On a cold wet and very windy afternoon of Wednesday 11th March 2026, I was honoured to represent the Worshipful Company of Distillers and attend a thank you reception, from HMS Queen Elizabeth to all the people and organisations that had helped her during her time at Rosyth. We were welcomed onto the very impressive ship and stood in the main hanger where her real scale and size became apparent. We were then taken on a tour of the ship, which incorporated, the main hanger, the bridge, the outer deck, the flight operations tower, the hospital, dental surgery and a number of other areas before being welcomed into the officers mess and hosted by Captain Claire Thompson OBE RN for a drinks reception.

We were treated to some lovely cocktails from Johnnie Walker and superbly hosted by the ships company. Claire took the opportunity to personally thank us all for the help and support that we had all given her and the ships company while in Scotland and for providing a fantastic training opportunity for the newly formed ships company to practice their soft diplomatic skills as they now look at the next 6 years ahead before returning to Edinburgh for maintenance. In closing she said that they would be heading south to Portsmouth in the coming weeks before returning to full operational service.

Matt Gammell
Liveryman

On Friday the 7th June 13 liverymen and their guests including our Master and his Consort Seana reported to HMS Heron to spend the day with Navy Wings and 825 NAS our affiliated helicopter squadron based at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset.

After an initial briefing by Commander Ben Dando C.O. of 825 NAS we were whisked across the vast airfield to the south side and the HQ of Navy Wings which is headed up by Cdre (rtd) Jock Alexander OBE and a liveryman, to spend the morning learning about the heritage aircraft which are kept here and regularly flown at displays nationally.

The star of the fleet is undoubtedly the Fairey Swordfish aka as “The String Bag” and which saw action throughout the Second World War .It has recently been taking part in the 80^th anniversary of the D Day landings.

We were then transported to 825 NAS hangar on the Northwest side of the airfield for lunch and to be met by Ben Dando and some his team including student pilots .Ben then gave us a briefing on the history and strategic background to 825’s current role in the Navy. It clearly demonstrated the importance of the modern Navy and Air Arm to the security of our nation. After this we visited the maintenance area to examine a Wildcat Helicopter, which along with the Merlin, are the mainstays of the Navy’s aerial fleet. We had some of its amazing technology explained.

This was followed by a visit to the simulator area of the base where under the tender eyes of Knotty, four of us attempted to fly a Wildcat and land it successfully, only the Master succeeded!

After pre-prandial drinks in the Torque Split bar, a splendid dinner with lovely wines organised by liveryman Matthew Russell and our 825 liaison followed in the Southwick Room, hosted by HMS Heron’s Commanding Officer, Duncan Thomas who is also a liveryman.

Our thanks go to all the team at HMS Heron, particularly to Jock Alexander at Navy Wings, Cdr Ben Dando, Cpt. Duncan Thomas, Lt Cdr Adam Prevett , Lt Cdr Amy Grey, Lt Cdr Clive Knott, Lt Annabel Vose, Lt Adam Armstrong and all the 825 pilots, students and maintenance crews for such a splendid and interesting day and evening. Our affiliation with 825 NAS is an important part of The Distillers’ engagement with both the community at large but also with our ever important Military Services, long may it continue.

Chris Nadin
Chairman SW Region WCD

The Commanding Officer of 825 Squadron, Commander Ben Dando, kindly invited representatives of the Worshipful Company of Distillers to attend the wings parade of Course 9. The Guest of Honour was Commodore Stuart Finn RN, a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers. As the representatives of the Distillers, we felt honoured to be guests at what is possibly one of the most important days in the careers of those passing out.

Out of an exclusive set of only 6 that made the grade to start the course from the Royal Navy, only two successfully received their wings – one as an Observer and one as a pilot. Why only two? The course is hard, very hard and only the very highest standards are accepted. Unfortunately, this sometimes means that not all that start the course will complete it and receive their wings.

Sometimes the strain of month after month of intense training, even for those who have the natural capability, takes too much of a toll on the individual or their nearest and dearest and, in this instance, they will either need to reconsider their career direction, or look to take a break for a time.

The Royal Navy needs these pilots and observers to pass the course and take on their operational roles on the front line, 825 Squadron is responsible for ensuring that this happens and does everything it can to get the talented men and women through the course, but it will not settle for anything less than excellence. This Wings Parade was evidence to the fact that only the very best and committed will receive their wings.

The Distiller’s Prize is awarded to the junior rank, studying their engineers course, who has scored highest. The engineers are crucial to the operations of the flight crews as they are the ones who keep the helicopter in the air and working effectively and safely.

The Distiller’s Prize was awarded to LAET Matthew Spicer RN by Honorary Steward Bob Russell on behalf of the Master. LAET Spicer is a dedicated individual that is clearly calm under fire, when asked by Bob Russell, “How was the 5 hour grilling at the board?” (questions put to him over various scenarios) LAET Spicer replied “It’s only a grilling if you don’t know the answers!”

After the wings parade the Black Cats, the Royal Naval helicopter display team, treated us to a preview of next year’s routine.

The Wildcats demonstrated the level of precision and control that Naval Helicopter pilots need to have by formation flying at low level.

Matthew Russell
Steward

We are incredibly proud of the reciprocal support we receive from all of our military affiliates. We were honoured with an invitation to London Scottish House to attend London Scottish Regiment’s Mini-band competition.

The Master handed out an award and received one in return! Reinforcing our strong association with the Pipes & Drums, we were struck, talking to everyone there, how much value is attached to the relationship with the Distillers.

On Wednesday 3^rd May we continued our recent period of Royal Navy engagement by attending the First Sea Lord’s Coronation Reception in HMS DIAMOND, moored at Greenwich in London.  As the Guardship for the Coronation, she is the Navy’s focal point for the weekend.

A group of very excited gentlemen, led by The Master, mustered on the jetty in Greenwich in the glorious sunshine to be ferried onboard one of His Majesty’s finest Warships. Supporting the Master were Past Masters Howell, Grant, Raines, Cheeseman and Riley, The Upper Warden Lorne MacKillop, Honorary Steward Wilson and Liverymen Orr-Ewing, Hunter and Collins.

Many of those attending from the Livery had contributed personally to the victuals on offer that evening and it was evident, immediately, that this would make the evening very special for all concerned.

Despite the wind whistling down the Thames the reception quickly filled up with over 200 people in attendance, from all walks of life, and we were ably entertained by cadets from the Naval Band from the Royal Hospital School in Suffolk.

We were warmly welcomed by the Commanding Officer, Commander Peter Barfoot, whom Liveryman Simon Collins had previously served with which gave it a personal element too.

Following the CO’s excellent speech, the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Ben Key, spoke of his involvement in the Coronation rehearsals that day and his gratitude to the Distillers for their generosity toward the evening.  After ceremonial sunset we were ferried back to shore and went on our separate ways.

Another excellent evening in the company of the Royal Navy where the Senior Service demonstrated one of the many reasons it is as such!

Simon Collins
Chairman, MALT

On Monday the 17th April we were honoured to be VIP guests at HMS MONTROSE’s decommissioning ceremony in Portsmouth, to mark the end of her time as an operational warship as she leaves The Fleet. 

Thankfully, with better weather than the affiliates’ day the previous week, a team consisting of PM David Raines, PM Allan Cheeseman, Steward Matt Gammell, Honorary Steward Steve Wilson, Liverymen Simon Collins, Jonathan Orr-Ewing, Tasmin Little, Adam Wallis, Chris Nadin, Helen Chesshire, Killian O’Sullivan, Murray Craig and Russell Mellor, ably led again by IPM Chris Porter.

Having battled our way through base security we were immediately impressed as we walked past the Ship’s Company forming up on parade and the wonderful Band of His Majesty’s Royal Marines warming up (musically!) on the jetty.

Before taking our seats, we were met by previous Commanding Officers of MONTROSE, of note Captain Connor O’Neil and Rear Admiral (our very own Steward of course) James Parkin.  We also had the opportunity to mingle with some very senior Naval Officers as well as Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, also a previous Commanding Officer, and Sir Malcom Rifkind, whose late wife was the Lady sponsor when MONTROSE was launched.

Having taken our seats, we were treated to witnessing the Ship’s Company march on to the jetty alongside the Ship, to the sound of the wonderful Royal Marines Band, and form up directly in front of us – we could not have had better seats!

The formal ceremony then progressed with the keynote speech being from Vice Admiral Martin Connell, Second Sea Lord, who rightly reflected on MONTROSE’s achievements over her career but specifically during her period of four years forward deployed. A poignant moment of the ceremony was the final lowering of MONTROSE’s white ensign, the sign that she has finally decommissioned and is no longer part of the Fleet.  Having been lowered on board (you can see it flying at the stern in the photo above) it was folded and then carried the length of the ship, onto the jetty and to the dais where it was presented to the final Commanding Officer, Commander Claire Thompson OBE Royal Navy.  In a very touching move, it was then presented to Sir Malcom Rifkind which he was not expecting and was visibly moved by this gesture.

The final part of the ceremony saw the band and ship’s company march off before enjoying a well-earned buffet lunch followed by an evening party, which was well deserved after all of their hard work.

Before leaving we took the opportunity to present the Commanding Officer with a bottle of MONTROSE Gin which Steward Matt Gammell presented along with IPM Chris Porter.

We have many happy memories of our affiliation with HMS MONTROSE and have been privileged to be part of her final act as a commissioned warship in the Royal Navy.  Our next warship affiliation will be the brand new (yet to be built) Type 31 frigate, HMS CAMBELTOWN, and we will have the honour of supporting her as she has her steel cut, is built, then undergoes sea trials in the coming years.  There will be plenty of opportunities for the Livery to interact so look out for future announcements.