Company Dignitaries and St Anthony Pig
This was the fourth time that the Worshipful Company of Paviors
has entered a float in the Lord Mayor’s Show, and this year, on Saturday
13th November 2004, we were both one of the longest in the
procession and, having included not one but two ancient steam vehicles,
probably one of the most ambitious. The Company of Paviors
is, quite literally, the Company of pavement makers (or road builders)
and history proves that Civil Engineers given the slightest excuse
will tend to push the boundaries of endeavour!
This year is a particularly important one for our Company as we
have recently received a Royal Charter (first applied for over 300
years ago!), and this is perhaps only fair since during the 20th Century,
6 Lord Mayors and 12 Sheriffs have emerged from the Paviors.
The Company is proud to continue it's active support of the City and
in particular is delighted to have been able to support the Lord
Mayor's charity during the year.
1933 Sentinel Steam Wagon
At the head of the Paviors float (number 29 in the procession) was a
1933 Sentinel steam lorry in traditional Tarmac livery, and then
close behind a 1926 10 ton Marshall steam roller pulling the float
itself, loaded with company dignitaries and a jazz band.
The Steam roller has recently completed restoration at Amberley
Working Museum in West Sussex, where it has retired after a long
working life as one of four rollers owned by the contractor Heggie
and Robertson in Dumfermline. It continued the tradition of last
year’s ‘Squire’.
The Sentinel steam lorry was delivered to Tarmac new in 1933 and
played its part in the creation of the East Lancashire road, one of the
major schemes of its time. Throughout the war years it was involved
in WD work, journeying to many ports and shipbuilding areas transporting
slabs of ‘Vinculite’, which had been devised by Tarmac to
give some protection to the bridges of merchant ships. It was sold to
the Cambridge University & Town Gaslight Company for whom it
hauled coke - it is probably one of the best examples of a Sentinel
steam lorry and is unique being the only wholly original 6-wheel
tipper in existence. It has a top speed of 40 mph on the open road,
which thankfully was not required during the Show!
1920 Marshall Steam Roller under way
The logistics involved in getting the Paviors entourage to the show
were complex, particularly as this float had to arrive on three low
loaders, and steam up time was 5:30 in the morning to make the
Show assembly at 9:00 - pity the poor crew who had to do this every
morning of their working lives whilst these machines were in service….
the diesel engine must have been a most welcome innovation!
Some thirty six Paviors and their families were walking alongside
the float both in traditional Victorian working costume and modern
construction dress - as in previous years The Worshipful Company
of Paviors sees its participation in the Lord Mayor’s Show as a celebration
of all that our industry has achieved in the past and of all that
it will contribute in the future.
Children to the fore
A great days fun and entertainment on a bright, sunny, though cold
day without major mishap to a Pavior! Thanks to all who took part
so enthusiastically, our Sponsors, Amberley Working Museum and
Ken Riley.
Contributed by Miles Ashley & Roger Barnard.