschallas should not have worried as Barr and Porter, and Varney and Franklin both won to earn an honourable draw.
A word of encouragement for those on our golfers’ mailing list who fear that the standard The Company’s Prince Arthur Cup team: is such that they may be embarrassed were they to attend. Nothing could be further from The Annual Inter Livery Golf Competition was the truth: while we expect players to have a held as usual at Walton Heath Golf Club on club handicap its level is in no way important. 21st May with 54 Livery Companies represented. Our four-man team consisted of Mi- This year the handicap range was 14 to 25 chael Campbell with Ian Harris and Sir and the Stableford score range was 20 to 38, George Bull with Graham Franklin, the format Nobody need feel embarrassed as lower being foursomes against bogey (see foot- scores are not published. note). This year’s winner of The Budge Brook’s Our team recorded a total score of minus 15 Shield with 38 points was Paul Hobson off a which put us in a highly respectable 17th place handicap of 24. He is to be congratulated on and will at least ensure that we will be invited a fine effort and dismissed suggestions that back again in 2010. The winning score of the he was in any way advantaged by the fact Cutlers was plus 2 and with the worst score that both his Mother, Valerie, and Father, of the day minus 55. Robert, had been captains of West Kent in their time. The team had a disappointing morning round on the Old Course the exception being Gra- Paul Varney and Clive Parry with 35 points ham’s tee-shot on the par 3 which almost took second place holed out. But a stern team talk at lunchtime and George’s insistence on drinking only to- The team prize, with all scores counting, was mato juice revived our afternoon perform- won convincingly by the team of defending ance, with both our pairs returning an “all champion, Sir George Bull, Paul Hobson and square” result on the New Course. The high- Paul Varney. light of the afternoon was George’s tee shot on the 280-yard penultimate hole of the day which reached the edge of the green and secured a magnificent birdie. At minus 15 we That’s my held our own well with our playing group – the boy! Painter Stainers (total also minus 15) and Founders (minus 12). Footnote re Bogey Scoring for the Prince Arthur Cup: The ”playing” format is foursomes. A team recording an under-par score after handicap allowance on any hole receives one “plus” point; or a “minus” point if the hole is played over par.
Distillers v Vintners
For the second successive year led by Terry Barr, our ten man team carefully paired (pared?) into foursomes, we secured a comfortable four point win over our good friends the Vintners at Royal Wimbledon G.C. All the matches were sternly contested in blustery conditions but the team was clearly inspired by our Master joining them for nourishing bacon butties and coffee before tee-off. We welcomed Geoffrey Bush and Christopher Carson, new to the team and adding both quality and experience.
Livery Ties
Members are reminded that our very elegant, and much admired City and Country Ties are available from the Clerk’s office. The price remains £20 per tie but £30 secures the pair, with all proceeds going into the charity fund. Contact: Kim Lyons Klyons@lbmw.com Past Master Hobson bathes in reflected glory DID YOU KNOW:
• that the Distillers have three Masters of
Wine on their Court: Michael Broadbent, Vincent Larvan, and Charles Minoprio • that our Master Charles Maxwell has a passion for vintage cars • that he is also to be seen from time to time on the Cresta run
Court Trip to Ireland
Ode to Ireland
(to the tune of ‘Galway Bay’ – with apologies!)
When the Livery went across the sea to Ireland Although it was for only a short stay, We arrived in Cork in brilliant sunny weather ‘spite three days earlier rain o’er Galway Bay. The Maryborough Hotel looked inviting, Though the prices in the Spa were quite a shock, So we chose a therapy much more exciting – Sat down to drink our Guinness and to talk. And then we went into our ‘Welcome Dinner’ – Tho’ poor Ian Coombes alternate fare did take: Once he’d checked out what the local Health Board offered, Fast recovered, and came back his thirst to slake! On Thursday we set off by coach to Midleton For the ‘Jameson Experience’ they would show, And although the tour and tasting were delightful They still speak language strangers do not know: While we tasted their top Premium Reserve Whiskey, Trying hard to find the “naughtiness” therein – * Sure we might as well go chasing after moonbeams, Or for that matter drink some old Cork gin! Though we strangers came and talked to them of our way Of making Whisky as we’ve done of yore, We realized that they were not to be converted And we’d be in competition ever more. Our dinner at Ballymaloe it was wondrous, In a setting of which one could only dream. John Clement Ryan full-flowing with his folksongs – Interrupting him would surely have been mean?! And if there’s going to be a trip hereafter And somehow I’m sure there’s going to be, I would ask that it might be to some fair country Same as that dear land beyond the Irish Sea.
express it. In September, the Master arranged a short trip across the Irish Sea for a Court visit to Then a Tasting or nosing followed before Irish Distillers Ltd at Midleton (yes, only one lunch though some unauthorised sipping was d) in Cork. observed. A highly instructive tour of the Old Distillery in the morning established (especially to the Scots amongst the attentive audience) that it was the Irish who first discovered the Water of Life, in whatever language you choose to
In the evening at Ballymaloe, we were royally So ‘Thank-you’ to the Master and his Mistress entertained, not least by IDL’s very own an- (In fact to the whole Maxwell family) – For making our stay in that fine green country swer to Elvis, John Clement Ryan. Perhaps it So happily full of ‘craic’ and jollity. is best expressed by the aspiring Court Laureate, Pauleen Morton: Says it all, really. Ed Macey-Dare Ed is our new Learned Clerk. Despite his name, he is not to be confused with the Editor of this august organ.
HMS Montrose
Following our Livery’s recent visit to HMS MONTROSE in refit in Rosyth, things have moved on significantly for our affiliated warship. She returned to sea on 9th September to be put through her paces during a very busy period of training and sea trials in preparation for her rejoining the Fleet at the end of October. After a lengthy period north-of-theborder, MONTROSE has made steady progress back south during her trials and is very much looking forward to a welcome return to her base port in Devonport in mid-October. In November MONTROSE will undertake a brief maintenance period in Devonport before completing further sea trials prior to Christmas in readiness for an intense 8-week sea training package in the New Year as she works up in preparation for her East-of-Suez Deployment in spring next year. Unfortunately, due to ill health, Commander Jim Lowther is no longer in command of MONTROSE; he was relieved in August by Commander Will Warrender who has assumed temporary command until December when Commander Jonathon Lett will assume permanent command. Commander Jim has now taken up a posting in DCDC Shrivenham.
Editor’s note
This is the first edition of The Distillate to appear in its present form as a review of the Master’s year. Numerous forces have caused this evolution, but most significant amongst them is the appearance of the new electronic Distillate – the e-Distillate. This will appear in more frequent editions in your email inboxes, giving a short but more frequent update on current news and forthcoming events and activities of the Company. Event and News items for e-Distillate to iharris@wset.co.uk Please submit articles for The Distillate (this publication) to dsills@lbmw.com Printed and Published by the Worshipful Company of Distillers. © 2009. All enquiries to The Clerk, 1 The Sanctuary, Westminster, London SW1P 3JT
Some gallant Liverymen on board HMS Montrose, helping to guide her home from her tour in the Gulf. Note: those are not the steering wheels.
