Fruiterers’ summer Court Dinners have a tendency to be fairly relaxed affairs, possibly because Liverymen are encouraged to attend with their partners.

The Goldsmiths’ Hall is a magnificent edifice and a super location for this well-supported event, where the Company was privileged to be able to dine under the impressive chandeliers, made of English glass in 1835 and each one carrying

48 candles, in their grand banqueting hall, surrounded by exquisite artefacts of the Company’s craft.

Generously, Food and Wines from Spain had sponsored the wines and the Fruiterers were fortunate to have director Maria José Sevilla in attendance as a guest. The menu reflected the Comida of the Catalonian area of Spain, where our Master has his second home. A cold platter of serrano ham and pear salad was followed by crispy sea bass served on a bed of saffron risotto, embellished with cherry tomatoes and roasted mixed peppers. Crema Catalan was the sweet, followed by the Company’s dessert, featuring Past Master Henry Bryant’s cherries, which as always were very appetising.

COMPANY REVAMPS WEBSITE

The worshipful Company of Fruiterers has just updated its website, www.fruiterers.org.uk.

The colourful homepage introduces the visitor to this vibrant and forward-looking City of London Livery Company and the charitable work that it undertakes.

The Fruiterers are set in the context of their history, which stretches back more than 700 years. Today, the Company focuses on supporting research and education, and confers awards on the exemplars of growing, marketing and training in the fruit industry.

Through the site, you can access details of the exciting Food Dudes programme that it supports. Using DVDs featuring cartoon characters, the programme persuades children aged between four and 11 years to establish the habit of eating fruit and vegetables.

The Company’s charitable resources are carefully managed to achieve the greatest possible impact.

The website also enables you to send fruit baskets as gifts, and the proceeds support the regular provision of fruit to the needy in the City of London.

Master Alan French said: “This new website opens up the world of the Fruiterers and aims to provide a broad and easily accessible understanding of the Company’s world.”

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Row your boat: The Master of the Fruiterers is a very keen oarsman and a member at Phyllis Court, situated on the banks of the Thames at Henley.

Natural then, that for the Master’s Day Out on July 1, he should choose both the venue and the occasion to take his fellow Liverymen from the Company.

Henley Royal Regatta is one of those splendid summer events, like Ascot and Wimbledon, which whether you are an aficionado or not, there will always be pleasure in attending for the interest and enjoyment.

But Alan French is no hedonist and is always determined to pursue the clearly defined objectives of the Fruiterers. And so it was with great delight that he persuaded the chairman and retiring chairman of Phyllis Court Club council to permit and assist in the planting of a young Bramley in the club’s grounds, as a reminder of the visit. The event was extremely popular and very well supported.

Weather-wise, it was a perfect day, with blue skies and blazing sunshine - just the kind of conditions that lend themselves to cream teas with plenty of strawberry jam.

THE MASTER’S COMMENTS

By Alan French

A GRAND DAY OUT AT FRUIT FOCUS

This year, I visited Fruit Focus for the first time and I am very pleased that I did. Hopefully, it was not just the bright and windy weather that blessed the day and provided the spirit of optimism which, not being a grower, I felt pervaded the event.

Everywhere I went I was met with smiles, particularly among the young. I was delighted to meet five members of the committee of the Under 40s Fruit Growers Group, meeting together to plan their programme and to promote their 21st conference, which will take place in January-February 2011. The event will see young fruit growers and employees from several related industries head to France for a series of conference sessions and visits to local producers and research centres. I am sure they will have a most productive and enjoyable time.

This potential and commitment was reflected on the MDS stand, where a graduate trainee told me of the enormous value of his secondments in the produce industry. MDS is a unique partnership of more than 25 member companies working together to attract high-calibre recruits with management potential into the fresh food and produce industry. Its accredited, accelerated two-year Management Training Programme is providing member companies with junior managers who have gained experience and demonstrated both their management capability and potential. In these difficult economic times, it is not surprising, however, to hear that they have more than enough high-quality candidates, but not enough placements. Is there a mutually beneficial opportunity here for your company?

A new experience for me was the very interesting Vines to Wines exhibition that ran alongside the event, promoting the development of vineyards in the UK.

As you can tell, I had an exciting time and, what’s more, I discovered that the glory of a one-day show is the meeting of old friends and also so many of our Liverymen and past Nuffield Scholars in one place and all in their element. Well done Fruit Focus.

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