Liverymen and their guests assembled at Haberdasher’s Hall on a warm 3rd. October for our Installation Dinner. This event, each year, follows the Court meeting at which our new Master has been installed. This year we are delighted to have Edward Hutton become Master, and also to see a new 4th. Warden, Bill Gammell. The other Wardens all moved up a rank, following the familiar procedure. At that same Court meeting, five new Liverymen were welcomed to the Company, Lily Goodwin, Emma Whitaker, James Cushing, Alderman William Russell and Commander Steve Moorhouse.

The Receiving Line

Haberdasher’s Hall, of course, is as near to a home that the Feltmakers have, so it was good to have our dinner in these familiar splendid surroundings.

Nigel Macdonald

It goes without saying that the meal and accompanying wines were excellent and after the formal toasts to the Queen and the Royal Family had been proposed by the Master, Senior Assistant Nigel Macdonald enthusiastically proposed the toast to the guests. The Master’s principal guest, this evening, was the previous Lord Mayor, Alderman Sir David Wooton.

Sir David Wooton

He was very complimentary to the Feltmakers Livery in proposing the toast to the Company and diners enjoyed his witty speech. The new Master, Edward Hutton, responded and in his speech praised his predecessor, Past Master Simon Bartley. He also praised our Clerk, Jollyon Coombs, who had raised a considerable sum for charity in the summer when he rowed Scotland’s Great Glen.

The Master

The Master took wine with the new Liverymen and we were all invited to join him for a stirrup cup after the port had had its final passing round the tables.

Peter Shirley