SOCIETIES
There are several societies within the Paviors Company open to liverymen. Each has its own calendar of events. The Luncheon Club provides an excellent opportunity to meet other Paviors in an informal atmosphere. There are normally four lunches each year at various venues in London. In the summer, the Club organizes a summer day out, with guests, at a notable venue within easy reach of London. Members can attend the Gala Evening at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. The year’s climax is the ever-popular Christmas Dinner at Cutlers’ Hall. The Golfing Society allows liverymen and their guests to play four times a year on outstanding courses, such as Swinley Forest, St George’s Hill and Tandridge. The Society also participates in inter-livery competitions. Golfers of any handicap are welcome. The Ski Group participates in the Inter-Livery Ski Championships in Morzine. The Paviors’ Wine Circle was initially formed to advise the Company on wines to lay down for enjoyment at future Livery dinners. In addition, the Circle meets several times a year for wine tastings by its members at various wine merchants’ cellars.
LUNCHEON CLUB
The Luncheon Club has a membership of around 120 people. As its name implies, it is a social club (although it does not only do lunches) and, by its very nature, it provides a good opportunity for Paviors to mix socially and get to know each other better. When attending the Company’s formal functions, the opportunity for mixing with fellow Paviors is generally limited, with priority to looking after guests. The Luncheon Club gatherings are less expensive and less formal.
WINE CIRCLE
The Wine Circle was set up in 2001. Its prime purpose is to encourage liverymen to increase their appreciation of wine. No special knowledge is required as the emphasis is on enjoying wine in a social atmosphere. Each year a series of tastings and wine-related dinners are organized. The tastings, normally on specific themes, take place in a London Club or in various wine merchants’ cellars. The tastings are usually conducted by guest expert speakers. Recent examples are New Zealand or Chilean wines at the Club, claret at Berry Brothers and Spanish wines at Corney and Barrow.
GOLFING SOCIETY
The Golfing Society provides the opportunity for golfers of any handicap to play at some outstanding courses. Guests are welcome on all occasions. The meetings are usually arranged to have the serious competition in the morning, followed by an excellent lunch. Suitably refreshed, the arrangement for the afternoon is usually a part-round in a relaxed format. Prize-giving follows at the end of play.