Master Distiller's montage
The end: at Glaziers' Hall
Master Environmental Cleaner at Apothecaries' Hall
Not that gate again!
Lunch at Armourers and Brasiers

The Livery Halls' Walk and some generous sponsorship

7th September 2026

Nearly all the Halls! But not necessarily in the right order.

Monday 7 September was the day when all the training that Simon and I have been doing over the past few weeks finally came to fruition, as we took part in the 20th running of the gruelling Livery Halls’ Walk.

We were spurred on by the incredibly generous sponsorship of £1,400, donated by members of our Company - and by a hip flask of Glenmorangie, which may also have played a small part in getting us to the finish.

Organised each year by the Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners, the event has now acquired many of the characteristics of Glastonbury Festival. Only 21 Companies are usually allowed to take part, including the hosts, and places sell out almost before bookings have officially opened.

So, this year, I was determined that the Tobacco Pipe Makers would not be left out. Poised over my keyboard, I waited for the announcement from our Learned Clerk and then scrambled to make the booking. Success!

In the end, however, so many Companies joined the booking system simultaneously that they could not be separated, and 31 were accepted. The result was the largest Livery Halls’ Walk ever.

Sadly, the logistics made it impossible for us also to attend the Worshipful Company of Distillers’ event at the Master Distiller’s Cotswolds distillery on the Sunday. Something had to give, and so the ultimate sacrifice was made. Although, judging by the condition of several of those who appeared on Monday morning, some participants had clearly managed to combine the two events and were bearing the scars of a serious day of spirits’ tasting.

So, armed with walking poles, trainers, the Senior Warden’s gown - which is lighter weight than the Master’s - and all the necessary bling, Simon and I took the train to London on Sunday evening. Was it really only Saturday that we had been taking the train home after Pepys’ Day on Friday?

We gathered at 0800 for bacon rolls at Apothecaries’ Hall to fortify ourselves for the challenge ahead. Master Nurse had brought the blister plasters and Master Actuary was there to make up the numbers.

40 halls later, after coffee at Ironmongers’, an excellent lunch at Armourers’ and Brasiers’ and tea at Furniture Makers’, we finally reached our destination: the courtyard of Southwark Cathedral where we were rewarded with wine and beer before dragging our weary selves and our suitcase back towards London Bridge station, sidestepping the hardy few continuing the celebrations at The Mudlark pub.

By that stage, neither of us could face a Tube journey back to Paddington. So we splashed out on a taxi and finally slumped into our seats on the 1930 train back to Bath, where we didn’t move very much for the rest of the evening.

It had been a long and very warm day, and while it was quite a challenge – not everyone made it to the end - it was enormous fun.

Most importantly, thanks to the extraordinary generosity of members of our Company, we raised £1,400 for the Lord Mayor’s Appeal, which I hope will be augmented by £1000 from our Benevolent Fund.

Just time to gather our thoughts before we head back to London tomorrow for the Masters and Senior Wardens’ Dinner with Alderman Tim Hailes JP, Lord Mayor Elect, at Chartered Accountant’s Hall.