Agincourt Dinner 23rd October 2007
On the evening of the 23rd October 2007 Members of the Company gathered at Tallow Chandlers' Hall for the Agincourt Dinner.
After the reception on the Command of the Beadle, Paul Tredget. the company moved into the Hall prior to the procession of the Master, Wardens, Principal Guest, the Chaplain and the Clerk. Once every one was in place the Beadle gavelled and asked for silence for the Master who asked all to keep a minutes silence to reflect on the lives and to remember those members of the 2nd Battalion the Mercian Regiment who had died on operations in Afghanistan:
Lance Corporal Sandford
Drummer Wright
Captain Dolan
Private Ford
Private Wright
Sergeant Brelsford
Private Botha
Private Tunnicliffe
Colour Sergeant Newman
The minutes silence ended with a single strike of the Beadle's gavel and the Chaplain was asked to say grace. An excellent meal of salmon terrine, roast beef, a selection of deserts and finally a Roquefort and walnut tart washed down with Montagny, Grand Cru St Emilion, and Sauterne followed.
After the meal Grace was sung and the company joined in the passing of the traditional loving cup. The Loyal Toasts, the Toast to the Lord Mayor and the City of London Corporation and the traditional silent toast to The Company's Benefactor James Wood followed.
As tradition demands Mr Alex Barker and Mr Alasdair Young of the Guildhall School of Music a Drama entertained the Company with a selection of songs including The Major General Song in honour of our Army guests, The Pirate King, Sea Fever and What Shall we do with the Drunken Sailor? in honour of our Royal Naval Guest Commander Tom Guy, The Flanders and Swan Song the Transport of Delight followed before concluding with a rendition of the Bowyers' Song. As to be expected the company joined in with great gusto cementing the atmosphere of comradeship for which the Company is known.
The Renter Warden, Mr Howard Mundy then welcomed the guests. He welcomed The Principal Guest General the Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank, highlighting aspects of his military: his service with the Welsh Guards, the SAS and fulfilling Senior Command Appointments including Chief of the Defence Staff. He went on to mention his activities after retirement mentioning his charitable work and his work with NM Rothschild. He then moved on to welcome Lieutenant General Sir Roderick Cordy-Simpson and Major General Sir Peter Downward commenting particularly on the wide range of his military experience. He then touched on the other Military Guests making a special mention of Colonel Johnny Hackett representing our affiliated regiment the Mercian Regiment for the last time. Lastly he welcomed Professors Carpenter and Burns from Kings College London with whom the Company is hoping to establish an affiliation.
General Guthrie then responded after a few humorous remarks he spoke about the problems of the armed forces to-day and the apparent indifference that the people of the country have towards the young men and women serving in conditions of great danger in far away places. He also touched upon the lack of support given to the soldiers' families left at home, some in appalling conditions. There was a standing ovation once he sat down.
The Clerk then proposed the traditional toast to the Company the Master then made his response. He thanked General Guthrie for coming to the Dinner, he then welcomed to the Company the three Freemen who had taken their oath at the Court Meeting that had preceded the Dinner: Tony Baldry, Chester Stern and Ronald Marks
