Last week I attended two events with our Clerk

On May 1st we went to the 100+ Club  Luncheon at the Information Technologists Hall . This was established by the  Master of the World Traders ,   Sir Roger Cork  ,who was Master when the Company received its Ordinances as  100 in the Livery Order . So this is  a kind of very modern companies event  . It is organised by the World Traders. The luncheon in memory of Sir Roger was a splendid affair and the toast to the guests was given by the Master of the Company and the response was given by the Master of the Information Technologists, who noted the irony of doing so in his own Hall . I had a very interesting conversation with a Lady Past Master about the ways in which the gender balance could be improved in the Livery ;there was food for thought for us.

On May 3rd after a dash up to Glasgow and back on NRW business , I joined Ralph at the Trial of the Pyx at Goldsmiths Hall . This is an examination  by a jury which consists of Freemen of the Goldsmiths Company of the coins made by the Royal Mint to ascertain that they are of  the right characteristics . The Trial is presided over by the Queen's Remembrancer and is carried out annually in accordance with a  direction issued by the Treasury . The coins were duely declared  to be of the proper characteristics . A splendid lunch in Goldsmirhs Hall was finished off with an  entertaining speech and toast to the guests by the Prime Warden and a very well delivered amusing response by the Chancellor of the Exchequer , George Osborne , who is also Master of the Mint