The Phoenix takes flight at Inaugural Dinner

Posted on Posted in Event Write-ups, News

On Monday 13th March the Hon Mrs Emmeline Winterbotham, Immediate Past Master Skinner, graciously hosted The Phoenix Masters Inaugural Dinner in the beautiful surroundings of Skinners’ Hall. No less than 133 members and their partners attended the dinner representing 70 of the City’s Livery Companies. Our President the Late Lord Mayor and his wife Juliet sent their apologies as the Lord Mayor is still in purdah and our Vice President the Late Sheriff Christine Rigden and her consort Stephen also sent their apologies as they were travelling. But we were delighted to receive as our guest speaker our other Vice President the Late Aldermanic Sheriff Alderman Charles Bowman and his wife Samantha.
Skinners’ Hall is a Grade 1 Listed building dating back to 1670.  The evening began with a champagne reception on the delightful roof garden on a surprisingly mild March evening. Past Master Bowyer the Rev John Hayton delivered a rousing grace. Party Ingredients provided the catering and the following delicious menu was served:

River Trout cured with city of London Gin,
Red grapefruit, French beans and Nigella seeds.

Duck confit Tortellini in sage butter,
Courgette ribbons and pomegranate seeds.

Rose Veal Tournedos, Smoked pancetta, aubergine and burrata,
Leaf spinach, broccoli, smoked paprika potatoes.

Iced Winter berries, Almond Tuille
Coffee and chocolates

St Véran Les Chailloux 2012
Chậteau La Grand Maye, Cộtes de Castillon 2013
Elysium Black Muscat, California 2013
Fonseca Bin 27

After dinner, the Laudi Spirituali was sung with as much gusto as most of us had ever heard. Past Master Actuary Peter Thompson accompanied us in the National Anthem. Our Chairman Past Master Pewterer Mark Chambers then proposed a toast to the Phoenix Masters. He compared his own election as Chairman to the unexpected results of the EU referendum and the US Presidential Election. He thanked the Committee for their hard work in organising this inaugural dinner particularly Past Upper Bailiff Weaver John Nugée and Past Master Tin Plate Worker Ian Makowski. He told us that membership now stands at 106 with a few more still indicating their intention to join. He then introduced our guest speaker who as a partner in PwC would not be handing out any envelopes! The Chairman had had a foretaste of Charles’ speech and should he be elected as Lord Mayor later this year Mark believes we will all benefit from some of the most joined up thinking he had come across and the City of London will be in safe hands.  Alderman Bowman’s speech can be found here.

Professional photographs were taken of the event and these are available elsewhere on this website for free download to all members here. Afterwards, the majority of the gathering repaired to the Court Room for a stirrup cup which went on long into the evening. All were agreed that it had been a superb evening and it augurs well for the future activities of the Phoenix Masters Association. These include:

Thursday 27 April 2017: Past Masters’ Associations Golf Day
Monday 18th September 2017: Phoenix Masters AGM and Dinner, Girdlers’ Hall (members only)
Fri/Sat 6th-7th October, 2017: Visit to Harvey’s Brewery, Lewes, Sussex. (By kind permission of Miles Jenner, Past Master Brewer)
Saturday 11th November, 2017: Proposed Phoenix Float in the Lord Mayor’s Parade.