The Royal Bath and West Show, held each year during the last week of May, has become a firm commitment for the Fruiterers’ Company.

Sponsoring the Cider Marquee and manning its stand, Liverymen have become very closely associated with this comprehensive agricultural show that is held on the permanent site at Shepton Mallet.

A group of Fruiterers formally make a visit on one of the days to witness the Master presenting the Company’s Cup to the supreme cider maker, below. This competition attracts entrants from large manufacturers and independent farmhouse brewers and this year, yet again, the winning beverage was crafted by an amateur, Rosie Grant. For the first time, however, the supreme champion hailed from Dorset.

There is noticeable rivalry between the various counties and if you have the constitution and the senses are not dulled by too much quaffing, there are experts on hand who are delighted to point out the subtleties of the brews and the flavours produced by the blending.

Thankfully, cider brewing has gone through somewhat of a revival and the activity in the marquee is a testament to this fact.

Why, you may ask, are the Fruiterers getting involved with cider and its production? The answer is quite simply that cider apple production is another branch of the UK’s fruit industry and the Company is dedicated to supporting and promoting excellence in every aspect of this country’s fruit production.

FRUITERERS TEEING OFF

As is customary, the Fruiterers’ Annual Golf Day was held at Kingswood, Surrey, this year on May 7.

There were a number of fresh faces at the event, which has maintained its popularity over the years.

The course has had a makeover and several new bunkers have been added that required some careful thought from the regular players.

Master Alan French and his wife Fionnuala were in attendance.

A number of competitions are run throughout the day for which there is always some serious but good-hearted rivalry.

At the conclusion, the trophies and awards were presented by the Master, below right.

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Dinner time: The second formal dinner in the Fruiterers’ calendar is the Audit Court, which is traditionally held in May following the successful completion and auditing of the Company’s accounts.

Liverymen are encouraged to bring guests who are business acquaintances and the guest speaker is chosen for his or her knowledge and experience in a particular and pertinent field of activity.

On May 14, Sir Thomas Horris KBE CMG, vice-chairman of Standard Chartered Capital Markets Ltd, addressed the diners on the current City climate and gave his views on a number of important issues. The Master, Alan French, presided over the occasion, which attracted more than 100 Liverymen and guests.

THE MASTER’S COMMENTS

By Alan French

FRUIT COLLECTION BLOSSOMING WELL

Anyone with an interest in English fruit would have relished the opportunity provided on May 3 by the Friends of the National Fruit Collection to join them for their annual Blossom Walk.

We met on this cool but dry morning to be led on a colourful tour of the orchards by Joan Morgan who, with the assistance of Brian Self, provided an expert introduction to more than 4,000 varieties of apple, plum, cherry and hazelnut trees, all maintained on this one site.

These two expert Honorary Freemen of the Worshipful Company of Fruiterers ably demonstrated their commitment to protect and defend this living national collection of fruiting trees and plants, and their continuing determination to inspire others with an appreciation of fruit for pleasure as well as for health.

Chairman of the friends, Simon Brice, spoke of his love for the collection as a national and international treasure, but also as an asset of paramount importance, both as a genetic resource and a part of our cultural and economic heritage.

Tim Biddlecombe from FAST (Farm Advisory Service Team) which, in conjunction with Reading University, is responsible for the husbandry and curatorship of the collection, gave a most interesting presentation to all of the enthusiastic friends present about his work in maintaining the collection.

Landlords Tony Hillier and Tom La Dell manage the overall site and lease it to DEFRA to provide a permanent home for the collection. They are determined to maintain it as an education centre and social enterprise company. They have erected information boards throughout the orchards so that visitors can enjoy an interesting self-guided exploration of the collection if they do not wish to wait for one of the regular guided tours offered daily by the friends.

In order to obtain some return on their investment, Tony and Tom proudly gave me a tour of the select mall of shops, including a greengrocer, butcher, apple products, gift and florists shop that complement a garden centre and a new high-class restaurant that have been established on the site. I wish them well with this exciting enterprise.

I certainly enjoyed a most diverse and interesting day and came away with the strong impression that this important national collection is now in safe hands. All parties involved appear determined to guarantee its security for future generations, to make it accessible and interesting for the public and to provide associated leisure and shopping activities that will contribute to a financially viable future.