United Guilds' Service/Lunch at Stationers'
28th March 2025St Paul's/Stationers' Hall
After a breakfast at nearby Paternoster Square, the Tobacco Pipe Makers' group of attendees met up at Stationers' Hall to collect our gowns before heading to St Paul's.
As always the service is very well attended and we filled our row of seats, with rows placed in Livery seniority order. Carolyn, as Consort, had the best position under the dome with all the other Livery Master's Consorts!
As usual, a fine service, with a very good and amusing sermon from Dr Mark Oakley, Dean of Southwark Cathedral (the text is attached).
The main West doors were opened at the end of the service so we had the pleasure of streaming out into the sunlight through these rather than the side doors.
Then on to photos on the main steps before heading to Stationers' Hall to lunch.
Whether by luck or judgement, the members of the Tobacco Pipe Makers' Livery party ended up on the top table with the Stationers' Liverymen. Carolyn and I were priviliged to be seated next to the Master and Mistress of the Stationers, so had a most enjoyable meal and conversation.
As always, the Master Stationer makes a speech checking that all the expected Livery companies are present. This time, he called out the companies by number in seniority order rather than by name. Fortunately everybody knew their place in the order of precedence and responded with a variety of suitable replies to let the Master know they were there!
As always a very enjoyable day!