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Worshipful Company of Distillers Court and Livery Dinner

Thursday 26th April 2018

The Vintners' Hall

I have known the recently installed Master Distiller for 15 years or more. I used to visit BlackRock Asset Managers on investor roadshows and Bryan Burrough was the impeccably courteous master interrogator. Apart from a distinguished career in the City, Bryan owned the 1983 Grand National winner, Corbiere, and, when he is not mastering the Distillers, he is High Sheriff of Essex.

It was a splendid evening in the magnificent setting of Vintners' Hall. My resolve to have no more than a taste of the wines almost buckled when I saw Pol Roger being topped up at the reception (for those who were not drinking Hendricks and Fever Tree or Grants Sherry Cask Whisky). The Loving Cup contained Bloomsbury Sloe Gin; this was, after all, a Distillers' dinner. The food was delicious and the speeches were entertaining. I was fortunate to be sat between Master Cooper, Roy Campbell, and Simon MacKenzie-Smith (Chairman of Corporate and Investment Banking for the U.K. at Bank of America Merrill Lynch). A joy of the evening was meeting up with several old broker and fund manager friends from my BAT days. It really was one of the highlights of my year.