The Company has had links with the gin distilling industry going back hundreds of years. In more recent times they have been strengthened through the formation of an Industry Committee, consisting of a number of prominent members of the industry. Along with other initiatives, the activities of the Industry Committee have enhanced the Company’s connection with the Scotch Whisky Industry.

We also recognise our Scottish connections in many ways, such as having adopted the London Scottish Company of the London Regiment and HMS Montrose, a type 23 Frigate.

There are informal links with the Incorporation of Maltmen of the Trades House of Glasgow and the Keepers of the Quaich.

Once every three years the Company arranges a Court Dinner in Scotland.

The Company values its continuing links with the spirit and wine trades actively developing these contacts through individual Liveryman and businesses. This is highlighted by annual visits to different spirit and wine producing countries, where we like to think we act as ambassadors of the City of London. Apart from regular visits to the islands and mainland of Scotland we have also been to Champagne, Normandy (Calvados), Cognac, Jerez, Oporto, Alsace, Bordeaux, South Africa, Italy, Burgundy, Kentucky (Bourbon whiskey) and Tennessee.

The Company makes substantial donations to charities linked to the spirit and wine trades and the City of London, in particular the Lord Mayor’s annual appeal.

The Worshipful Company of Distillers has built up relationships with the Vintners’, Innholders’, Glass Sellers’, Coopers’, Brewers’ and Pewterers’ Companies through their connections with the drinks industry.

OTHER LINKS

The Worshipful Company of Distillers has encouraged the formation of links outside the City of London.

LONDON SCOTTISH REGIMENT

During the First World War the Battalion served in France and Flanders throughout the war and took part in all the major offensives including the last advance through Belgium to become part of the Army of Occupation on the Rhine at Cologne.

2 VCs and 19 DSOs were awarded to members of the Regiment and the total fatal casualties amounted to 1542.

During the Second World War the Battalion was part of the invasion of Sicily and Italy, fighting in all the major battles, breaking of the Gothic Line finally chasing the remnants of the German Army to Trieste, where the Battalion became part of the Army of Occupation.

One VC and three DSOs were awarded to members of the Regiment and the total fatal casualties amounted to 350.

Recently engaged with the Iraq conflict, the battalion continues to support the regular army. The Colonel regularly invites the Master to dinners at the Battalion headquarters and the Company returns the invitation.

HMS MONTROSE

The first HMS Montrose was an Admiralty Design class destroyer completed on 14 September 1919. She joined the Mediterranean Fleet where she served for the next ten years. She returned home in 1929 to serve with the Home Fleet. In 1939 she was allocated as leader of the 17th Destroyer Flotilla, stationed with the Western Approaches. On 27th May 1940 she assisted in the evacuation of Dunkirk and lifted 925 troops before being damaged. Re-allocated to the l8th Destroyer Flotilla, she was further damaged by enemy aircraft and towed to Chatham for repairs.

HMS Montrose was engaged in protecting minesweepers and convoys to North Russia. Her final action came supporting the Normandy landings where she was badly damaged and had to be towed back and was de-commissioned in 1946.

The present Montrose is the eighth ship bearing the name and is a Type 23 Duke Class ASW frigates. She was built at Yarrow Shipbuilders on the Clyde and launched on 31st July 1992. HMS Montrose is a member of the Devonport Flotilla and is based in Plymouth.

The frigate is the mainstay of the surface fleet in the modern Royal Navy with a complement of 180 and cost £130 million to construct.

At the end of July 2007 HMS Montrose returned to Devonport after a successful seven-month NATO deployment in the Mediterranean.

In September 2007 Court Assistant David Sills visited HMS Montrose in Devonport to present the annual Distillers’ Trophy, awarded for a series of deck games on ship. They include Death (but more normally called Deck) Hockey, Bucketball and Brighter Cricket. The Trophy was won in 2007 by the Leading Hands mess.

We hope to welcome the new Commanding Officer, Commander Andy Hogben to a forthcoming Court Dinner together with our Liaison Officer Lt Cdr Ian Hassle, who is the Engineering Officer.