Tuesday 21st March 2023
The visit to the Royal Courts of Justice, with lunch afterwards at Middle Temple Hall, was a great success with 46 members and guests enjoying the event. The guides were excellent, giving a great insight into our legal system and colourful descriptions of the Courts and artefacts. The lunch was excellent value and afterwards we were allowed to look at the 29ft long, oak-beamed High Table, used by Masters of the Bench for generations. It was made of three planks cut from a single oak tree in Windsor forest, a gift from Elizabeth I, and floated down the Thames. The table was installed within the Hall during construction and has never left since.
We had our own construction expert with us, Club member Bill Haynes, whose family firm laid the foundations of the Royal Courts of Justice!
Chairman Lisa Preuveneers in front of the High Table
Monday 6th March 2023: City University Club
Members really enjoyed hearing from two people closely connected with the Club as they introduced us to the ‘tracks of their years’. Our first speaker, Immediate Past Chairman, Commander James Nisbet, told us of the memories brought back to him by such songs “London Calling” by The Clash, “Rule Britannia” and “ Faith” George Michael.
Our second speaker, The Reverend Prebendary Jeremy Crossley from St Margaret’s Lothbury, our Ward church, chose “Hey Jude” by Beatles, “Can’t Help Falling in Love With You “ we heard Elvis’s version and “I Was Glad When They Said Unto Me” an anthem set to music by C.H.H. Parry.
Thanks to Basil for presenting the music and those singing along and ‘chair-dancing’. And thanks to Karima and her team at City University Club who served up a delicious meal with wine. Feedback received indicates this format should be used again with different speakers and at a different venue.
We were able to hold our meeting in the Common Council Members Dining room at Guildhall to hear our speaker Michael Napier, one of the most respected and notable lawyers of our time. Michael is a former Chairman of Irwin Mitchell LLP solicitors of Sheffield and a past President of the Law Society. We were joined by guests from other The United Wards Club and members of the City of London Solicitors' Company.
Michael gave us a summary of his involvement in representing the victims of major transport disasters, the first main one being the Manchester Airport Crash where he represented the family of the co-pilot, through almost every major incident thereafter. Among other clients there was Charles Bronson, currently up for parole and the subject of a television documentary.
Michael took us though the Saddam Hussain guns for Iraq Babylon event, the Matrix Churchill Court Case and the subsequent Scott Enquiry, the outcome of which was eventually the end of the John Major Government at the subsequent General Election.
Michael took us through his views on Legal Aid availability issues and the John Mortimore (Rumpole) “dirty books” case. Finally, he gave us his book recommendation. The Rule of Law by Tom Bingham. (Amazon £8.99)
There were many questions and answers at the end of his talk and Chairman Lisa gave a vote of thanks for a great speech.
There followed a very good buffet dinner.
A very good evening enjoyed by all
Our October 2022 private tour of the - usually off-limits to the public - Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office building in Whitehall, was so popular, we arranged a second outing on 13th February 2023.
Completed in 1868 when Britain was at the height of colonial power, no expense was spared; inside or out, in its construction. The impressive exterior, with its white Portland stone façade featuring balustrades, columns, sculptures of former monarchs and politicians and allegorical figures of Law, gives no hint of the lavish interior lurking inside. This grand building hosts the Locarno Suite, originally designed for diplomatic banquets.
Our knowledgeable volunteer guides, Graham Holland and Neville Jones enthusiastically guided us around. We saw the gilded barrel-vaulted ceiling of the Cabinet Room (now known as the Grand Reception Room), the grand staircases, the striking Durbar Court richly decorated with marble statues. We even caught a glimpse of number 10 Downing Street from the inside of the Foreign Secretary’s corner office. And we were able to look directly onto Horse Guards Parade.
The tour was followed by lunch in the private lower ground dining room at the Red Lion conveniently located just across the road in Whitehall itself.
Chairman Lisa Preuveneers was delighted to attend as the Duke of Kent unveiled the Veterans’ Garden in Guildhall Yard on 14 February in support of The Lord Mayor's Big Curry Lunch. Broad Street Ward Club members are very much looking forward to attending the lunch in the fabulous Great Hall on Thursday 30 March. Money raised will be used to help Armed Forces veterans find employment and new careers. Tickets for the Lunch cost £100 and includes unlimited curry, beer and wine. more details:
https://broadstreetwardclub.org/events
Club member Christopher Seow shown with the Duke of Kent and Basil Preuveneers
A group of keen spirit aficionados attended a whisky tasting & supper event at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society in Greville Street, London on 31 January 2023.
The Chairman, Lisa Preuveneers, some Past Chairmen, Members & Guests enjoyed a wonderful tasting of 6 whiskies including a lamb rump supper organised by Committee Member Richard Muir.
The host was the Brand Ambassador of the Society, John McCheyne who expertly guided everyone though the whiskies in addition to providing some very amusing anecdotes & stories as appropriate.
Tasting notes were provided & a very happy & educational evening was had by all
The Chairman, Lisa Preuveneers, was delighted to accept Master Alan S. Cook, of the Worshipful Company of Arts Scholars’ invitation to attend their annual banquet at Mansion House. A wonderful meal was served in the magnificent Egyptian Hall. This grand room has nothing Egyptian about its decoration. It should be known as the Roman Hall, as members will find out later this year when we at Broad Street Ward Club hold our Annual Civic Lunch. Mansion House has been the official residence of the Lord Mayor of London since 1752. Built during the reign of George II, its grandeur was designed to reflect the City of London's position as one of the world's leading financial and trading centres. Which it does admirably!
Lisa and consort Basil thank the Master and the Company for a very convivial evening.
A panel of experts were assembled to discuss the use and abuse of drones, and how the law relating drones and their use is basically non-existent.
Graham Brown, CEO of the Association of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems UK, kicked off the discussion by showing a video that demonstrated the many uses of drone technology. Dr Dimitri Panagiotakopoulos from the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Traffic Management Research group at Cranfield University, continued the conversation on a more technical level. Our next speaker, barrister, Richard Ryan, a drone pilot permit himself, gave us 3 examples of case law demonstrating how much in its infancy the regulations and legal remedies for drone misuse is. Our final speaker, Chief Inspector Simon Bachelor from the Metropolitan Police Service’s Counter Drones Unit, summed it up nicely saying we are at the same stage in understanding the risks associated with operating drones, as we were 100 years ago when a person had to walk in front of an automobile carrying a red flag!
Our thanks to Janice Phayre and colleagues at high-tech firm Sapphire, based in the Shard, for hosting our event which raised £130.91 which has been donated to the Lord Mayor’s Appeal City Giving Day 2022.
The Chairman, Lisa Preuveneers, was invited to attend the school prize giving day. One of three independent schools owned by the City of London Corporation, Freemen’s School was originally founded in Brixton in 1854 to educate orphans of the freemen of the city. The school is now set in the beautiful grounds of Ashtead Park in Surrey. It is still possible for such orphan children to be educated as "Foundationers" at the school with the costs of their education borne by the City of London Corporation.
During the VIP pre-lunch reception, Lisa had the opportunity to talk to some of the year 12 students and visit a few of the high-tech facilities available in the Main House. For example, a room that enables in-class students to interact with overseas classmates.
Lunch was hosted by the Headmaster, Roland Martin and attended by school Governors, representatives from the Corporation of London, Guilds, Livery Companies and Broad Street Ward Club. After lunch, the Chairman of the school governors, Deputy Philp Woodhouse, invited the Lord Mayor of the City of London, Vincent Keaveny to present prizes and trophies for the 2021/22 academic - many of which were donated by the City of London.
Broad Street Ward Club enjoy a day out Ham Polo Club.
Six members of Broad Street Ward Club enjoyed a great day out at Ham Polo Club near Richmond upon Thames in southwest London. The sun was out, the terrace looked great, a wonderful atmosphere, lovely food and of course, the Polo – the Summer Tournament Finals. Thank you United Wards Club for inviting us to join you.
The Chairman, Lisa Preuveneers and Hon Secretary Christine Cook were privileged to be invited to the Master and Clerk's lunch at Draper's Hall.
Thank you Master David Chalk and Clerk Richard Winstanley OBE for the superb lunch and the fabulous entertainment from the London Youth Choirs - please do support it if you can.
The Chairman had the pleasure and privilege of hosting Alderman and Sheriff Alison Gowman and her consort Glenn Hurstfield that the Club's Civic Luncheon at Guildhall Crypts. It was a glittering affair with the Masters of all of the Livery Companies and Guilds in the Ward also present as well as other civic dignitaries.
160 Members and guests enjoyed a lovely lunch which also provided the opportunity to present our Deputy Chairman, Judith Rich OBE, with gifts to thank her for more than 10 years' service as Membership Secretary to the club.
You can see the photos here
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