Since the Fruiterers incorporated their fruit tree planting programme at notable locations here and overseas only one venue has been visited twice.

Penshurst Place, the seat of Viscount and Lady De L’Isle in Kent, was the site of a planting in 1990. In June this year the Company was graciously received and repeated the process by installing a Bramley sapling that was a graft from the original tree that still grows in Southwell.

The eleven acre walled garden at Penshurst still retains the original design that was conceived over five centuries ago. Known for its focus on fruit, King Henry VIII planted an apricot in its confines. A more recent and ongoing project has seen the herbaceous border grubbed to be replaced by 15th and 16th century apple varieties that will be trained into goblet form that will afford shade to the walk.

The Fruiterers’ latest planting is in appropriate and illustrious company in this glorious corner of the ‘Garden of England’.

FRUITERERS ATTEND AT COMMON HALL

On 24 June Fruiterers attended a meeting at the Guildhall along with Freemen and Liverymen of the other City Companies for Common Hall and the election of the Sheriffs.

These are the officers of the City of London who assist the Lord Mayor in his many duties during his year of office. As is customary, the Master processes with the Masters of the other companies, the Lord Mayor, other City officials and dignitaries. To be eligible to vote you must be a Liveryman and Freeman of a year’s standing.

MASTER’S COMMENT

By Steve Bodger

LORD MAYOR’S VISIT TO NEW SPITALFIELDS MARKET

It was a sunny morning with clear skies on 15 June, when Chris Hutchinson, the chairman of the New Spitalfields Market Tenants Association and a fellow Liveryman of the Fruiterers’ Company, had us all lined up to greet the Lord Mayor.

Precisely on time, as always, the cars bringing the Lord Mayor, the Sheriffs and their ladies swept into the car park. The market, of course, belongs to the Corporation of the City of London and it is long standing tradition that the Lord Mayor pays it an annual visit. After a brief series of cheerful, welcoming handshakes, Chris led the Lord Mayor and his party through the market, modestly not drawing attention to his own company’s impressive display of produce. It was clear from the start that the Lord Mayor and the Sheriffs were impressed with the market and were enjoying the visit. They lingered at a number of stalls, chatting to the traders and their staff and tasting some of the fruit.

For me, too, it was quite an eye-opener. I knew of the importance of the market, of course, I knew of its long history; but I had not known its size and scale. Even at the end of its working day at 8am (those market traders work tough hours!) it was busy with an air of bustle and activity, as buyers collected their purchases and loaded their vans. It was very good to see so many Liverymen, both traders and customers, hard at work.

Most impressive of all was the enormous range of fresh produce and its excellent quality. Not here are to be found the tired old fruit and vegetables that you can sometimes see left in a supermarket at the end of a day; everything is fresh and vibrant. As several traders said to me: it is picked one day, packed the same day and in the market that night. I was pleased to hear from the market managers that they are encouraging the sourcing of English fruit and produce. I knew that ours is a high quality trade, but now I have seen it with my own eyes.

The visit was ended in great style with a splendid breakfast. I was pleased to see that, amongst the healthy fruit and smoked salmon, there were splendid bacon rolls on offer - and delicious they were, too! Before the distinguished visitors departed, precisely on time, as they always do, Chris Hutchinson presented the Lord Mayor with a generous cheque for his charitable appeal, ‘Pitch Perfect’.