Worshipful Company of Gunmakers – Service of Thanksgiving and Nomination Dinner 2018

The Company’s annual Service of  Thanksgiving and Nomination Dinner took place Wednesday 7 November. The service was held at St Martin’s within Ludgate , courtesy of the Rt Rev’d Dr Stephen Platten, and was conducted by our Honorary Chaplain the Col the Rev David Cooper. At a time when remember those members of the Livery who have passed, the Master Elect, Mrs Diana Berry also marked the 100th Anniversary of the Armistice with Dawn on the Somme , a poem written in 1918 by Robert Nicholls:

             Last night rain fell over the scarred plateau
             And now from the dark horizon, dazzling, flies
             Arrow on fire-plumed arrow to the skies
             Shot from the bright arc of Apollo’s bow;
             And from the wild and writhen waste below,
             From flashing pools and mounds lit one by one,
             O is it mist or are these companies
             Of morning heroes who arise, arise
             With thrusting arms, with limbs and hair aglow
             Toward the risen god, upon whose brow
             Burns the gold laurel of all victories,
            Hero and hero’s god, th’ invincible Sun?

Following on, dinner at the Stationers’ Hall was attended by over 200 Liveryman and guests. Outgoing Master Mr Jonathan Young, presided over initial proceedings and spoke of the Proof House and Company’s achievements during his year.

With affiliations an important element of this, he presented the Gunmakers Armourers Award for 2018 to Lance Corporal Jenny Stanley of the Defence School of Electronic and Mechanical Engineering.

The installation of the new Master, then saw Mrs Diana Berry take the Chair as the first female Master of the Company. She made reference to her father Keith Neal, who had thrice been Master, and set out her vision and priorities for the ensuing year, including charity, principally knife crime, youth and women in the Livery.

Principal guest, the Rt Hon. Sir Nicholas Soames MP entertained diners with wit and generous compliments to the role of the Proof House in maintaining firearms safety.

Other guests included former Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Peter Wall GCB, CBE DL, Colonel Ed Heal OBE, Commandant DSEME, Commander Charlie Reaves RN, Maritime Battle Staff, Dr Edward Impey, Master of the Royal Armouries and Mr Roger Hancox, Master of the Birmingham Proof House.   

Photographs from the evening, were taken by Antoinette Eugster and may be purchased by contacting Antoinette at amephoto@btinternet.com .

 

The London Proof House looking ready for the Christmas celebration.

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