Installation, Service and Dinner

The installation of the new Master John Carpenter, Upper Warden David Laing and Renter Warden Oliver Whitehead took place in the Church of St Martin-Within-Ludgate on Thursday 3rd March.

This was followed by a service of thanksgiving and dedication led by our Chaplain Bernard Metcalfe with the Allegri Singers, conducted by Keith Roberts, providing some glorious sounds in the wonderful acoustics of the Church.

Afterwards the Company processed through Stationers Gardens to the reception and Dinner in the Cutlers Hall.  The Hall was filled to capacity again and everyone present enjoyed the meal and each other's company.  Past Master John Mills expressed thanks for the support given throughout his year by so many and Master John Carpenter thanked him in turn for his great year as Master.

Common Hall was held in the Pewterers Hall, Oat Lane.  This year Common Hall was held first with the Master John Mills reviewing the Company's history, providing a resume of 2004 and gave some measures for the way ahead.  He paid tribute to the many Liverymen who had contributed so greatly throughout his term.  (The Master's Address and The Motorway Archive are included on separate inserts with this Issue of the Pavior).

The Company then moved upstairs to a reception and viewing of the Royal Charter and the Company's Silver.  Cards were provided with background information for each item.  Then to dinner and a most enjoyable evening.

Paviors Ascending

On the 23^rd February, 23 Paviors had the opportunity to visit the Swiss Re's impressive 30 St Mary Axe headquarters building.  More familiarly known as "The Gherkin".  One can only guess what the Greeks might have nicknamed such an Iconic symbol to upwardly mobile corporate power.  Its eccentric presence now dominates the London Skyline, mocking Paris, and finally distancing that Canary Wharf upstart to reassert the City's pre-eminence.

The tour started with a gathering in Norman Foster's impressive minimalist entrance foyer, where we were welcomed and given

an overview of this astounding structure, but strangely it was in the lift that the building's true sophistication first became apparent, as the floor numbers changed with breathtaking speed, the passengers felt an overwhelming sense of…..nothing - no sensation of movement whatsoever!  The doors opened however, and it was definitely the 18^th floor- a breathtaking, stupendous view, which galvanised our attention for the next 20 minutes as we absorbed information about window cleaning, ventilation and building control systems.  We very gradually overcame our vertigo and peered into the spiralling atrium that connects each floor circulating a sense of light and air upwards through the building.  After Billy had shepherded us into a brief photo opportunity we mounted the tardis again for the trip to the 34^th floor where, after passing through a rather dark lobby, you emerge into a stratospherically high glass bubble, and whilst various occupants took advantage of the bar at this level, we gingerly worked our way around the handrail and peered over the abyss before us.  Rare is the occasion when a Pavior could be found dumbstruck- but an eerie silence descended over all 23 of us simultaneously!

You have to reflect that at some point, someone, somewhere, managed to ignore the no doubt compelling business case for the oblong alternative, and surely, nobody could possibly imagine how anyone could actually do any work whilst surrounded by such a view…good for the soul, but God help Swiss Re.                                           Miles Ashley