January Dinner

21st January 2026

Vintners Hall

Our January Dinner 2026 was held in the magnificent surroundings of Vintners’ Hall, welcoming 140 guests for an evening rich in tradition, fellowship and celebration.

The occasion saw the debut of our newly gowned Beadle, Daniel Partridge, Yeoman Warder, who presided over his first Court and first January Dinner. He was ably supported by the Beadle of the Barber Surgeons’ Company, ensuring proceedings ran with dignity and flair.

Our guests were warmly welcomed to dinner by Assistant Tom Harris. We were honoured to host Guest Masters from a wide range of Companies, including the Vintners, Pewterers, Air Pilots, Hackney Carriage Drivers, Furniture Makers, Plaisterers and Fan Makers, reflecting the breadth and fellowship of the Livery movement. Our Principal Guest was Gerry Langley, the Lady Mayor’s Consort, and we were delighted to hear from our Guest Speaker, Lionel Zetter, whose address was engaging, humorous and just the right length!

A musical interlude added elegance to the evening, provided by two talented students – a tenor and a pianist - from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, with which we have had a sixty year association.

A highlight of the evening was the traditional Smoking Cap Ceremony, followed by several important presentations. A clay pipe decorated with musical notations celebrating craftsmanship and tradition was presented to Mr Chris Dyer of Sevenoaks School, marking his retirement after two decades of producing our beautiful annual carol service. The Alan Beggs Pipemakers’ Trophy was awarded to Mr Andy Williamson of the North of England Irish Guards’ Association. The Company was also proud to present its Company Award to Dr David Higgins and Dr Susie White, in recognition of their outstanding dedication to the National Pipe Archive at the University of Liverpool—an invaluable resource for archaeologists and historians.

At the Court before dinner we installed three new Freemen, who stood to be introduced to the Company.

Dr Michael Charlton, Patent Attorney
Hugo Johnson-Hill, Tobacco Leaf Blender
Ron Ridderbeekx, VP Global Corporate Affairs, Pladis Foods Ltd

In addition, the Court elected three further Freemen for future installation, ensuring the continued strength and vitality of the Company.

Altogether, the January Dinner was a fitting celebration of tradition, service and fellowship, setting a confident tone for the year ahead.

Thanks to Senior Warden Jaquline Burrows for the excellent summary of events