Glasgow in London Dinner
5th September 2023Guildhall Library
The Splendour of the Guildhall Library was the backdrop of the Glasgow in London Dinner, which served as a reunion for the Masters Group who formed in June, a historical visit from Guilds and Liveries from Glasgow and if our table was anything to go by, an annual family and friends get together. In fact if the journey to get there had been longer, I would have thought I was in Glasgow: the kilts, tartan table runners, and the toasts!!! The toasts were exceptional and unlike anything I had experienced previously - even in Glasgow! The special guests toasted other special guests who widened the circle to include those to their left and their right, there was a toast to Masters who had travelled to Scotland in June and those to their left and right. We toasted the King and all but one person rose for the occasion. We toasted to toast and in between there was music and reeling by noteworthy representatives including the Prime Warden Basket Maker. I had the privilege of sitting next to Erica Starry who truly is the oracle within the City Livery Companies. The lovely family and friends enveloped us and I learned a lot about book binding from a sensational gentleman who helps keep ancient books and manuscripts in circulation. He is married to a clock repairer and having only just visited the Coronation Exhibition at Buckingham Palace, I am aware of the vast number of extraordinary clocks within the Palace that are looked after on an annual basis. It was a memorable occasion! By the end of the evening/ toasting, travelling back to Hampshire seemed almost as long as the journey back from Glasgow - almost but, the evening was equally exciting!