Welcome to my final blog as Master, and as you can see here September saw an epic event packed schedule.

Unblocking the Bard: A Plumbers’ Tour of Shakespeare’s Globe

Liverymen and their guests are invited to the service at St Magnus-the-Martyr to install our new Master Janet Rivers and her Wardens; also to book lunch at Vintners’ Hall.

The news from the flood disaster in Nepal continues to shock and sadden us, particularly as we formed a close relationship with the local community through the DOLMA Foundation and our PPDS volunteers who completed their water supply project there up above the devastated valley. Sadly it appears that some children and their families from a school funded by DOLMA, which our volunteers visited, along with others from the neighbourhood are missing. Our Charity trustees have already agreed to make a large urgent donation to DOLMA and Aquabox to help fund the immediate relief. The Master has written a note to us all asking for your support too. Please give whatever you can.

A thank you from Liveryman Tim Gocher, Chairman of the Dolma Foundation.

We have all been horrified to hear about the devastating floods in the Rasuwa district of Nepal. It is in the valley below Changam Basti and Bokhejunda where our PPDS volunteers installed the water supply system last November, along with the DOLMA foundation and the villagers. We have been in touch with Liveryman Tim Gocher, who founded DOLMA, and sadly a number of people from Bokhejunda and two other villages nearby are missing. To add to the tragedy, some children at the school in Dhunche supported by DOLMA, which our volunteers visited, are also missing along with their families. They were on a weeks festival holiday. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by this awful disaster.

While our volunteers were in Nepal, they also helped instal some Aquabox filters, an aid charity our own Plumbers Charity has supported for many years. It has responded immediately to the disaster and here is a video describing its initial response.

At a ceremony on 20 July, our newly restored and framed Plumbers’ Banner was officially unveiled at Guildhall by The Right Honourable the Lady Mayor, Alderwoman Dame Susan Langley DBE.

The banner, originally commissioned in 1911, is now prominently displayed near the Chamberlain’s Office, where it can be viewed by those attending the Chamberlain’s Court for their Freedom ceremonies. Article on WCP banner

Hon Archivist Michael Cooper has written an article exploring the fascinating history and conservation of the Worshipful Company of Plumbers’ banner, originally commissioned by the Corporation of London for Guildhall Library in 1911.