Just before Easter, a small and very enthusiastic group from the Distillers Car Club set off for Gaydon, just outside Banbury to explore what is proudly known as the world’s largest collection of historic British cars. With over 300 beauties on display—from the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust and the Jaguar Heritage Trust—it was a petrol-head’s paradise.
We were guided by a wonderfully cheerful, witty, and incredibly knowledgeable host who brought the story of the British motor industry to life. Along the way, there were plenty of nostalgic moments, with some of us fondly recalling our youthful days behind the wheel of our very first Mini… and, of course, that unforgettable company car—was it a Ford Cortina? Oh yes, it was!
In the afternoon, we motored over to Blenheim Palace near Woodstock, where we spent a delightful couple of hours soaking up the grandeur and history. We explored its many treasures (though sadly, the infamous golden toilet was nowhere to be seen. It’s hard not to marvel at how such opulence ever got past the watchful eye of Queen Anne, who famously scolded Sir John Vanbrugh for his rather extravagant vision.
Thankfully, he stuck to his guns, leaving us with a truly magnificent Palace and stunning gardens to enjoy today.
All in all, another fantastic trip for the memory banks. Thank you Steve for organising. Next stop: the Mike Hawthorn Museum—watch this space!
Set in the heart of the South Downs lies England’s oldest commercial vineyard and home to award winning sparkling wines. This was the backdrop for the recent Distillers Car Club visit this month. Standing amongst the rows of neatly manicured vines, just about to be harvested, twenty of our members enjoyed a very convivial day understanding what makes Hambledon so special.
From the modern winery to the cool underground cellars, it was a delight to see innovation and craft coming together. Following a masterclass tasting we all enjoyed a lunch in their newly refurbished dining room overlooking the south downs national park. A wonderful visit to round off our year.
If you would like to know more about the Distillers Car Club, email me at finchpj@btinternet.com and I will send you details.
The weather was very kind to us as 15 members and our wives sailed to the Isle Of Wight, firstly with a visit to The Mermaid Gin Distillery where we were guests of the co-founders Xavier Baker and Conrad Gauntlett. Wonderful hospitality and an inspiring story of innovation and provenance. We all “kissed the Mermaid”.
Onwards to our home for two days at The Royal Hotel Ventnor, a splendid Victorian hotel above the cliffs. After a delicious dinner on Saturday night, we gathered on Sunday morning to be briefed by Steve Wilson about the Car Treasure Hunt across the island. With notes in hand and a fair wind, we all took off.
We lost no couples on the way and everyone appeared to be still “married” as we arrived at the beautiful Hut restaurant for lunch. Overlooking a calm sea in bright sunshine, we all enjoyed local seafood as Steve announced the winners of the treasure hunt who were Andrew and Susan Cox, just taking it by 1 mile from runners up David and Cara Wilson.
In the evening we hit the local night spot called the Met for tapas, live music and dancing. Definitely some contenders for “Strictly”.
The third annual Distiller’s Inter-Livery Golf Day was back at it’s spiritual home at Tandridge Golf Club in Surrey on Thursday 10th October. Initiated by Past Master Chris Porter in 2021/22, it’s become a regular event and a firm favourite in the calendar for other Companies.
Ably assisted by our Golf Secretary, Graham Franklin, as well as our own “in-house team” consisting of Livery members Nick Abell, Chris Porter, Geoffrey Bush and John Barnes, we welcomed eight teams of 4 players from each of the following Companies:
Actuaries Insurers (defending champions) Butchers Butchers & Firefighters (aka the BBQs!) Weavers Playing Card Makers Paviours International Bankers
A dram of revitalising Masters Cask Royal Brackla 15 YO (Highland) 57.3% was enjoyed by every player as they came off to the course which served to restore energy levels. This was well very received and appreciated by everyone, deemed by most as exceptional and still a talking point as we headed into the fabulous lunch that’s always on offer at Tandridge.
Despite the “home team” having the winners of both the Competition and Plate of this years’ Distillers golf knock-outs (Nick and Geoffrey respectively), we weren’t able to produce good enough form on the day to overcome the challenge from the BBQs and Actuaries, who emerged as the top two.
Our congratulations go to both teams – the photographs show the winning team of the BBQs, each presented with a bottle of Masters Cask and the coveted framed Tandridge Trophy, the second place Actuaries with their prizes of wines from the Distiller’s Cellar. The Distillers dream team (or perhaps more fittingly the dram team) are also pictured, standing at the first tee, with Graham Franklin, prior to starting in the morning – full of hope …
The Winners – BBQs L-R: Guy van Zwanenberg, CCP, Brian Hawkett and Craig HamiltonRunners Up – Actuaries L-R: Dominic Moret, Rosie Fantom, CCP, Simon Partridge and Andrew MacRaeDistillers Team L-R: Graham Franklin (Hon Sec) and players John Barnes, CCP, Geoffrey Bush and Nick Abell
Very many thanks to all at Tandridge Golf Club, Graham Franklin and David Hunter from the Spirit & Wine Committee for his help in arranging delivery of the prizes. It was a really good day, enjoyed by all who took part and we look forward to welcoming everyone back again next October.
The finals of the Championship and the Plate took place today on the New Course at Sunningdale, once again courtesy of the immensely generous Brian Morrison.
All 4 golfers arrived a little concerned about the rain that had fallen overnight and the forecast for the remainder of the day. However, despite a few drizzly patches, the rounds remained dry. The course was still very wet and played every inch of its yardage .
Both finals were close and keenly contested in very good spirit. The Plate was first off with level handicaps but Mike giving Geoffrey 10 years advantage. The “younger” man took a 3up lead but Michael then got up and down from the bunker on the tricky par 3 9th to sit down at the half way hut feeling that the tide might have turned. The back nine was tight with Michael having a chance to peg back Geoffrey’s lead even further at the 16th. Alas, he did not take advantage and Geoffrey closed out the match at the 17th.
In the Championship Nick was straight into his stride whilst Farren took a few holes to settle and come to terms with the Sunningdale heather. Nick was 2 up after 3 holes, but Farren then got into his familiar steady game and after trading a couple of holes won the 7th and 9th to make it all square at the turn. A long putt for a winning 3 at the 10th put Farren 1 up at the half way hut, but he again found problems with the heather at the 11th and the match was all square again. Holes were traded down the back nine with both players either creating or gifting opportunities that were either taken or squandered in equal measure. Nick won the 18th to take the match to extra holes. So, back down the 1st where Farren’s second putt did a 180 degree horseshoe, whilst Nick managed to get up and down from just over the back of the green to take the match. A cruel way for the Championship to be decided, but it had been a good match on a fabulous course enjoyed immensely by both.
The morning after the Signet Library dinner, our annual Scottish section golf match was held at the famous Royal Burgess Golfing Society, widely recognised as the oldest golf club in the world.
L–R: Michael Urquhart, Kenny Mackay, Lawson Doe, Matt Gammell, Nigel Mills, David Williamson
It is hard to imagine that the Worshipful Company of Distillers was already nearing its first centenary when the Royal Burgess was set up in 1735.
A thick Edinburgh haar had settled over the course, with unofficial starter, Brian Morrison, waving us off in style.
Two groups set off to play what is today a challenging but fair and high-quality parkland course. At least, we think that was the case through the morning mists!
A highly competitive and close match followed as the haar slowly cleared.
Our champion golfer, Nigel Mills, added to his silverware, showing supreme skill and control to compile a strong and unsurpassed 34-point Stableford score.
Fortified by the half-way house, a fine back nine helped Matt Gammell to run Nigel close with 33 points, a position he shared with guest Lawson Doe.
Kenny Mackay and Michael Urquhart displayed a deft touch around the greens, whilst David Williamson showed great consistency off the tee.
In the end, only 9 points separated the field, with everyone enjoying moments to remember (both good and bad!).
A fine Royal Burgess platter of soup and sandwiches in the club house afterwards was a fitting reward.
Many thanks to Matt for making the arrangements and his hospitality on the day.
A humid summer evening under the trees in Vauxhall’s Pleasure Gardens in South London saw over 100 people from 24 different Livery Companies (see list of participating teams, below) arrive to take part in what is now a firm fixture in the Livery events diary – the annual Inter-Livery Pétanque Competition.
Conceived 3 years ago by the Worshipful Company of Distillers and the Worshipful Company of Coopers, teams pit their boules skills and guile against each other. It’s friendly competition, tinged with an edge of brutality as the scoring and tension mounts during games, the going gets tough as crucial points are closely contested – from friendly competition to dog eat dog!
Under the watchful and expert eye of our hosts and referees from the London Pétanque Club (LPC), the opening games were a frantic frenzy of activity as 32 teams sought to attain the magical 7-point total to get through to the next round.
And so it went, through 4 rounds, from 32 teams, to 16, to 8, to 4 to just two for the final – the Framework Knitters and the Spectacle Makers.
Congratulations then to this year’s Pétanque Champions, Bob Ranger, Henry Ranger, and David Parkins from the Spectacle Makers who just managed to pip the team of Framework Knitters, their Master, Matthew Ellis, Tony Jarvis, and Nettie Ellis to the coveted Coopers’ Cask Trophy. This was kindly donated by the Coopers in 2022 for presentation at the pétanque competition, as are 3 bottles of Master’s Cask Royal Brackla 15yo single malt whisky, donated by the Distillers to the winning team members, presented by Master Distiller, Lorne MacKillop.
Special thanks must go to Mark Hadsell and his daughter Zoe and everyone from the LPC for managing the event so well, keeping us all in order and keeping control of the draw.
Huge thanks also to Maison Mirabeau, producer of exquisite Provencal rose, who most generously donated bottles of their wonderful wines and canned rose gin and tonics for us all to enjoy throughout the evening. Thank you to, Mirabeau, Ian Harris, and the Vintners Company whose connection made this possible.
Thank you to the Distiller’s Clerk, James Bryan, and his team for manning the bar area to keep everyone refreshed and emboldened throughout the evening.
The event was not only great fun, but its serious side is to raise funds for the Lord Mayor’s Appeal. The exact amount raised last night will be circulated shortly, but, as an idea, last year’s event raised £1,000.
A fabulous evening, played in the best spirit of Livery friendship and for a great cause.
Thank you to everyone who took part and made it all possible – here’s to next year!
The second Distiller’s Inter-Livery Challenge took place at Tandridge Golf Club, Surrey on Thursday October 19th.
The Distiller’s team of (l-r) John Barnes, Paul Varney, Chris Porter and Farren Drury
Hosted by Immediate Past Master, Chris Porter and Distiller’s Golf Secretary, Liveryman Graham Franklin, teams from the Worshipful Companies of Draper’s, Butcher’s, World Trader’s, Insurer’s, International Banker’s, Tylers & Bricklayers, Weavers, Makers of Playing Cards and Distillers all took part.
Playing in a four-ball-better-ball stableford format, the day was a little dank, but mercifully free from downpours enabling some enjoyable golf to be played on a course that was in fabulous condition.
A welcome dram of The Distiller’s Master’s Cask greeted every player upon completion of their rounds before heading everyone headed into the sanctuary of the clubhouse for the legendary Tandridge lunch!
The Butcher’s in 2nd placeThe Int Bankers in 3rd placeThe victorious Insurers team
Prize-giving followed, with only 11 points separating the top from the bottom team, with the Insurers emerging victorious. They were the proud winners of the magnificent print of Tandridge, freshly framed and engraved, presented especially for this annual Challenge by the inaugural winners, The International Bankers. Sincere thanks must go to their Immediate Past Master, Jason van Praagh for arranging this.
The Butcher’s finished in second place, finishing just one point behind the Insurers, with the International Banker’s making a very fair defence of their title, in third.
A very relaxed and enjoyable day spent in great company and fellowship. Thanks to everyone who took part and roll on next year!
Our trip was truly blessed with fine weather in “Gods Own Country”. On Friday September 22nd, everyone met at The Black Swan in the picturesque market town of Helmsley on the edge of the north Yorkshire moors which was to be our home for our long weekend.
Kids in a candy shop
In the morning we were off bright and early to visit the location of the popular TV classic car auction programme “Bangers and Cash”, most appropriately named! Wow, probably 500 cars or so to suit all our age groups, Bentleys to MGB’s with the odd Morris Marina and Austin A35 thrown in. Just the place to buy if you are interested in a cheap run around. No auction that day, just viewing. Rumour has it that Steve might be bidding for a tasty Ford Cortina!
The rest of the day was free, some choosing to visit the magnificent views of Sutton Bank acclaimed by author James Heriot as the “Finest in England”, others visited the stunning UNESCO world heritage site of Rievaulx Abbey, set in a secluded valley, and founded by 12 Cistercian monks in 1132.
Sunday was the driving day criss-crossing the sweeping purple heather covered moors of North Yorkshire with unforgettable and breath-taking landscapes bathed in sunshine. Driving through timeless villages, it is a special place of great beauty and tranquillity, though the throb of Nick’s V8 and Steve’s V12 engines did startle a few moor hens. Our destination, the seaside town of Whitby, famous for fish and chips, Dracula, and Captain Cook. Fish and chips did not disappoint with delicious fresh fish, oysters, and prawns. After lunch, some of us ventured on a boat to see the view from the sea. Others took a detour to Goathland to see the celebrations of the 50th Anniversary of the North York Moors Steam Railway, as we all returned to Helmsley crossing the moors again.
A weekend enjoyed by everyone with a particular welcome to David and Cara Wilson, two new members who joined us in their beautiful Austin Healey. Please come again. Grateful thanks to our Hon sec Nick and Chair Steve who pulled together yet another memorable DCC trip. Thank you.
Paul Finch Liveryman
North York Moors Steam RailwayThe Humber BridgeKim & John Barrett with their lovely Alvis
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