His Master’s Voice – A Record of Letters to the Livery

Video Heading: “Talking Heads” – Full 20-Minute Conversation with The Master, Charles Brooks, and Past Master Paul Nash

A special filmed conversation between The Master and Past Master Paul Nash has been released, offering a unique and personal insight into their reflections on the Company, their shared values, and the enduring traditions of the Worshipful Company of Plumbers.

Letter from the Master – April 2025

Spring is upon us and it’s lovely to see the different variations in the colours of greens appearing in our hedgerows, on our trees and in our gardens, open spaces and fields. I hope however you were able to don your ‘blues’ for World Plumbing Day on 11 March. Like the Easter bunny it’s time for your Master to come out of winter hiding and update you with his news in the period since the end of January.

As with my previous letter last February, I shall report on internal and external Livery events and those supporting the City and the Lord Mayor.

Internal Events

There has been one social event in the sporting field held at the world famous Bisley National Shooting Centre in Surrey, when 20 Plumbers and family guests attended a coached clay shoot followed by a convivial lunch at a local pub.  Professional coaches were on hand to look after us all depending on our levels of skill and experience.  My thanks to Liverymen Penny and Simon Malik who organised the event for us.  We plan to repeat the event next year.

Clay Day Social event at Bisley

I was relieved that our Annual Banquet, our premier event in the year, went off without a hitch, with grateful thanks to the Clerk, the Office Administrator, the Beadle and our Stewards. We were treated to an excellent fare from the Mansion House catering team and thought-provoking speeches from Sir Andrew Parmley, the Lord Mayor Locum Tenens, and Michael Drayton, my guest speaker.  I was disappointed with the numbers, only 160 diners of which 51 were Liverymen.  If we wish to keep this event in our calendar in the future, we really do need to up the numbers.  I was always advised as a new Liveryman that it was expected that I would attend the Banquet, the Lecture and the Ladle Dinner.  

Guests Gathered at the Egyptian Hall, Mansion House for the Plumbers’ Banquet

Liveryman Jason Clark has very kindly sponsored the making of a video for the Company with PM Paul Nash and me talking together on a number of subjects such as what is a Livery Company, how did you come in to the Plumbers’ Company, what is the role of a Master, and so on. It was fascinating to do the filming, at premises in Stratford, and we spent over an hour talking easily and effortlessly.  The filming is under edit at the moment and we hope to make two videos available on our Website, a longer one of 20 minutes and a shorter 2/3 minute one destined for recruitment purposes.

Lights, Camera, Action! – Liveryman Jason Clark with the Master, Charles Brooks, and Past Master, Paul Nash

Filming in action 

External Events

I have attended two excellent Livery Company Lectures – the Tacitus Lecture by the World Traders given by Pamela Coke-Hamilton on global trade (really topical and interesting given President Trump’s tariff decisions) and the Water Debate (on the state of the water industry and its problems) hosted by the Water Conservators.

The Tacitus lecture by the World Traders (Guildhall)

The Water Debate with the Water Conservators (Bakers’ Hall)

Penny and I were invited to the opening ceremony of an exhibition at the London Museum Docklands called ‘Secrets of the Thames’ revealing mudlarkers’ finds over the years.  There are some amazing exhibits on show, which we saw with the Master and Wardens of the Worshipful Company of Art Scholars, who are supporting the Exhibition. I strongly recommend a visit.

I have had the pleasure of visiting two amazing schools.  The first was a trip to support the Lord Mayor, Sheriffs and other Livery Masters at Treloar’s  School in Alton, Hampshire:170 students, all severely handicapped and all using wheelchairs, supported by over 800 members of staff and volunteers. The School was set up over 100 years ago by a past Lord Mayor, and relies heavily on support from the City and Livery Companies. The School hosts a gala dinner in Mansion House which Penny and I attended on a table with the Master Baker and his consort, and over £135,000 was raised for the School; an amazing record breaking amount which is sorely needed to upgrade its facilities.

I was asked by the Clerk’s father (who is a former governor) if I could visit Mary Hare School for the deaf, in Newbury, Berkshire, and enthuse students who are undertaking Level 1 and 2 plumbing Btec courses with career prospects in the PHE industry.  I was delighted to put together a team with the CIPHE’s help comprising Lvy Jerry Whitely and Ruben Duggan (our Gold Medal winner from 2024 and silver medal winner in World Skills 2024) both of whom gave plumbing demonstrations and Lvy Jason Clark who talked to the whole School about his career from apprentice plumber to successful businessman. Our visit has been so well received that the School wish us to repeat the exercise on a regular basis. It is humbling to see how well those afflicted with physical and hearing issues cope so well in school but crucially are being prepared for life in the outside world after school.

The Plumbers Team at Mary Hare School

I have much enjoyed the hospitality of several Livery Companies at lunches or dinners, namely the Furniture Makers, the Blacksmiths (at which I made the thank you speech on behalf of the guests), the Entrepreneurs, the Clockmakers and the Chartered Architects.

Lastly I was pleased to attend the CIPHE President’s Dinner in an amazingly restored country house, Hylands, in Chelmsford (preceded by Trustee and Committee meetings). Our connections with the CIPHE are crucial in enabling the Company to achieve our relevance with modern purposes and to support the PHE industry.

The Lord Mayor and the City

One of the Company’s four principal purposes is to support the City and Lord Mayor. This often involves some pomp and ceremony and the chance to don the Master’s gown.

I was honoured to attend the Master Certificate Awards Ceremony at Mansion House with the Lord Mayor and to present 5 Plumbers with their certificates, four Master and one Journeyman. The event was well supported by other members of the Livery and family and friends.

Master Certificates Awards Ceremony at Mansion House – Lord Mayor, Masters and Award Winners

Master Certificate awards – Team Plumbers!

The United Guilds Service is always a splendid event and I felt very proud to be part of this historic movement that can fill St Paul’s with Masters, Wardens and Clerks robed in their Livery ceremonial dress  It was my lucky year and I was asked to form the guard of honour processing in the Cathedral in advance of the Clergy, City of London dignitaries, Sheriffs and the Lord Mayor. Lunch afterwards at Carpenters’ Hall with a team of 25 Plumbers and other Companies was a most friendly and enjoyable event.

The Master and the Wardens processing for the United Guilds Service

The Master and the Mistress – United Guilds Service

The Mistress, Upper Warden, Senior Steward, Clerk, and I celebrated Pancake Day in the Guildhall pancake race event.  None of us won through to our finals but we had a great time in lovely weather – a complete contrast to last year when we were cooped up inside the Crypt due to heavy rain.

Team Plumbers at the Guildhall Pancake Races

Plumbers’ promotion at the Pancake Races at the Guildhall

The Upper Warden, Master & Mistress Plumber

The Lord Mayor entertained all Livery Masters and their Consorts to a white tie “Meet the Masters” event at Mansion House at which speeches from the Masters of the Mercers and the Grocers were made, being the first two Companies in the order of precedence,.

The Master Entrepreneur celebrating the granting of Livery status to his Company

My theme of Fellowship continues apace! I hope you have enjoyed this report. I will repeat it again shortly.

Fuller reports on our recent events are to be found on our Website www.plumberscompany.org.uk.  I do hope to see you at our forthcoming April Court Masters & Clerks lunch on 30th April and at our Annual Lecture on 12th May.

In the meantime, Joyeuses Paques, here’s wishing all of you and your families a very Happy Easter.

Charles Brooks

Master

April 2025

Letter from the Master – February 2025

The Livery Year took a short break over the Christmas and New Year period, for which Penny and I were extremely grateful.  We needed to recharge our batteries.

Events in January and February have picked up and for me can be broken down into internal and external Livery events and supporting the City and the Lord Mayor.

Internal Events

I have been delighted to attend two Freedom Ceremonies at the Guildhall. They are the second stage of becoming a Liveryman and are so well and amusingly hosted by the Clerk and the Beadle of the Chamberlain’s Court. At the first the Mistress and the Clerk received their Freedoms along with Freeman Eraj Shirvani. At the second it was the turn of Freemen Sharron Trisk and Louchavan Lemard along with last year’s Mistress, Kathy Adams.  As this is an important part of our Members’ journey in to the Company I have always felt it appropriate to celebrate the occasion, which we have done with an informal lunch or drinks at the City Livery Club.  I also take the opportunity to talk about the Company, what we can offer, what we expect from our Members and what are their interests and what can they offer the Company. The third and final stage of becoming a Liveryman is the formal clothing at Court and I look forward to that happening in April.

We have held two of my social events since Christmas and my huge thanks to all the Stewards who have helped me.  The tour of and lunch at the Proof House and Gunmakers’ Hall was special, as was the trip to The London Archives (thank you also to Michael Cooper and the History Group) to see some of our ancient historical records. Both these events have been written up and appear on the website. We have just held the Plumbers’ Table at Ironmongers’ Hall with a great turnout of 38 – thank you for your support.

I also chaired my first Court meeting in January, followed by the Luncheon at Saddlers’ Hall with the very amusing Murray Craig, former Clerk of the Chamberlain’s Court, as our guest speaker.

One of the pleasures of the Master to choose the menu for our Annual Banquet with the Chef’s tasting in a private dining room at Mansion House with Debbie and Adrian. I can assure that you have something tasty to look forward to on 17 March! Whilst on the subject of food, I hosted a most convivial Staff Christmas lunch with Debbie, Adrian, Peter the Beadle and the Mistress in early January: a great time was had by all and it was a small token of my appreciation for all they do for the Company.

External Events

I have attended an excellent Masters & Clerks luncheon with the WC Masons at Mercers’ Hall and a sumptuous M&C dinner with the WC Plaisterers, who entertained 56 other Livery Companies that night.  It was back to Plaisterers’ Hall at the personal invitation of the Actuaries’ Master to the WC Actuaries’ Burns Night Dinner, with haggis and whisky to the fore!

The Lord Mayor and the City

One of the Company’s four principal purposes is to support the City and Lord Mayor. This often involves some pomp and ceremony and the chance to don the Master’s gown. I have four very different but interesting events to report.  The first was the City New Year Service held in St Michael Cornhill to welcome in the New Year, followed by a buffet lunch reception hosted by the Drapers.  I would imagine that all the 111 (now 112) Livery Companies were present. The second was to celebrate the installation of the Lord Mayor as Rector of City St George’s University of London in the Barbican with an honorary degree. A small number of Masters, suitably robed attended the ceremony when 100s of degree certificates were awarded in the School of Health and Psychological Sciences, followed by a buffet lunch. Next came lunch with the Judges at the Old Bailey hosted by Sheriff David Chalk.  Conversation with their Honour Judges was fascinating but sad given that they mostly sit in trials involving murder, knife crime, gang wars and drugs. My last and most recent event was in the Guildhall Yard for the launch of the Veterans’ Garden for the Lord Mayor’s Big Curry Lunch. In excess of 50 Masters would have been in attendance to support the occasion, the temporary garden being a depiction of a small London garden during WW2 commemorating the 80th anniversary of the ending of the War, and coordinated by our good friends, the WC Gardeners.

My theme of Fellowship continues apace! I hope you have enjoyed this report, and I will repeat it again shortly.

Charles Brooks Master – February 2025

Freedom Ceremony L-R: Eraj Shirvani, Penny Brooks (Mistress), Debbie Abergil (Clerk)

Freedom Ceremony L-R: Debbie Abergil (Clerk), David Adams (IPM), Kathy Adams, Louchavan Lemard, Sharron Trisk, Charles Brooks (Master)

L-R: The Ven Luke Miller (Archdeacon of London), The Hon Liz Green OBE DL, Ian Kelly, Mrs Nicola Davies, Sheriff David Chalk, Charles Brooks (Master), PM Erica Stary, Alderman Robert Hughes-Penny

City St George’s University of London Installation of new Rector: Back row: Master Baker, Master Management Consultant, Master World Trader, Master Horner

Middle row: Master Scientific Instrument Maker, Master Saddler, Master Entrepreneur, Master Plumber, Master Dyer, Master Stationer,

Seated: Master Constructor, Master Cook, The Lord Mayor Alderman Alastair King, the Executive Dean, Master Coachmaker, Master Educator

The Actuaries Burns Night Dinner Guest Masters: Master Firefighter, Master HR Professional, Master Plumber

The Master, Charles Brooks, at The Veterans’ Garden in Guildhall Yard

The Veterans’ Garden in Guildhall Yard: The Lord Mayor Locum Tenens, Alderman Vincent Keaveny CDE KStJ, giving the welcome address

City New Year Service: The Master, Charles Brooks, and the Mistress, Penny Brooks, with the Famous Painting at Drapers’ Hall