In last month’s column I mentioned the City Food Lecture and explained how it is watchfully organised by seven of the food livery companies: Bakers, Butchers, Cooks, Farmers, Fishmongers, Fruiterers and Poulters. It has only been in the elapsed time since that event that I have really seen and been able to understand the full extent of how co-operation, the dedication of the City and the livery companies work together to achieve and ‘make things happen’.
It was a delight to be present at a dinner in the Coopers’ Hall, Devonshire Square, at the invitation of that company. In attendance were 30 or so masters and clerks who, together, work to promote their industries and help to develop new markets. The Coopers and the Fruiterers are working together, with others, to promote the cider industry.
Last week I met with Peter Gossage, the Master of The Worshipful Company of Bakers at the Bakers’ Hall just off Lower Thames Street. Equally keen to promote top quality, the Bakers are enthusiastic to endorse sustainable food development and encourage people in joining the food industry. They are also great advocates of The City Food Lecture held at Guildhall each year.
I was privileged to be asked to the Mansion House on 22 March to attend The Lord Mayor’s Banquet. Also invited were many masters of the City livery companies. The purpose is to build on longstanding relationships, develop further the camaraderie of fellowship and the spirit of co-operation. Speaking of the City’s role within today’s global business sector, the Lord Mayor highlighted the enormous amount of money distributed to charities. Last year alone, a staggering sum of £40 million, so generously raised by City of London livery companies, was distributed to worthwhile causes.
The United Guilds Service was held at St Paul’s Cathedral on 23 March. This annual event was first organised in 1943 to boost morale in the City, which, at the time, was a very sad place as it was largely a bomb site. Very few buildings were left unscathed from the activities of the Luftwaffe. It was introduced to encourage the mutual support of the different trades and encourage co-operation between the various groups of people in the metropolis to overcome ‘the enemy of despair ’. Today, it is held to facilitate the links between the different professions, the City, livery companies and to ensure our charitable, educational and trade relationships are continued.
February saw me heading north, to Penrith. I was invited to The Annual Marmalade Festival at Dalemain, which many of you will remember was very well supported by television and radio. The event was exceptionally well organised, promoting marmalade making both at home and through small-scale commercial producers. This year the festival attracted some 1,700 entrants from a number of countries around the world including Spain - the home of the Seville orange. I was very impressed with the event especially given that it managed to inspire so many people to buy and use fruit. The activities take place at the residence of one of our own liverymen, Jane Hasell-McCosh.
For small-scale commercial producers it is a very good opportunity to showcase their products. Fortnum and Mason stock the overall winner’s marmalade, which is certainly a magnificent incentive to produce the best possible product. The event was well supported by larger commercial producers, with Thursday Cottage from Tiptree sponsoring one of the categories.
It has become very trendy to “network”. I am finding this is not another concept from America that we have imported, nor is it a new 21st century addition to the world of business. It is, however, a skill that has been carefully honed and developed over hundreds of years, right here in the very heart of the City of London.
It is my belief that the ‘make things happen’ culture has come from perfecting this ability, and it is embedded into the structure of not only the Fruiterers but all City livery companies. Quiet conversations are enjoyed between longstanding friends, creating the ‘right’ connections, producing the very significant outcomes. ‘Making things happen’. -
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