Feet up at the City Livery Club
With my hosts at the SIM banquet (photo Sandra Rowse)
Guest speaker with Master SIM (photo Sandra Rowse)
Maia Roberts and accompanist (photo Sandra Rowse)

WCO Scientific Instrument Makers' Annual Banquet

18th June 2026

Painters' Hall

I was delighted to be invited by Master Jane Fishwick to the Annual Banquet of the Worshipful Company of Scientific Instrument Makers at Painters' Hall on 18 June. This is a venue with historic meaning for us, as Guildhall records show that by 1635 the newly reincorporated Company of Tobacco Pipe Makers was already holding its Court meetings at Painters' Hall!

I dragged my suitcase across London to the City Livery Club on Thursday afternoon and rewarded myself with a few precious minutes of sunshine on the river terrace. I enjoyed a chat with the Master Plumber, Sandra Raine, and her Consort before a quick change into evening dress and high heels and a totter around the corner to Little Trinity Lane, following behind a Liveryman in a smart kilt who was arousing much more interest from passers-by than I was.

The Scientific Instrument Makers are, like us, one of the Modern Livery Companies, sitting at number 84 in the Order of Precedence, just two places behind the Tobacco Pipe Makers. Founded in 1955 to promote the craft of scientific instrument making, they became a full Livery Company in 1963 and were granted a Royal Charter in 2021.

Painters’ Hall always brings back good memories. When I first joined the Company we used to hold all our events there, and it was where I was admitted to the Freedom in 2002 and gowned with the Livery in 2004. Historically, an earlier Painters' Hall is where the Tobacco Pipe Makers held some of their meetings in the 17th and 18th centuries.

At the reception I was hosted by Simon Flower, Senior Warden of WCSIM, and his wife Shivani, who is a member of the Information Technologists. Both are directors of STL Ethos.

Grace was said by the Revd Tosin Oladipo, who has recently become Rector of St Margaret Lothbury and Honorary Chaplain to the WCSIM, and I sat with the Upper Warden of the Guild of Young Freemen and the Consort to the Master of the Welsh Livery. We were entertained by the award-winning young flautist Maia Roberts, accompanied by Alex Wyatt, and heard an inspiring address from Rebecca Jelbert, Head of Programmes at In2scienceUK. She spoke eloquently about the opportunities created for young people from under-resourced backgrounds who aspire to careers in STEM industries and the important role played by the WCSIM in providing support.

The evening flew by until carriages were called at 2230, prompting a rapid exit involving flat shoes, the safe removal of the Master’s badge, and a sprint to Mansion House tube station. To my relief, the last train to Bath was still waiting at Paddington and I was safely home just after one o’clock in the morning.

A delightful evening, and proof that scientific precision extends even to banquet timing — although not always to the timing of trains to the West Country.

Photos to follow.