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THE LONDON LUNCH
The Old Brutonians Lunch this year in the City of
London was held at Girdlers’ Hall, a magnificent
building off London Wall, by kind permission of the
Master and Wardens and arranged through the offices of
the Vice President who is the Clerk (Chief Executive) of
this ancient Livery Company.
Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex, daughter
of our President, was the Guest of Honour.
We are particularly grateful to Her Royal Highness that
soon after her visit to the School (reported elsewhere) she
accepted the invitation to join the Old Brutonians for
lunch, not in any official capacity, but as a private guest.
Thus her attendance was not advertised in advance,
which caught out one young Old Brutonian, who having
introduced himself to her with great charm, asked her
politely who she was.
For the record, the lunch was attended by 156 Old
Brutonians and 74 sent their apologies.
The procedure and programme for the lunch remains
the same since it was first held in a Livery Hall in 1997 – a
mixture of formality, style and good humour, which
seems to be a combination appreciated by all generations
present.
We were once again under the command of our Master
of Ceremonies, Mr Robert Young, formerly Drum Major 1st
Battalion Scots Guards and Beadle of the Girdlers’
Company and therefore on this occasion in his own
home, keeping a very watchful eye on the proceedings.
The new Senior Warden (Chairman of the Governors),
Peter Squire, stood on his chair, next to the Countess, and
proposed the Toast to the School. Peter, we believe, is only
the second Old Brutonian to have the distinction of
leading the Governing Body. The last (at least, within
living memory) was Brigadier Harbin Warry who joined
Old House in 1904 and died in 1970.
For a number of years the Girdlers’ Company has
THE LONDON LUNCH
sponsored a bursary at the Guildhall School of Music and
Drama. The Bursary holder in 1999 – 2000 was Sally
Matthews.
Sally Matthews (now 27) is a world class soprano. The
Sunday Times recently proclaimed “with careful nurturing
Covent Garden might have its Kiri Te Kanawa for the new
millennium.” Since then she has performed at
Glyndebourne, the Proms (Royal Albert Hall) and at the
time of writing is due to join Sir Simon Rattle, as the
leading soprano with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.
It was really kind of her, on one of her few days off, to
come up from her home in the New Forest, to join us at
Girdlers’ Hall to sing the School Song (solo) and then to
lead the OBA massed choirs through both verses and the
chorus. She received a standing ovation, and with her
daughter, Grace, on her hip, received a bouquet from the
President and was introduced to the Countess of Wessex.
We will not see her like again.
This year we did not follow the school song with
“Swing Low Sweet Chariot” – the decline in the English
Rugby team’s results made it inappropriate. Who knows,
in 2005, Judge John Griffiths-Williams (P58/63) might ask
if any Old Brutonians with Welsh blood in their veins
would join him in singing Cwm Rhondda.
This year marks the retirement from the organising
team of Richard and Alice Taylor. They have fulfilled the
role of Lunch Secretary now for many years, during which
time the numbers have increased from around the 20
mark, when the event was held in a wine bar, to over 150.
Harry Witherby takes over.
Our thanks are also due to Robert and Kate Young and
to Chris Stallworthy and his staff at Payne and Gunter
(Caterers).
We look forward to seeing you in 2005 at Ironmongers’
Hall on 18th November.
THE OLD BRUTONIAN ASSOCIATION LONDON LUNCH – FRIDAY 18TH NOVEMBER AT IRONMONGERS’ HALL
There is an important change to note concerning the OBA London Lunch. For this year – and this year only – the
lunch will be on Friday , November 18th at Ironmongers’ Hall. From next year (2006) until further notice it will be
held on the first Friday in December and NOT the last Friday in November. This is in order to avoid a perpetual
clash with another event which would prevent a number of people from attending the lunch.
Another change to note is that after very many years of sterling service Ricky Taylor is departing to the West
Country (see you at the OBA Dinner, Richard) and the organising of the lunch is being taken over by Harry
Witherby. In the same way as before, you will be sent a notification in September with a form to return with
your cheque. Seats may be booked only by post with payment, and bookings will not be taken by telephone or
email.
However, in order for you to get a notification of the lunch you need to ensure that Harry has a note of your
name, address and telephone number. You can do this by logging on the OBA web site www.oldbrutonians.com
and clicking the register button. Alternatively you may send email to Harry Witherby at
harry@oldbrutonians.com or phone him on 0845 166 4527 (local call). Just remember that if he doesn’t have your
address you won’t get to the lunch.
14 OLD BRUTONIAN ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER 2005