Paviors Wine Circle

Two events have been held so far this year.  In March, Michael Schuster, an eminent wine writer and teacher, gave a tasting and talk on the theme of "How to improve one's wine tasting experience" based on four examples of Chardonnay and five red wines from different grape varieties.  In late June, Philippe Boucheron, an expert on Champagne, guided us through eight champagnes from four regions, showing how the taste differs depending upon region, the mix of grape varieties and the growers wine making technique.  Apart from learning that there is no such thing as "standard" champagne, we also learnt what not to drink with smoked salmon and what to drink with fish and chips, champagne of course.

Both tastings were followed by a three-course dinner with wine and both meetings were sold out long before the closing date.  The next event will be a tasting and dinner on October 5^th when a senior member of the wine trade, Freddy Price, who has just published a book on the Riesling grape will, appropriately, be showing us the

Michael Schuster - writer and teacher

amazing number of different styles of Riesling from around the world.  Again this will be followed by a hearty dinner and some good wine.

The Committee of the Circle have also been active on the Company's behalf.  For the current Master's installation dinner, we withdrew a 1999 Claret from our stock of laying down wines.  Since then we have added more bottles of a 1997 Port which we already have in the cellar for drinking in about 10 years time and 82 bottles of the second wine of Château Lafite from the excellent 2001 vintage.  That wine should be ready to drink in about 2010 so make a note in your diaries!

John Cruse

Inter-Livery Clay Pigeon Shoot

Once again we were blessed by superb weather for the annual clay shooting competition held at one of the premier shooting grounds in the country.  The event, organised by the Company of Environmental Cleaners and in particular Chris Parr, was once again a resounding success, with well over 100 teams from 67 livery companies taking part.

There was plenty of sunshine and the occasional breeze which served to make the clays just that little bit more challenging for all contestants.  As before the Paviors were well represented with three teams of four shooters attending, two of the teams competing in the side by side competition albeit without success in that particular competition.

The teams were however not to leave empty handed and Paviors team B consisting of Christopher and David Laing and John and Alistair Clugston won a princely sum of £250 for the masters charity by way of finishing in the twenty fifth position.  In team C, Tessa Lumsden took the cup for the ladies high gun of the day (and this was only 4 targets less than the overall winner on the day) and has pledged a further £125 towards the Masters charity.

The teams were joined on the day by our master John Carpenter, who confirmed to me his pleasure in attending and even more so in taking away a rich haul towards the charity fund.  Next year we shall try to enter teams in different categories and of course for the third year attempt to swell the charity pot.  As in previous years it is expected that the day will raise in access of £5000 for charitable purposes.

The Master passes on his thanks to all who took part in an enjoyable day.

Ian Lumsden