Unveiling of plaques at the City of London School on 15th January 2008

More than 60 members of either the Worshipful Company of Chartered Architects or the John Carpenter's Club [the school's 'old boy' association] gathered in the entrance lobby of the City of London School on 15th January 2008 to celebrate the unveiling of two plaques.

The first plaque acknowledges the two architects of the school's current building - Stuart Murphy, then Architect and City Planning Officer - and Tom Meddings, the 'project architect'.  Both designers were old boys of the school.

The second plaque celebrates the Stuart Murphy Visual Arts Scholarship, which was raised by OC Brian Waters as Master of the Worshipful Company of Chartered Architects in 2002-3.  Many of the 39 contributors to this scholarship attended.

The evening started with a welcome from the Head Master, David Levin. The Murphy family was represented by Mrs. Jane Murphy and children, Giles and Sarah. The Meddings family by children Luke and Tarsin; Mrs Pauline Meddings sadly not being well enough to attend.

Brian Waters first explained the purpose and background of both memorials, and then a family joint venture succeeded in unveiling the two etched-glass plaques. They are positioned in the school's entrance hallway, alongside the three architectural models of the school's various buildings: in Milk Street, on Victoria Embankment and finally the current new school building, located next to the 'Wobbly Bridge'.

David Levin explained the school's bursary schemes. The Murphy Scholarship fills an important need – to support a qualifying fifth-former who is at risk of having to leave the school rather than enter the sixth-form.

The first Scholar, Yates Norton, now in his second year in the Sixth Form, spoke eloquently and thanked his sponsors for the opportunity the Scholarship has given him. He has now been offered a place at Sidney Sussex college, Cambridge to read Fine Arts – which appropriately is taught at the Faculty of Architecture. The Head Master and the School were very generous hosts. The JCC met the cost of making the plaques, which were designed by Brian Waters. 

Former CLS Second Master and archivist Terry Heard had even managed to find and display archive tracings and drawings of preliminary projects prepared for the new school building's construction!

New Liverymen and Freemen welcomed into the Company

Those being admitted by the Master to the Freedom or Livery of the Company on 21 January 2008, and shown in the photos below, are as follows (top to bottom):

Duncan Greenaway and Peter Williams - who both saw the end of their periods as indentured students of the Company, were admitted as Freemen by Servitude.

Malcolm Bender

Sandra Papworth

Tom French

were, all three, admitted to the Freedom of the Company by Redemption.

Peter Murray

Paul Weston

were both admitted to the Livery.

 

All were wished a long and happy association with the Company by the Master.

Livery Court and Luncheon at Decimus Burton's Athenæum, Pall Mall.

Many thanks to the Master for enabling the Court and their Guests to have both meeting and luncheon at the the famous Athenæum club on Pall Mall.  Enjoyed by all - much entertained by  the guest speaker, Mr.Ken Dwan, Master, the Company of Watermen and Lightermen, onetime winner of the equally famous 'Doggett's Coat and Badge' (not to say his Olympic rowing achievements).



Architectural Study Trip to West Coast USA

For those eagerly awaiting news of the proposed architectural study trip to Phoenix (for Taliesan West and other local attractions), San Francisco and Los Angeles, I can report that this has been rescheduled to run from Thursday 16 April to Saturday / Sunday 1 or 2 May 2009. Prices and a detailed itinerary are being out together in conjunction with Karen Bergenthal (who so successfully manager the trip to Chicago, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh and Falling Water) with input for the Phoenix bit from Richard Saxon. It is possible that a brief trip up the Napa Valley (to look at the architecture of the wineries there of course) might be worked into the itinerary.

A Few More Forthcoming Events

With the Court Lunch on Monday 21 January all but booked out (just a few places left) Members might want to note the dates listed below in their diaries. Further details of all these events will follow before the end of the month when the next edition of the newsletter is sent out.

The Livery Banquet - Wednesday 12 March at the Mansion House

The Milo Lecture - Tuesday 15 April at Drapers' Hall - a different format this year with the lecture being given by space architect David Nixon. David is a British architect and principal of Altus Associates in Los Angeles, specializing in 'designed out of earth habitats, and widely recognized as 'the godfather' of space architecture. He co-founded Future Systems Architects in 1977 and, for many years, collaborated on their successful projects.His design work in the space field ranges from unmanned space laboratories to rocket launch installations and antenna tracking stations.

Attendance at this lecture will be open to all for the modest charge normally associated with the RIBA's lecture series which will, hopefully, include a glass of wine at the end.

The lecture will then be followed by a black tie dinner at Drapers' Hall for which there will be a further and more substantial charge. There will be three speeches woven in and out of the menu which will explore the impact of architects in space. The theme will be access to space, architecture and survival in space and the scientific and global benefits of being there.

In addition to a further contribution from David Nixon there will be talks from Dr Paul Scully-Power -oceanographer and astronaut- and Will Whitehorn - President of Virgin Galactic. A calling notice and full particulars will be sent out shortly.

And, talking of other worldly experiences, there is the Master's Weekend Visit to the Isles of Scilly to look forward to - Friday 16 to Monday 19 May. Details have already been circulated but will be sent out again with the newsletter to catch those who have been preoccupied with the festive season these last few months.

Moving into June there is a real budget event being arranged by Stephen Wagstaffe in the form of a Sunday visit to the North Weald Airfield in Essex. Dates and the cost are being finalized and will be circulated shortly. This one will be good one for those wondering what to do with their children on a sunny Sunday afternoon and will include a buffet lunch in the Flying Club.

Court Lunch - Monday, 21 January, 2008

There are still places left for the Court Lunch at The Athenaeum on Monday 21 January at the very reasonable price of £60.00 per head.

While calling notices have been sent out, the Clerk will be happy to accept booking by email in the first instance backed up by the required cheque.

It is intended that the meal will be finished between 2.30 and 2.45 to allow those who need to return to their gainful employment in reasonable time. The relatively low alcohol content of the Cornish wine on offer will assist concentration later in the afternoon.

Book now to avoid disappointment.

Oh, and a very happy new year from the Clerk