News

Once again, the Plumbers were well represented at the Annual Inter Livery Pancake Race at Guildhall on 17 February by the Master, her Consort Ian, our Clerk Debbie Abergil and Senior Steward David Pearson.

It is with much sadness that we have to announce the death of Honorary Liveryman Martin Gratte. A great friend of the Plumbers, he passed away after a short illness on 5th February 2026. His funeral and celebration of his life will be held on 25th February 2026; please open this post to see all the arrangements.

As we settle into February, please find below the link to this month’s Livery Briefing. Please do share the link with your fellow Livery and wider networks.

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Master Sandra Raine was delighted to host a packed table of Liverymen and guests, with 50 diners in attendance within the splendid Elizabethan Revival architecture of Ironmongers Hall.

The Plumbers’ Company is proud to support and promote the World Plumbing Conference (WPC)  2026, being led and organised by Court Assistant Kevin Wellman, CEO of the CIPHE. We are holding three special events as part of the conference – our Annual Lecture, a Gala Dinner and a presentation by our “Fab Four” PPDS volunteers on their charity project in Nepal. Please use this link to our Annual Lecture event to register and book for either or all of these. This is done on the WPC website and each person attending will need to register and book separately.

Our sell out tour of the Royal Ballet & Opera House on 22nd January 2026 provided a fascinating insight into the history of the venue and a look around the labyrinthine building.

The Master is keen to draw Liverymen’s attention to an exceptional programme of cultural events and exhibitions taking place at Guildhall Library during early 2026, and is pleased to share these opportunities with members of the Worshipful Company of Plumbers.

As 2025 drew to a close, the Master reflects on a busy and festive month filled with City and Livery events. From a fascinating reception at the RAF Museum to our record-breaking Carol Service at St Magnus the Martyr, December was a celebration of tradition, community, and camaraderie.

No 1147 Sqn (Barking), our affiliated Air Cadet Squadron, celebrated its successes in 2025 at the prestigious RAF Club in Piccadilly on 13 December.

The Worshipful Company of Plumbers’ annual Carol Service at St Magnus the Martyr achieved a record-breaking attendance, with more than 115 Liverymen, Freemen and guests gathering for a festive evening of music, fellowship and seasonal celebration.

The Brigantes, City of London Liverymen in the North, held their annual Christmas Gathering for 2025 in the beautiful spa town of Buxton, entertained by the world famous Brighouse & Rastrick Band.

The Master has confirmed receipt of the live stream link and has requested that it be circulated. Please find it shared here together with the Order of Service.

To live-stream the service, click HERE, and for the Order of Service, click HERE

We write on behalf of the Past Masters’ Consorts to share our deep appreciation for the exceptional work undertaken by the volunteers at the Company’s Plumbing Museum. Their dedication has greatly enhanced the Museum’s profile, and this letter sets out our wish to support them in improving the visitor experience even further.

This month’s Raine Drops highlights a lively start to the Master’s year. Despite an early mishap resulting in a broken arm, she has embraced a demanding schedule of civic events, ceremonies and dinners with characteristic optimism and energy. These reflections offer a warm snapshot of her first busy weeks in office.

His Majesty’s Ambassador to Nepal, Rob Fenn, lays on a reception in the Embassy for our four PPDS volunteers on their return to Kathmandu.

Our “Fab Four” have completed the charity water supply project and the village of Changam Basti now has clean water for all its 60 inhabitants. Huge congratulations to them and all the team from Dolma and the villagers of Changam Basti who worked with them and supported them. We at the WCP and CIPHE back here in the UK salute them.

Our wonderful PPDS volunteers have supported the Dolma Foundation team even further by distributing and setting up Aquabox filters in Dukang, another mountainside village in Nepal.

We are delighted to report that our four intrepid PPDS volunteers are making a huge impact on their Charity water distribution project in collaboration with the CIPHE and the Dolma Foundation. This excellent blog from our colleagues at CIPHE “CIPHE and WCP Celebrate PPDS Volunteers Bringing Water to Nepal” captures superbly what this exciting project is delivering. Look out for more news as the project progresses.

Our four PPDS volunteers arrived in Kathmandu, Nepal on Friday 7 November after an overnight flight from Heathrow. They were met by Liveryman Tim Gocher, Founder and Chairman of the DOLMA Foundation who they will be working with, to complete our impactful plumbing and sanitation project.

The Plumbers Company welcomed the third woman to be elected as Mayor, Dame Susan Langley, the first to adopt the title, Lady Mayor.

The Master was pleased to represent the Company to witness The Silent Ceremony, when the Mayor was sworn into office, the day before the Lady Mayor’s Show.

The Master was privileged to represent the Company at the City and Livery Garden of Remembrance Service on 3 November 2025 at St Paul’s Cathedral. This most solemn service was led by the Dean of St Paul’s, The Very Reverend Andrew Tremlett. The Right Honourable The Lord Mayor of London, Alderman Alistair King, gave an address and led the planting of crosses to commemorate the fallen.

WCoP Liveryman Louchavan Lemard EngTech FCIPHE RP, Co-Founder of PH247, has been announced as the winner of the prestigious Lloyds Launchpad competition at the UK Black Business Show 2025.

The Master’s first social outing, a tour of the Palace of Westminster, was a great success, in spite of her early “Master’s Break”, a fractured right arm.  More than 40 Plumbers and guests were given a personal tour hosted by Lvy. Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate.