The number of formal livery dinners held each year is limited and, therefore, if only
these are attended, it can take a long time to know many other members of the
Company. To these functions it is not unusual for members to bring a guest, maybe
more than one, and they, quite rightly, take most of the members’ attention which
makes getting to know other Paviors even more difficult.
To overcome this situation and to enable new members to become more quickly
integrated, the Company has set up a number of allied social events – informal in
nature and reasonable in cost. The Luncheon Club is one such activity which was
started almost thirty years ago.
The Luncheon Club is open to all Liverymen and Freemen of the Company and is
managed by an elected Committee of about half a dozen members who each arrange
one event each year aided by our part-time secretary. The essential character of the
Club is informality and venues and activities are tailored to the needs of the
members. The Committee tends to meet only once a year to review our finances,
and plan the following year’s programme, which is sent to all members and
published on the Company’s website.
There are about eight events planned each year. Four or five lunches at various
venues, usually within the City or the West End, starting at 12.30pm for 1pm and
finishing by 2.15pm if possible (costs vary but are usually about £35, and some 30
members attending is average). The Club also arranges one or two theatre visits,
and a lunch and visit once a year at a venue in the country. Christmas dinner is held
in early December. About half the events are for members only – to encourage
meeting fellow Liverymen - guests are allowed at the remainder.
To encourage new members of the Company the Luncheon Club grants new
Liverymen and Freemen free membership for the first year after joining the
Company and a free first luncheon at a members only gathering.
If we had a motto, but that would be too formal for us, it would be ‘Hospitality and
Informality’.