Pewterers Company Masters and Clerks Dinner- Pewterers Hall
Tuesday 16th February 2016
I have a soft spot for Pewterers Hall. It was where I was elected Master of our Company almost a year ago now. It is a small but lovely hall with two splendid rooms, a court room above and a dining hall below. I was invited together with five other masters to join the Pewterers at their Masters and Clerks dinner. A relatively small affair with about 70 in total sitting down to dine in the intimate surroundings of the hall. An excellent menu with some really special wines. The Pewterers have a wine committee who decide on the Company's wines which are stored in their cellar. Needless to say membership of the wine committee is much prized and the turnover of members is low. The Guest of Honour was the Warden of Keeble College Oxford and former permanent secretary at the Home Office responsible for organising and attending on the ministers negotiating the peace talks in Northern Ireland. A number of interesting stories to be told about his time there and one or two from Oxford including some apposite comments about the Rhodes statue furore. All given without a note as was the master's speech. A talent for speaking without notes is another much prized but seldom seen feature of after dinner speakers. I envy them both. A delightful evening.
