Press the button for immediate conversion - so said the Dean of St Paul’s when preaching at the Fruiterers’ St Paul’s Day service at St Mary Abchurch on January 26.

This is the occasion when the new Master is sworn in before his peers and is a most important date in the Company’s calendar.

The Dean was talking of booking a holiday priced in euros, and he wanted to know the cost in sterling. This was being used as an analogy when speaking about the conversion of St Paul, which was a far more complicated process.

Alan French took his oath in the packed Wren church, with its impressive and skilfully carved Grinling Gibbons altar and domed roof, which the architect is said to have used as a model for St Paul’s Cathedral.

The event is always a friendly and happy affair, which marks the conclusion of what has been a successful year and presages a new start.

Following the formal service, the congregation usually moves to a Livery Hall for a lighthearted and amusing sojourn where the outgoing Master, in this case Eric Fraunfelter, passes the insignia and chattels of office to the incumbent.

On this occasion it was the Innholders’ Hall off Dowgate Hill, which accommodated well over 100 Fruiterers and guests.

Following a most enjoyable lunch, the official ceremony was conducted. Past Master Sir Edward du Cann gave a witty speech recounting a few very amusing experiences from his long political career.

He also thanked Eric and his wife Harriet for a very enjoyable and interesting year.

The Upper Warden for the year will be Stephen Bodger and Jonathan Choat was elected as Renter Warden.

THE MASTER’S COMMENTS (Alan French)

twenty years ago, Past Master Matthew Mack instigated a triennial award, to be made by the Worshipful Company of Fruiterers, for Distinguished Achievements for Training within the Fruit Industry, and this year it was awarded to Dianne Quested.

I had the pleasure, as Master, of making the presentation at the Livery Banquet at Mansion House on February 12, saying that “the current and future success of fruit growing is critically dependent on the application of up-to-date practical and management expertise”.

Under Dianne’s management, the Mid-Kent Training Group has been highly effective at providing the training needed to develop and sustain this expertise.

On February 14-15, immediate Past Master Eric Fraunfelter and I attended the third annual meeting of the World’s Original Marmalade Festival at Dalemain Historic House in Cumbria, where we officiated as judges. Nearly 600 entries were received from the UK, North America, Europe and Japan, entered by housewives, children, the clergy, bed-and-breakfast owners and commercial manufacturers.

Competition was fierce, with large quantities of Seville oranges, lemons and limes having been purchased to prepare the entries. I presented awards to the winner in each class, and to the winner of the best in show a silver gilt cup was newly donated by the Company.

I congratulate the organisers on a wonderfully successful festival and hope that it will continue to thrive for many more years to come.

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In the city: Tesco ceo Sir Terry Leahy asserted that customers and the market are kings, when he presented the seventh City Food Lecture at the City’s Guildhall during the evening of February 28.

Originally conceived by the Fruiterers, the lecture has become a substantial landmark in the City’s year. Organised independently by the seven food City Livery Companies - Bakers, Butchers, Cooks, Farmers, Fishmongers, Fruiterers and Poulters - the event attracts a distinguished audience from the Corporation, Liveries and guests. HRH The Princess Royal was also in attendance, having very strong affiliations with the Farmers.

Sir Stuart Hampson, an ex-chairman of Waitrose, chaired the session and managed the question-and-answer session that followed. The panel was comprised of Professor Lord Krebbs, Dr Susan Jebb and National Farmers’ Union president Peter Kendall, who were joined by Sir Terry.

The audience was welcomed by Roger Gifford, Alderman & Sheriff, on behalf of the Lord Mayor. He also thanked the sponsors who had made the lecture possible and praised the organisational skills of the committee. Sir Stuart then introduced the personalities, before introducing the Tesco boss.

Sir Terry spoke eloquently and fluently, presenting his argument in a precise and measured fashion. His lecture was illustrated with facts and examples that gave weight to his thoughts and views, as one would expect from one of the UK’s top retailers.

Touching on many of the thorny issues of the age and dwelling on the topics that are dominating business generally, he presented a very structured and plausible case. However, although many of the retail industry’s top detractors were in attendance, it was generally agreed that Sir Terry got off relatively lightly in the question-and-answer session.

Following the formal session a buffet supper was served, which closed another very successful evening.