News Archive

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

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

Alderman Bronek Masojada has been elected as the 698th Lord Mayor of the City of London.

In 2009, John Carnaby revisited the toilets at Marble Arch/Cumberland Gate and discovered that work he had carried out in the late 1950s was still in place.

From the Clerk:
To all members of the Livery

I am very sorry to inform you that I have just been informed of the passing of Liveryman John (Jack) Wishart in July.

I am told that Jack was a proud Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Plumbers having been Admitted in 1994. He was a Past President of SNIPEF and a Past Chairman of BPEC. He represented SNIPEF on the World Plumbing Council and on the European Plumbing Association and the Company at the BPEC Skills Competition in Northern Ireland.

An Obituary can be found at the following link:

BPEC Pays Tribute to Former Chair Jack Wishart

The Herbert Baker Heritage Trust, which was created to promote excellence in heritage building craftsmanship, has been newly formed by Sir Herbert’s descendants and has close links to our company. Renter Warden Michael Cooper brings us this report from his recent visit to meet the organisation together with Past Master Peter Rumley.

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

On 14th October, Janet Rivers will be installed as Master for the ensuing year in St Magnus-the-Martyr Church, Lower Thames Street. At the same ceremony, Michael Cooper will be installed as Upper Warden and Kevin Thomas as Renter Warden. They all look forward to the honour of serving our ancient company.

Following our Charity’s emergency donation to Aquabox, along with its support to the DOLMA Foundation, we have received the following thank you from Roger Cassidy, the Aquabox chairman:

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.

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.

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.

The Worshipful Company of Plumbers is saddened to report the death of Honorary Liveryman Geoffrey Bond OBE on 24 July 2026, aged 86. The Company extends its sincere condolences to his wife, Dianora, his family and friends. Geoffrey Charles Bond OBE, OStJ, DL, BSc (Econ), LLD (Hon), FSA (1939-2026)

The 41st Annual Lecture ‘The Future of Water Security’ was held on 24th June 2026 at the prestigious World Plumbing Conference. This insightful lecture was delivered by Matthew Griffin, a multi-award-winning futurist and internationally recognised expert in disruption and innovation.

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

In the sweltering heat of July’s heat wave, 116 of us assembled in the fabulous surroundings of Trinity House for our Annual Summer Festival Dinner.

July is proving to be a busy and successful month for the Plumbers’ Golf Society, with teams proudly representing The Worshipful Company of Plumbers at two prestigious Inter-Livery fixtures. The Paviors’ Charity Golf Day at West Kent Golf Club was followed just three days later by the Marketors’ 20th Inter-Livery Fellowship Golf Day at Verulam Golf Club. Both events combined competitive golf, fellowship and charitable support, reflecting the enduring traditions of the Livery movement.

The Worshipful Company of Plumbers joined CIPHE and more than 900 exhibitors at the largest-ever InstallerSHOW, held at Birmingham’s NEC, held between 23rd and 25th June.

For the first time ever, the 14th World Plumbing Conference was hosted at InstallerSHOW at the NEC, Birmingham 23-25 June 2026 in conjunction with the World Plumbing Council, and Chartered Institute of Plumbing & Heating Engineering (CIPHE). A UK based event attracting an influential and global audience, all coming together to work towards improving the future of plumbing through 4 key pillars: Skills Development, Supply & Conservation, Sustainability and Safeguarding the Public.

A team of Royal Navy engineers from HMS Sultan visited the Worshipful Company of Plumbers Plumbing Museum & Workshop Trust at Amberley for a day of practical leadworking training. The visit celebrated the long-standing relationship between the organisations while helping preserve and pass on valuable traditional plumbing skills.

The 41st Annual Lecture at the World Plumbing Conference was presented at the NEC by renowned futurist Matthew Griffin.

NEWSON-SMITH CUP  – The Drift Golf Club

The Plumbers’ Golf Society was pleased to take part in the 2026 Newson-Smith Cup Inter-Livery Golf Competition, hosted by the Tallow Chandlers, winners of the 2025 event. This year marked the 90th Anniversary of the Newson-Smith Cup, first presented to The Turners in 1936, by their then Master Frank Newson-Smith who went on to be Lord Mayor of London 1943-1944.

Lvy Mike Horwood is gearing up for another incredible challenge! This year it’s on the closed-road sportive Etape Caledonia for the Plumbers Charity on May 10th.

The historic bracket clock at St Magnus the Martyr Church, gifted by Alderman Sir Charles Duncombe in 1709, has been carefully restored following significant decay. The Rector and PCC thank the Plumbers Charity, Clockmakers’ Company, Georgian Group Cleary Fund, and Friends of the City Churches for supporting this important conservation work.

Our volunteers at the Installer Show on the 23rd-25th June at the NEC, which also incorporated the World Plumbing Conference this year, were proudly displaying our new company sponsors! BHWM, HDR, Catchpole & Rye and PEW. Full article on the show and events to follow soon!

The Worshipful Company of Plumbers are delighted to announce that Liveryman, Alderman Prem Goyal CBE has been elected as a Sheriff of the City of London for 2026/27 and as his Mother Company, we wish him every success for his year ahead.

We send our congratulations on this prestigious appointment to both Prem and his fellow Sheriff Elect The Hon. Tim Levene.

The Master and her Consort were delighted to host 46 Company members and partners in Durham and Northumberland in early June.  Both have connections to the area.

The first evening started with a drinks reception on the terrace at Beamish Hall Hotel, our base for the next few days.  In defiance of the weather forecast, the sun shone on the righteous, the Hawaiian shirts came out & the BBQ was lit.

The Plumbers were delighted to take part in The Horners’ Trophy at Ashridge Golf Club on 10 June 2026, joining fellow Livery Companies for one of the most enjoyable and well-supported fixtures in the inter-Livery golfing calendar.

The Plumbers team at Ashridge Golf Club – Ian Palmer, Captain Jane Palmer, Richard Harvey and Paul Husselbee.

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On Wednesday 13 May 2026, Liverymen Jamie Fisher, Penny Malik, Simon Malik and Immediate Past Master Charles Brooks represented The Worshipful Company of Plumbers at the Inter Livery Charity Clay Shoot, held at the West London Shooting School, Northolt, Middlesex. Now shooting together for the fourth consecutive year as the “Traditionals”, the Plumbers’ team once again improved its standing in this popular inter-livery event, continuing a steady upward progression and proudly flying the flag for the Company in good humour, determined spirit and, at times, extremely challenging weather.

The sun shone for the Plumbers and guests assembled on 20th May near Spitalfields Market with our London guide, Charlie de Wet, for a tour of Spitalfields which sits just outside the City of London, in the area behind Liverpool Street Station.