ahoy shipmates

Wednesday 3 June - the Master was pleased to welcome a bumper crew on board SB Ardwina in St Catherine's Dock today to hear Deputy Christine Cohen OBE talk about 'The Landscaping of Public Open Spaces in the City'. Christine Cohen speaks with a great deal of authority on the subject as she is not only the current Master of the Gardeners' Company but also is the Chairman of the Planning and Transporation Committee in the City of London Corporation. She gave an overview of the steps that have been taken by the Corporation to humanize the Square Mile by making it more of an area that workers will enjoy working in. She talked of 'pocket parks'. of incorporating sculpture and mautre planting and of ensuring publically accessible spaces in the current and coming larger buildings.

Her talk was preceded by a glass of bubbly al fresco on deck before the group descended into the cabin for a fish and chip lunch organized by David Penning. This was washed down by a glass or two of wine procured by Master of Wine Patricia Stefanowicz.


above left - Past Master Peter Luscombe. Deputy Christine Cohen and David Penning

above right: Catering Officer and barmaid

left: an unlikely crew!







The Company holds this function every year with the purpose of raising a modest level of funding for the RNLI - that we are able to do so is due to the generosity of the Directors of Rolfe Judd Ltd who own the Ardwina, of those who have donated the wine and the hard work of the organizers - Michael Wilkey and David Penning.

Patricia Stefanowicz adds:

'I would be remiss if I failed to acknowledge the 'get stuck in and muck in ability of the Master's Lady - she was brilliant; she managed to organize the itinerant barmaid and others to get the washing up done in half the time and get the glasses and beakers returned to their correct places without a single breakage. Thios was a very impressive performance and deserving of my undying gratitude.'