Engaging with our Affiliates
City of London and North East Sector Army Cadet Force
The Master, Mistress, the Clerk and Past Master John Poulten attended the Visitors Day at City of London and North-East Sector (COLNES) Army Cadet Force Visitors Day on 31st July at the Sector Headquarters at Whipps Cross Walthamstow London E17.
On a bright sunny day, Col. Wendy Adams, the OC, and her staff welcomed us to the HQ. After coffee, we had a briefing; part of this is worth repeating here.
This ACF Sector starts in the City of London and, as its name implies, heads North out towards the M25. It then takes in the five outer London Boroughs to the East as far as Havering and back along the Thames to Tower Hamlets and the City.
Divided into four Companies based on borough geography and within each there are various sectors. Each sector has a relationship with units of the Regular Army – some current, some historic. Some eight or more sectors have individual relationships with City Livery Companies and we are particularly associated with Sectors 2-4 and 4-6 who are Green Jackets (aka The Rifles).
We arrived with eight other Masters and Livery Members as well as many Civic Leaders from the area and it was clear that Livery Companies offer the usual help and support that we do – namely cash prizes and monies to subsidise annual camp as well as cups and awards. Almost all of the companies ask for and get Stair Guards at important functions in the City. This is beneficial not only for us but also the cadets as it helps broaden their horizons.
The aim of the ACF is to teach Cadets various life and military skills. Life skills can be as simple as bed-making, teamwork, and problem-solving. Military skills range from marching in step to map reading and navigation to air rifle shooting. First aid figures largely, and it will not surprise you to know that in addition to earning various merit badges, the ACF is closely aligned with the aims of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme.
As the visitors were shown around, we were encouraged to talk to cadets who were performing various tasks. Some had only been in their units for only a matter of days. Invariably, they were bright, incredibly polite, and positive.
Lunch was in a Mess shared by all with everyone having the same military food – with chips!
The afternoon was a passing out parade, during which unit berets were handed out to qualifying Cadets, and various Livery Prizes were awarded. The Glass sellers will be awarded at our Banquet in October. Many parents and family members were on hand to applaud the Cadets.
I would add that we can support the ACF and, indeed, all of our affiliates because of members’ generous contributions to our Charity. This has enabled us to help with the administration of the ACF, as the Charity recently purchased ten Tablets for use by Volunteer Instructors and others. Four have already been put to good use in helping four Cadets carry out tasks for their D of E Bronze Awards.
In conclusion, you will see the Cadets in our Stair Guards at the Banquet and the Installation Dinner, looking very young and serious! The Master will formally inspect them, but there is no harm in you offering words of encouragement as you pass by.
John Poulten
Affiliates Coordinator
Past Master 2018
HMS Artful
The Master, The Renter Warden, Past Master Guy Harrison and Past Master Barbara Beadman were honoured to be invited recently to visit HMS Artful at the invitation of Cdr Alex Marshall and his fellow Officers Ltd Cdr Will Dobson, Ltd Cdr Andrew Davis, Ltd Cdr Dennis Tate and Lt Dan Peacock.
The Glass Sellers have had a long affiliation with submarines and HMS Artful was launched on 17th May 2014, construction having commenced some nine years earlier in 2005. She is the third Astute Class nuclear submarine and was commissioned on 18th March 2016.
The Glass Sellers are delighted to share this affiliation with The Worshipful Company of Glovers and with the City of Southampton.
Representatives of the Glovers Company were able to join us that evening. A tour of the submarine was a highlight of the visit and we were amazed how small she is, it’s hard to believe that when she does go to sea there are in the region of 110 people normally on board with a maximum of 150 and that includes both men and women.
The facilities although no way luxurious are relatively spacious and unlike on previous classes of submarines all the personnel have their own bunk bed and locker.
The control room is a mass of electronic equipment and monitors and up to six people are stationed at the control room at all times. We learnt how communication can be difficult and rather than the traditional conning tower there is a float that is at the surface connected to the submarine by a fibre optical cable. This is the way that all messages e-mails etc are transmitted to and from the ship.
It was hard for us to imagine how it must be when the submarine is at sea for long periods of time.
We were honoured to dine in the Senior Officers Mess known as the Wardroom and were served with a formal meal all beautifully prepared in the very small galley.
It was a privilege to hear from our hosts as to their experiences of serving on board and we were left in awe of the way they all work and serve in the navy leaving behind families and friends for such a long period of time.
It made us appreciate, as we always have, as to how much we all owe to these people who are prepared to serve to ensure our security to enjoy our ways of life.
We all left that evening having had a wonderful visit but humbled as to these extraordinary people who serve as the crew of HMS Artful.
Matthew Demmon
Renter Warden 2024
RAF LEEMING NEWS UPDATE
SHINY NEW RUNWAY
In March, this year we closed the airfield for a month for a refurb. Our aircraft relocated to Lossiemouth whilst the contractor worked day and night to complete the mammoth task. We have had an upgrade of the approach lighting as well as a nice shiny new runway resurface. We are now ready for the busy months ahead as Exercise period begins. Bring it on!
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
RAF Leeming exercised its Freedom of the County Town of Northallerton. Aviators did the Royal Air Force proud as they marched through the High Street with bayonets fixed to the rousing sound of the Band of the RAF College. Interactive stands and activities from sections across Leeming provided visitors with an insight into just how much goes on behind the wire. Our relationship with the local community is incredibly important.
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS
Happy Birthday to us! Still stunning at 84 years young, RAF Leeming has a legacy to be proud of. From World War II service under Canadian Bomber Command to the Central Flying School, reopening in the 1980s with three Tornado F3 squadrons and becoming the home of RAF communications – we are one of the most diverse stations in the Royal Air Force. A lot has changed in eight decades, but some of the views would be familiar to our first personnel.
Past Master Michael Wallace
Past Master Michael Charles Wallace was born on May 19th, 1946, in the North London suburb of Hadley Wood
He was the youngest of two brothers, he and Richard both went to school at Marlborough when it was still a Coed. On leaving school, Michael did his articles for five years with the Law Society and various law practices, including Gibson & Weldon, on Chancery Lane. He qualified as a solicitor in the mid 1970’s and began work at law firm Turner Peacock which specialised in corporate, venture capital, and intellectual property law. After a spell working for Mobil, as a shipping lawyer, Michael returned to Turner & Peacock as a Partner in the 1980s and was with the company when it was renamed Turner Kenneth Brown in the 1990s
His father, Charles, ran the family firm Wallis Construction (which later became Kier), was an accountant, and ran two other companies in the City of London. It was through him that Michael was introduced into Livery circles, first becoming a Liveryman with the Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers and then with the Fruiterers. He became a popular and successful Master Fruiterer in 1994 and also fulfilled that role with the Glass Sellers in 1998. It was around this time that Michael stop practicing as a solicitor and began brokering deals around the world, many in the Far East where he had built a long list of contacts during his time as a shipping lawyer.
He never married, his friend of more than four decades Alexander Cranbrook was a fellow Glass Seller and Alex’s partner Diana will be remembered as a regular consort alongside Michael while he was Master of both Companies.
He lived with Alex and Diana in his later years, in London and died at their home on April 8th, Aged 77
He leaves a niece and nephew Daisy and Jack
Inter Livery Pétanque – 1st August 2024
The Glass Sellers once more took part in the annual Inter Livery Pétanque organised by the Distillers Company. Our team was headed up by Past Master Barbara Beadman and joined by Liverymen, Vanessa Cutler and Helen Beadman.
The team enjoyed a Pimm’s afternoon with The Master, David Wilkinson at the Theatre Café Vauxhall Gardens before a briefing, picnic and the games.
The Cooks enjoying a picnic before winning our section
Tobacco and Pipe Makers sheltering from the rain. We played our first game with them
Note the bottle of wine which can be bought at Majestic and comes from the Vineyard owned by
the gentleman on the left.
Venessa throwing, the boule
There were 32 teams, Team Glass Sellers had reasonable scores and eventually came 28th out of 32 and were all dripping wet.
Cook, Entrepreneur and Distillers
A good time was had by all.
Barbara Beadman
Past Master 2022
Liveryman Lance Emerson Jaundoo
Lancelot (Lance) Emerson Jaundoo
13.01.1942 – 24.07.2024 (82 y.o.)
Freeman: 10.12.2019
Liveryman: 22.06.2021
Originally born in Guyana on 13th January 1942 and was a British Citizen. Son of Richard and Celeste Jaundoo of Georgetown, Guyana. A retired Senior Civil Servant, Inland Revenue – Policy Advisor to Government Ministers. And is an LLB (Bachelor of Law)
He has a sister in America, Joy Schwartz nee Jaundoo – He had a keen interest in Cricket and Horse Racing and an impressive wine collection of Fine Clarets, which he took great delight in enjoying as time allowed. He was also a member of the Royal Commonwealth Society Wine Club.
Liveryman, Sarah Turner – Joined the Mistress Glover’s Wing Walk 2024.
On the 30th July 2024 a large number of Glovers gathered at RFC Rendcomb in Gloucestershire to watch 15 intrepid souls take to the skies to complete a wing walk in order to raise funds for the Open Bionics Foundation. Led by the Mistress Glover, Catherine Grimley (who had been bravely volunteered by the Master) over £55,000 has been raised and the total is still climbing. They all completed a ‘walk’ but Catherine, who had previous experience was allowed to do a barrel roll and loop the loop; she was told by the pilot that more people and been to the top of Mount Everest!
The final sum will not be known until the Just Giving Page closes on 1st November 2024. It was a great out day and thanks go to those that attended and also to those that were unable to do so but so generously donated to the cause at https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/glovers-flying-circus
