Broderers, Drapers and The King’s Speech

I was very privileged to be a guest at a magnificent banquet hosted by the Worshipful Company of Broderers at the Drapers Hall last night. It was such a super event that I hardly know where to start.

The Drapers Hall is a magnificent building – if you saw the movie “The King’s Speech” the ‘Accession Council’ meeting took place in the Livery Hall where we had dinner. If you haven’t been to the Hall do look at it on the weblink above – it is beautiful.

There were over thirty-five Masters of other companies there with as many Clerks and other officers of a number of companies, so there were many and varied badges (and medals as well).

This is the 450^th anniversary year of the Broderers’ Company and they have raised a substantial amount of money for their charitable activities from Liverymen. Both our Companies support the Royal School of Needlework and Fine Cell Work and the Master was presented with a lovely cushion from the Fine Cell Work exhibition that I mentioned in an earlier blog.

Apart from the delicious dinner (I am getting into serious eating……) there was very amusing entertainment provided by musicians from the Guildhall School of Music. As part of the Broderers’ fundraising for City Gateway during their 450th year, the Master initiated a ‘Master’s Raffle’ for a sculpture of a running hippopotamus by Mark Coreth. Needless to say the entertainment concluded with a raucous rendition by all of The Hippopotamus Song by Flanders and Swann. It was doubly hilarious hearing this sung in such grand surroundings with everyone in their finery.

The Broderers’ has a tradition that the Master sings a special song (can be found on the website) with all joining in with the rousing choruses. What a nerve-wracking thing to have to do and he did it with style and panache.

Thank you Broderers!