Visit to the 3rd Battalion

Five Paviors and five members of the Builders Merchants were invited to witness the 3rd Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment  (The TA Tigers) training weekend in Copehill Down Village, Salisbury Plain on 6th November 04.

It was a bitterly cold day but the reception by the Commanding Officer, Lt Col Guthrie and his staff, was most warm and attentive.  We were shown the Regiment training in urban riot and mob control as a precursor to some of them being sent to Iraq on duty roster in early 2005. 
Our lunch was an old army favourite "Spag" and very welcome indeed with the accompanying "brew-up".  The group of young soldiers displayed their skills and rapid learning ability.

The TA Tigers are in good heart, as witnessed by us, and do sterling work not just as a reserve to the full-time army but increasingly are used in the front line.  A member of the 1st Battalion of the Regiment recently won a VC for duties in Iraq!

Our best wishes go with them on their tours of duty overseas, and thanks for a wonderful day.

Billy McCoubrey

Autumn Livery Dinner

The Autumn Livery Dinner was held in the resplendent Plaisterers Hall at 1 London Wall.  The present Hall was opened in 1972 with décor throughout in the neo-classical style of the 18th Century Robert Adams which has been faithfully reproduced to great effect.

The Toast to the Guests was creatively proposed by Andrew Panter and the response was an entertaining talk from Sir Richard Tilt, former DG of the Prison Service, about his lifetime of service and he then proposed the toast to the Master.

The Master outlined the year ahead for the Company and awarded the Paviors Medal 2004 to Professor Stephen Brown for his outstanding service to Highways and Transportation.

The catering was its usual excellence, no mean feat with a crowd of this size.  The lovely tradition of the Loving Cup, much liked at our formal occasions, was started off by the Master and then all tables individually.

The Master welcomed the new Liverymen, Daniel Cove,  Edward Henderson, John Maiden, Clive Walker appointed at Court earlier that day, and John Yeaman from Australia who had been elected an Honorary Freeman.  John had donated the carving for the Master's Chair, which is displayed and used at all formal events. 
A great evening in wonderful environs.

Billy McCoubrey

John Yeaman, Hon Freeman