Page 10 - Archived Back Issues

I S S U E 2
O U T A N D A B O U T
Christmas Carols!
During early evening on Thursday 11th Decem- ber 2003, St Lawrence Jewry Next Guidhall welcomed Liverymen and Freemen of the Wor- shipful Company, their families, friends and especially children, to a festival of carols con- ducted by our Honorary
Chaplain, The Reverend David Rhodes.
The Master, Colin Livett and his wife Patricia, hosted the festi- val and made especially welcome a group of children from the Barbican Play Group invited to share with us the joy of Christ- mas. Following the Service the children tucked into a veritable feast of drinks and good things to eat, then gave a rousing greeting to Father Christmas who stopped by to meet them during his busy schedule and give presents. Fortunately, the children left some tasty treats for the grown-ups to enjoy to-
gether with wine set aside for them by Past Master and purveyor of fine wines, David Cartwright.
Despite over-
cast skies and dampness in the air everyone enjoyed the relaxed and happy atmosphere of the festival which instilled the Spirit of Christ- mas in their hearts. A special thanks go to The Master and his Lady whom, with a band of willing helpers, provided the catering and en- sured everyone enjoyed themselves.
OPEN FORUM
In the next issue of In the next issue of
SALAMANDER
◊ A small competition putting a humorous
phrase to an odd picture...With a prize for the winner.
◊ Role of the Beadle!
◊ What is a Freeman? And much, much more!!!
THE CLERK’S DESK
th
8 November is The Lord
Mayor’s Show
If you can’t attend, watch it on TV, but do it early as the Company is in the first sec- tion of the Parade.
The West Midlands Band will be leading The Modern Companies, where the Mas- ter Colin Livett and Under Warden Martin Coffey and two of the Company will be walking with members from 9 other Companies, formed since 1930.
At the rear is the horse drawn Fire Steamer.
5pm Fireworks on the Thames, best viewing spots, Southwark Bridge and along the Embankment
th
11 December The Fire-
fighters’ Carol Service at 5pm at St: Lawrence Jewry
Unless otherwise suggested please contact
The Clerk:
Margeret Holland Prior Tel: 020 7600 1666 Email:
clerk@firefighters.demon.co.uk
F I R E F I G H T E R S M E M O R I A L T R U S T
The Master, Wardens, Clerk, many Liverymen and Freemen of the Worshipful Company, accompanied by their partners, attended a Service of Remembrance and Dedication of the United Kingdom Firefighters National Memorial at St Paul's Cathedral on Tuesday 16 September 2003, in the presence of Her
Royal Highness The Princess Royal. The Princess Royal is patron of The
Firefighters Memorial Charitable Trust and our Founding Master, Gerry
Clarkson is Chairman of its Trustees. The Master read a Lesson and later laid
a wreath at the Memorial on behalf of the Worshipful Company.
Following the Service, Members of the Worshipful Company, Trustees of The Firefighters Memorial Charitable Trust
and guests enjoyed a 'Pudding & Pie
Luncheon' at The Living Room restaurant in
West Smithfield.
It is hoped this inaugural luncheon may
become a permanent event in the calendar
of both The Worshipful Company and The
Firefighters Memorial Charitable Trust, to honour the firefighters who gave their lives during war and peace and the anniversary of “The Great Fire of London".
THE ARMCHAIR
The Loving Cup
The Loving Cup. Usually a silver chalice with two handles and a cover.
The ceremony of the Loving Cup is a tradition at banquets and dinners in all Livery Companies which dates back to before the Norman Conquest of 1066
The tradition derives
from the assassination
of King Edward, who
was killed whilst he
was drinking, by
Elfida's command. It
was the custom of our
Anglo-Saxon
forefathers to pass
round a large drinking
cup, from which each
person drank in turn to some of the company. As the person drinking stood up and lifted the cup with both hands he was completely exposed and defenceless, giving an enemy the opportunity to strike and murder him.
To prevent such murders, the following plan was devised. When one of the company stood up to drink, he required the companion who sat next to him or someone of the party, to be his pledge. The consenting companion would also stand and raise his drawn sword to defend the exposed bearer of the cup as he drank from it.
Nowadays, the cup passes around the table at an appropriate time towards the end of a banquet or dinner, normally to the left and each person in turn pledges their neighbour. Only three people should be standing at a time, the bearer (the person holding the cup); the neighbour on their immediate right who drank last and handed them the cup, who
remains standing with their back to the bearer to protect them; and the person pledging, on the bearer's immediate left, who stands facing the bearer and removes and holds the cover whilst he or she drinks from the cup. Thus when a person receives the Loving Cup from
the person on their immediate right, who has just drunk from the cup, he or she turns to face their neighbour on their immediate left and they bow to each other. The latter removes the Cup's cover and holds it whilst the bearer of the cup drinks and then wipes the rim with the napkin provided. The cover is then replaced, the two bow to each other again and the cup changes hands. Each person who has drunk from the cup and passes it to the neighbour on their left, remains standing with their back to the bearer now drinking from the cup until the cup is passed on, when they resume their seats. The same procedure continues round the table until everyone has drunk from the cup.
If anyone does not wish to drink from the Loving Cup, they may simply bow to their neighbour and pass the cup along in the usual way. In practice it is often usual to have more than one Loving Cup passing among guests in the prescribed manner for the sake of expediency.
Closing date for items for the next issue of
The Salamander is: Friday,
25 March 2004
Email your comment to: me!!
Peter Hopkins at: Ph@safetyco.co.uk
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