Master Water Conservator

It is customary for the Master to arrange a visit to somewhere that reflects his and the Company’s interests. For the last year, my Consort, Georgina, has been trying to get the Venetian authorities to allow us to visit the flood defences. Due to the pandemic, this was not possible but the boat we stayed on, the Michelangelo , did approach some of them. Mostly tied up near St Mark’s Square, we had the opportunity to visit the main sights using the water buses, as well as taking the ‘secret itinerary’ tour at the Doge’s Palace, visiting the prison cells where Casanova was held – until he escaped!   As usual (for us anyway) we got lost on day 1 – but they say if you haven’t got lost walking in Venice, you haven’t been there! I am grateful for Georgina’s hard work, without which this visit would not have been possible, and the endless good humour of the Conservators and partners who made this visit so enjoyable.

The Board of the Water Conservation Trust meets quarterly and invites the Master to join it so he can be kept up to date with work of the Trust. Trustees meetings are very animated mainly because it is their practice to be significantly involved with the various projects the Trust supports. In the Schools’ Education Programme, Trustees agreed to support a Young Engineers Club run by the Museum of Water and Steam, which offers opportunities for local children to engage with engineering and science, and continued support to River Holme Connections. Long standing support to NUS Student Eats projects was to be reviewed because of the disruption to university administration during the pandemic. This was also affecting the Universities’ Programme. Noticeable was the significant contribution the Trustees were making to Pan Livery charity initiatives, many concerned with governance and quantification of the amount that the various charities give in terms of cash and pro bono activities.

  The Company’s Past Masters meet at least once a year and their function, as set out in Standing Orders, is ‘To be a source of advice and wisdom for the benefit of the Court and Master’. The Master and Master Elect are invited to present an account of their stewardship during the year. The meeting took place by Zoom because of health concerns and that tended to result in formal ‘advice’ rather than the usual mix of formal and informal, which can be so helpful. Past Masters generally share the Court’s concerns about the Company, in particular, the need for a positive outward face and (related to some extent) the need to sustain and grow the membership. They noted the ambitious plans the Court has adopted for 2022-23 and offered their help in delivering them. My thanks go to the PM’s Chairman, Roger North, for the opportunity to speak.

The May Webinar – “Digital Twins – Smart Network Management” presented by Glyn Addicott, Operations Director, Hydraulic Analysis Limited, gave us a fascinating presentation on the future of water network management. Glyn demonstrated how real-time pipeline management systems, developed in the oil and gas industries, can provide significant benefits for the water industry (including leak detection and reduced energy consumption) and, also, for the management of future district heating systems. New technology such as this will be key to enable Water Companies to reduce leakage by 50% by 2050 to meet the Defra target. The presentation led to a number of questions, showing the potential of this technology. My thanks go to Glyn for his presentation. A recorded copy is available on our website: https://vimeo.com/712082586 and is well worth watching

  Although it is generally accepted that the first Modern Company was the Master Mariners, who achieved Livery Company status in 1932, there is a sub-group of current and active Livery Companies – the 100+ Club, which meets from time to time to exchange views. Hosting is done in rotation and this time it fell to the World Traders Company (101) at the Information Technologist’s (100) Hall. Apart from the IT Company who were on tour, there was a good turnout and we were made very welcome by members of the World Traders’ Company. Master Mary Hardy formally welcomed the guests with an amusing speculation about how the (soon to be) Modern Twelve should position themselves in the ranks on the Livery moment. I responded (Company 102), thanking both the Master and World Traders’ Company for their hospitality, and the other Masters present who have been so helpful during the year.

   The Company is supported by hard-working Members and, each year, the Master invites their partners to join him for lunch so that he can say thank you for their tolerance. This year’s event started with a guided tour of the Mansion House, conducted by the Keeper of Walbrook Hall. The Tour included a history of the building, the rooms used for public meetings, and the vaults containing the treasures of the Office. Dragging ourselves out of the vaults, we moved to Guildhall and to lunch. After an excellent lunch, provided by The Cook and The Butler, Colin Drummond, Master Elect, thanked the Master on behalf of the guests. The Master responded, personally thanking each of the guests for their patience and help during his year.

The Worshipful Company of Mercers ranks first in the order of precedence within the Livery Companies of the City of London . The Company was incorporated under a Royal Charter in 1394, the Company's earliest extant Charter. The Company's aim was to act as a trade association for general merchants. Today, the Company exists primarily as a charitable institution, supporting a variety of causes.   Each year the Mercer’s Company organises a Livery Concert. This year it was decided to highlight British Bhangra music and its origins in the Punjab. It was a delightful occasion, and a surprise, to be entertained by Kuljit Bhamra and his musicians, Mehboob Nadeem and Shahid Khan. The session included an explanation of the basis of Punjabi music and Punjabi heritage and concluded with a dance class for able Master and Consorts before retiring for dinner. My thanks go to Master Christopher Vermont and the Mercers’ Company for the invitation to the Concert and Dinner.

  I was invited to the Honourable Company of Air Pilots’ Cobham Lecture entitled Per Adua ad Astra: Human Spaceflight – the Triumphs, Challenges and Future , presented by Professor Anu Ojha OBE – Director of the UK National Space Academy. It was fascinating, and the conviction and knowledge of Professor Anu Ojha was impressive. As one who has lived through the years since Yuri Gagarin’s flight in 1961, the changes have been impressive. It was salutary though to review the reasons for the deaths of 19 astronauts in the process. Some of them down to problems identified even before launch. It was also amazing that so much was achieved with very basic technology, including a lunar landing from a set of photographic images. However, longer journeys, for example a manned mission to Mars, are going to be difficult because of human’s physiological constraints. It was encouraging to learn that the commitment by the US Administration to return to the moon mid-decade was still in place. My

    The Worshipful Company of Plumbers is one of the oldest Companies in the City of London, Number 31 in the order of precedence, having been granted its Ordinances in 1365. I was delighted to be invited to the Master and Clerks’ Lunch at Carpenters’ Hall. After an introduction by the Master, Nick Jones, discussions settled down to the many issues that concern both Companies. For example, I sat next (unexpectedly) to Plumbers’ Court Assistant Michael Cooper, whom I have known for years as a local chartered accountant. In fact, he was the guest speaker at my Election Court Lunch in my previous incarnation. The Company is doing well, with many people joining the Company this year. In the Autumn, the Master Plumber stands down and is likely to be succeeded by Upper Warden Paul Nash. Paul was the backbone of the WET 10 group of Livery Companies. My successor, Master Elect, Colin Drummond, is seeking to re-establish this common interest group and will be planning a live WET event for S

  The Lord Mayor of London, The Right Honourable The Lord Mayor Alderman Vincent Keaveny, is the Rector of City, University of London. The Rector’s Dinner was held in the Egyptian Hall at Mansion House to update donors and supporters about the University, and to hear about current developments, exchange views, and to thank the various donors and supporters. There were two guest speakers. Dame Vivian Hunt DBE, Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company, who advises corporate, public, and third sector clients on the topics of performance improvement, productivity growth and leadership. She gave a powerful speech supporting non-traditional voices in the corporate world. She was followed by Shaima Dallali, City Students' Union President, who was recently elected as the National Union of Students’ President; who talked about the benefits of inclusion. The President of City, Si r Anthony Finkelstein, reminded guests of the long-standing connection between City University and the busin