On 1 April the 69th service of the United Guilds of the City of London was held at St Paul’s Cathedral.

It is the only date in the calendar when all of the livery companies and guilds come together for a religious service. Originally conceived in 1943 to lift the spirits of the city following the Blitz, it has been held every year since. Attendees included the Lord Mayor, sheriffs, city officers and the Bishop of London. Owing to space restrictions within the cathedral a limited number of liverymen attend from each company.

MASTER’S COMMENT

By Sandy Dawes

PANCAKES AND MARMALADE IN MONTH OF FRIVOLITY

On becoming Master I was firmly told by past masters that I should try to go to everything on offer and above all enjoy my year. I have tried to follow that advice.

In recent years the Poulters livery has organised a pancake race in the Guildhall Yard on Shrove Tuesday. Each competing team has four entrants, one for each race - Masters in Gowns, Ladies, Liveryman’s Race and Novelty Race. Each competitor must wear a chef’s hat and apron. The hats presented a problem because you had to keep it on while racing and the wind had other ideas! The Gunmakers started each race with a bang, the Clockmakers were responsible for accurate timing, the Fruiterers provided the lemons, the Cutlers the plastic forks, the Glovers the white gloves worn by each runner and the Poulters provided the eggs. The event attracted a considerable group of spectators who enjoyed fresh pancakes while being entertained by the antics of the competitors.

One of the more unusual invitations was to be a guest at the World Marmalade Festival in order to present the Fruiterers’ Best in Show Cup. The festival is held in the Lake District in early February and partly outdoors. Why would anyone choose to go up there at that time of year? Gorgeous countryside and stunning when the sun is out, but not much fun when you have to brave snow, sleet and rain. But people do go and it was actually a lot of fun and extremely individual.

One of our fruiterers, Jane Hasell-McCosh, started the festival some six years ago to revive marmalade making and by sheer enthusiasm, excellent PR and good sponsorship it has attracted an enormous amount of publicity. There are three main competitions which cater for an increasing domestic and international interest. This year produced 1,100 entries, with 950 jars in the amateur competition alone.

There was a bizarre entry from Australia. Twelve jars were packaged up (representing 11 cricketers and a twelfth man) with a note enclosed stating that as the Poms had thrashed the Aussies at cricket, perhaps the Aussies might do better sticking to marmalade making, or words to that effect. The festival organisers were asked to source 12 competitive English jars, find a truly independent judge and then ceremonially burn two wooden spoons and send the Ashes to the winners. The Aussies won and by sheer coincidence the entry came from a town that was close by where my wife Lesley was raised.

It is a truly quirky event and brings a wide mix of people together and generates much publicity for the Fruiterers. As far as the trade is concerned, Seville sales spike in the UK at the turn of the year as marmalade makers get to work. Interestingly enough it appears that there is an upsurge in the interest shown in the preserve.

Lord Henley, who entered his marmalade in the “Peers and Political Class”, was presented with the Fruiterers’ Cup.