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| Mrs. Lord Mayor salutes Mrs. Master's bravura |
Jaki's first step(?)s...
Monday, 25 November 2013
Monday, 18 November 2013
Laurie Chetwood's 10 x 10 picture
“The area formed part of the walls of Londinium (Barbican is from the LatinBarbecana meaning fortified outpost or tower). The site was used as a burial ground during Anglo-Saxon times, later becoming a Jewish cemetery and finally an un-consecrated burial ground for non-conformists. In the 17th century the City fathers refused permission for theatrical productions within the City. As the Barbican lay outside the walls it became the centre for amateur theatricals and entertainment, alongside a warren of slum housing and impoverished dwellings. The site was destroyed by German bombs during WWII, brutally revealing much of the area’s history.The present-day development commenced in 1958, taking 20 years to complete, and is Europe’s largest arts centre. The picture shows The Barbican as a graveyard - the residential towers as tombstones. Contemporary dancers perform whilst being watched by ghost-like figures of evacuees who lived there and were never to return”.
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Peter Murray and his 10 x 10 sketch
Exchange House, designed by SOM, which spans the railway tracks coming out of Liverpool Street station is one of the city's most dynamic pieces of architecture. The grand arch which springs from granite plinths at either end of the building signals its bridge-like function. The Square is host to regular events and the drawing shows a game of croquet in progress, watched by a lunchtime audience of local workers and, to the left, Stuart Lipton who was responsible for the original development. The drawing attempts to reflect the dynamic nature of the building and the public space it encloses.
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David Assael and his 10 X 10 sketch
Please find below the drawing given to 10x10 for their auction by a new Freeman to the Company, John Assael.
"Each year, 100 participants come together in the summer to create 100 pieces of work, giving 100 perspectives of London, which are then exhibited and auctioned in November. Previous participants have included Lord Norman Foster, Zaha Hadid and Grand Designs’ Kevin McCloud. The project is a unique concept, with the designers and artists producing wonderful pieces of artwork inspired by the environment they help to create and shape, as well as providing a commentary and critique on the constantly changing landscape of central London.
Every year 10×10 captures a different area of the city. This year the project will focus on East London, an area encompassing striking and innovative examples of architecture, both traditional and modern. In the shadow of the ‘Gherkin’, this area encompasses modern developments, many associated with the ‘Silicon roundabout’, to historic landmarks such as Brick Lane and the Boundary estate – one of the city’s earliest social housing schemes. East London is a truly diverse area, both culturally and creatively, where our 10×10 artists will have no problem seeking influence for their work.
During mid November, a public exhibition of the work will be held, followed by an auction of the artwork by Sotheby’s. This auction will be an exclusive event taking place during the week of the 18th of November at a central London location. All proceeds of the sale go to Article 25, the charity that builds solutions to global problems.
This year’s 10×10 will raise money for Article 25’s Street Children Centers, starting with projects in Ghana and Kenya. Over the next year, we will be helping to provide the necessary infrastructure for enabling children who live on the streets to get back to their families or foster families, schools and communities."
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| Mark Street - Mark Square London EC2A |
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Lord Mayor's Day procession - pictures by Geoffrey Purves
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| The Master steps out |
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| The Master, the Upper Warden and a volunteer 'student' placard holder |
The Master, Sam (student) and I picked up our robes, Masters Chain, Tricorn hat, two berets, placard and leather holster from Painter’s Stainer’s Hall at 9.00am and we proceeded to our assembly point in London Wall. We joined a group of other representatives from Modern Livery Companies and waited in the queue of highly organised and well marshalled displays until about 10.30. The atmosphere was happy and jovial with lots of banter about the uniforms, costumes and ambitiously designed floats. We had been warned that the weather forecast was not favourable and to come prepared with umbrellas. As the procession got underway so the rain began to fall – and continued to fall continuously and more heavily for the next two hours and yet the spirit of the event was not dampened. As my first experience of taking part in this event I was delighted to see so many people lining the route despite the adverse conditions. From the Guildhall we processed through the city via St Pauls and onwards to the Royal Courts of Justice. We continued to the Embankment where a glass of champagne was enjoyed with a picnic lunch – by then it was unimportant that most of us were soaked to the skin. We resumed our place in the procession after lunch proceeding along the Embankment. However, perhaps with a rebel streak, we peeled off early to return our robes to Painter’s Stainer’s Hall but not before we had watched the new Lord Mayor in her coach pass by giving a wave to our Master. We then made a hasty retreat to our newly acquired flat for a welcome gin and tonic. A marvellous day was had by all.
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| Re-homing large yellow dogs |
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| The pretty costumes of the 1600s |
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| 'Leaves on the line'; back up service? |
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| The Hon. Artillery Company's field gun |
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| Which guards regiment - how many buttons? |
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| A Beefeater and two (queasy?) Watermen |
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| La Lord Mayor, Fiona Woolf |
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| The Lord Mayor's Pikemen |
Friday, 8 November 2013
Master's Miscellany 1
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| Past Master Mervyn Miller and David Penning entertaining the Master Firefighter, Beryl Jeffery, at the curry lunch on HQS Wellington on 30 September. after Common Hall . |
Common Hall is an event, attended by Liverymen, held at the Guildhall where the Lord Mayor is elected.
HQS Wellington is a Grimsby-Class Sloop, moored on the Thames, just below Temple Stairs. and is the "Hall" of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners.
Beryl Jeffery is an architect by training.
Wednesday, 6 November 2013
The new Master's first message
The Installation Court and Lunch on the 17th September 2013 were a lively start to my year as Master and a great end to Mervyn’s splendid year. The newly installed wardens are: Upper Warden Geoffrey Purves, Renter Warden Peter Murray, and Junior Warden Richard Brindley. At the Lunch, President of the RIBA, Stephen Hodder set out his strategic priorities, and his hope for closer collaboration with WCCA. All very jolly and with plenty of spirited conversation.
Two days later, the Renter Warden, Peter Murray, and I participated in the annual livery walk. This is a speedy hike round the 40 livery halls and our main opportunity to contribute to the Lord Mayor’s Charity and to our own Charity Fund. After a fine morning’s walk, the afternoon turned to torrential rain. To see a very soggy Peter and me, have a look at Peter’s video on the blog.
On the last weekend of September there was a Company visit to Yorkshire, described by past Master Mervyn on our blog as ‘an astonishing cornucopia of architectural and artistic delights’. These included a guided tour of significant buildings in Leeds, led by John Thorp, the retired civic architect, and visits to the Hepworth Gallery and Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Two members of the party even found themselves in a lock-in in the oldest pub in Leeds! Our blog has the full story, with photographs by Chris Bicknell.
Over 50 people attended my reception at the Bishopsgate Institute on 15th October. Stefan Dickers, the Library and Archives Manager gave an enthusiastic and colourful history of the Institute, enhanced by architectural details from our own Peter Luscombe.
There was also a good audience for our lecture at the RIBA the following week, “The Architecture of Nowhere”, by James Kruhly, which sparked lively debate.
These WCCA events were interspersed with company dinners with the Plumbers, City Planners, Plaisterers and Chartered Secretaries, and two school prize givings. I also attended an interfaith service at St. Paul's Cathedral to commemorate the 85th anniversary of the London Taxidrivers' Fund for Underprivileged Children, including music by the London Charity Orchestra and the New London Children's Choir.
It has been a very busy and stimulating start to my year as Master. I look forward to seeing you all at the Carol Service.
Jaki
Tuesday, 5 November 2013
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