News

December 2011 - Obituary
Past Master Sylvia Tutt

Miss Sylvia Tutt, who died at her home recently, was Past Master of the Worshipful Companies of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, and Scriveners.

Sylvia had been the very first female Master of any Livery Company (Chartered Secretaries and Administrators 1983/84), and first female President of the City Livery Club.  She had been President of the United Wards Club; Chairman and Vice-President of the Royal Society of St George; and President of Farringdon Ward Club.  In The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA) she had been President of the Women's Society, Chairman of London Branch, Member of Council and member of the Benevolent Fund Committee.

Tributes have been pouring in to the Company including this one from Sir Alexander Graham:

'She was a delightful and considerable individual, with a high sense of duty. In 1983 when I was Master of the Mercers’ Company, it was a very interesting period. Not only did we have the Queen but also the first Lady Prime Minister in Margaret Thatcher, the first Lady Lord Mayor in Mary Donaldson and the first Lady Master of a livery company in  Sylvia. Quite a formidable quadruplet!'

30 October 2011 - Hon Freeman (RAF) receives Freedom of the City

Honorary Freeman (RAF) - Air Commodore Nigel Beet OBE RAF - received the Freedom of the City of London under the auspices of WCCSA. He and his wife Beccy, and Rear Admiral Mike Kimmons CB (the previous Hon Freeman RN) were entertained to lunch afterwards in the Members' Dining Room, Guildhall.  Deputy Richard Regan, Chief Commoner, greeted the lunch party. 

Obituary
George Challis CBE 1921-2011

Honorary Liveryman George Challis CBE, who died on Thursday 20th October, was Honorary Clerk to this Company from 1984-1994.

George Challis CBE was born on 26 May 1921.  He was commissioned into the Lancashire Fusiliers on 13 September 1941 from RMC Sandhurst (wartime commission). From 26 January 1942 he was attached to the Indian Army (9th Gurkha Rifles) with whom he served in India, Ceylon, Italy and Greece ending up as a company commander (Major). He was Mentioned in Despatches on 29 November 1945 and 17 January 1946. 

After the war he had a distinguished career in the City of London - see "Who's Who".  He was, inter alia, Chief Commoner of the Corporation of London, 1990/91, Master Tobacco Pipe Maker and Tobacco Blender, 1992/93 and Hon. Clerk, Chartered Secretaries and Administrators' Company, July 1984 - October 1994.

His funeral will take place at Christ Church, Epsom Common, on Wednesday, November 2nd at 2.45 pm

Donations in lieu of flowers to the Gurkha Welfare Trust.  Further information from Sherlock Funeral Service 01306 882266 office@sherlockandsons.co.uk

11 October 2011 - Installation of Master and Wardens for 2011-2012

Master: Mr Ian Richardson FCIS
Senior Warden: Mr Charles Ledsam FCIS
Junior Warden: Mr Zbigniew (Bish) Lis FCIS

27 August 2011 - Apprentice raises money for Help the Heroes and Alzheimers Society

Company Apprentice James Schirn took part in the London to Paris bike ride and raised over £1,000 for Help the Heroes and Alzheimers Society.

1 August 2011 - HMS Raleigh annual awards ceremony

The Worshipful Company of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators Awards were presented to Sub Lieutenant (SLt) Joanne Rowe and Petty Officer Michael Read at the Defence Maritime Logistics School at HMS Raleigh in Cornwall.

Sub Lieutenant (SLt) Joanne Rowe undertook an eleven month training course at the school, starting last year, to prepare her to take on the role of a Royal Navy Logistics Officer.   >More (PDF)

The commitment, drive and encouragement of others shown by a Royal Navy Petty Officer from Merthyr Tydfil during training at the Defence Maritime Logistics School has earned him the prize as one of the top students for 2010. Petty Officer Michael Read undertook a two month training course at the school last year as part of his personal development.   >More (PDF)

15 July 2011 - Apprentices Wine Tasting Evening

A big thank you to David Lock for organising a fantastic summer evening apprentice event which took place last night at Vinopolis. The Clerk, Senior Warden Ian Richardson, apprentices, masters, colleagues, friends and partners attended.

Attendees were treated with an evening of tutored wine tasting where we learned techniques to enable us to taste wine like a pro. These included how to experience the true flavour of wine, make an educated guess as to the age and how to sniff out a rogue corked wine.

We then moved onto the self-guided wine tour where not only did we have the opportunity to put our newly acquired pro wine tasting skills to good use; we also had the perfect forum for social interaction. I personally had the pleasure to meet a number of apprentices for the first time, swap tales about recent exam success/worries, and talk about future career plans. A fantastic evening was had by all.

Zoe Nattress, Apprentice

3 July 2011 - Apprentice Charity Sky-Dive in aid of the British Red Cross

Company Apprentice Kirstan Boynton did a sky-dive in Northamptonshire on 3 July. With sponsorship provided in part by Liverymen, she raised £1020 for The British Red Cross.

1-3 July 2011 - Master's Weekend in Exeter

Liveryman David Turner writes: We assembled from far and wide on the afternoon of Friday 1 July 2011 for the 2011 Master’s weekend in the splendid city of Exeter. The first event was Evensong in Exeter Cathedral, where we were very privileged to be seated in the choir stalls. >More

May 2011 - John F Phillips Memorial Prize

The Company's John F. Phillips Memorial Prize for 2010 has been awarded to Mr Frank Bennett.  The prize, awarded annually to the student gaining the highest marks in the qualifying examinations of The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators in the year in question, is normally presented during the Company's Livery Banquet in the Mansion House.  Unfortunately Mr. Bennett, who lives and works on the Isle of Man, was unable to attend this year.  A presentation was therefore made, on behalf of the Master, by Liveryman Anthony Hewitt who also lives on the Isle of Man.  Mr. Bennett works as a Senior Trust Oficer for Barclays Private Bank Trust (Isle of Man) Ltd., and is being posted to Singapore for six to nine months from June 2011.  The prize attracts a silver medal and a cheque for £ 500 - something that should be a powerful motivation to excel in the examinations for this prestigeous qualification.

Monday 16 May 2011 - Annual Livery Banquet

The Annual Livery Banquet took place on Monday 16 May at the Mansion House. The Master, Commander Rory Jackson RN presided.  Speakers were Alderman The Lord Levene of Portsoken KBE (Lord Mayor Locum Tenens), The Lord Powell of Bayswater KCMG;  and Mr Ian Richardson.  Amongst those present were The Baroness Drake, Alderman Alan Yarrow, Sheriff Richard Sermon, Sir Alexander and Lady Graham, Mr Richard Regan (Chief Commoner), the Masters of the Saddlers, Wheelwrights and Tax Advisers’ Companies, Rear Admiral David Steel CBE and Brigadier Nicola Moffatt. The Master presented Lord Levene with a cheque for the Lord Mayor’s Appeal.

3 May 2011 - West Ham Sea Cadets

The Master visited West Ham Sea Cadets on 3 May 2011 to present the Letters of Association.

Monday 28 February 2011- Annual Rivers Lecture

Lord Wilson of Dinton delivered the annual Rivers Lecture, held in association with the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry Commercial Education Trust, at Drapers' Hall. His subject was Plain Tales from the Hills: reflections of a former Cabinet Secretary. Cdr Rory Jackson RN (Master) presided and Mr John Hillier (Trustee LCCI-Commercial Education Trust) and Mr Martin Jacob (President ICSA) also spoke.

Thursday 27 January 2011- RAF Letters of Association signed

It was very much a Royal Air Force occasion at the Court meeting and luncheon on Thursday 27th January 2011.  The principal guest and speaker at the luncheon was Air Marshal (retd) Ian Macfadyen CB OBE, now Constable of Windsor Castle.  At the Court meeting before lunch:

Air Commodore Colin Smith, Assistant Chief of Staff A1 at Headquarters Air Command, was admitted as the new Honorary Freeman (RAF) vice Air Commodore Nigel Beet OBE; and

Thursday 16 December 2010 - Ambush Launch

The Master and Mrs. Cherry Jackson, Senior Warden Ian Richardson, Liverymen John Galpin and Christopher Hallam, and the Clerk, Colonel Mike Dudding, attended the launch of HMS AMBUSH, the Royal Navy's latest nuclear-propelled submarine of the Astute class. A formal affiliation between the Worshipful Company of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators was approved earlier in 2010. 

Following the launch ceremony in Barrow-in-Furness, presentations were made including a WCCSA plaque, which will be followed in due course by a more substantial object, yet to be decided upon. The Company wishes HMS AMBUSH and all who serve in her the best of luck in the years ahead.