Robert Stapleton (d.1889), master 1884-6

Past Master and Alderman Sir David Wootton was installed as Master Fletcher in April 2005.

Past Master John Dumbrell was installed as Master Fletcher in April 2003.

The First woman to be Master of The Fletchers - an historical moment

I have so many memories of my incredible year as Master but foremost among them was of deep gratitude and pride at having the opportunity to represent the Company, the first woman moreover, but also apprehension that I might fall short of the expectations of my fellow Fletchers who had shown me such support and encouragement.    The year was already destined to be different as Farmers’ and Fletchers’ Hall was due to close for redevelopment, so my Installation Dinner was held at Vintners’ Hall with our annual Thanksgiving Service held beforehand across the road at St James Garlickhythe, an appropriate start to the year I felt.   Another innovation was holding an Advent Carol Service at St Vedast-alias-Foster lead by my Hon Chaplain, Rev’d Dr Alan McCormack who set the scene for the lead up to Christmas. 

The opportunity to visit a range of venues

The range of venues I visited representing the Fletchers could not have been more diverse from the Great Twelve Livery Halls to dinner in the nave of Southwark Cathedral with the Launderers’ Company, overseen by Doorkins Magnificat, the resident Cathedral cat!   Lunch with the Gunmakers at their home, The Proof House in Aldgate located, since the 17thC outside the City walls for fear of explosions was a surprise in every sense as guests were called to dine by the firing of a gun!  I was especially proud to have visited, as Master, Archery GB at Lilleshall, Stoke Mandeville, Blind Veterans at Ovingdean and, of course, The Royal Tox and to meet many archers whom I already knew as Hon Almoner of the Company.    The two great City services at St Paul’s Cathedral, the United Guilds and the (then) Sons of the Clergy (now Clergy Support Trust) remind one of the significance of the Livery movement and attending as Master is a special experience.  

The Annual Livery Weekend in Ironbridge

Early in the Master Fletcher’s year is the annual Livery Weekend at Ironbridge which is a very well organised couple of days exploring the museum, the birthplace of the industrial revolution, and surrounding area, but importantly giving Masters the opportunity of meeting their fellow Masters whom they will meet many times during the year in office.   This event leads to the formation of that year’s Past Masters’ Association, in my case the Great Thirteen, and this group of people then meet during each subsequent year effectively to reminisce on their special years, a pleasant way of keeping the memories alive.

The Masters Holiday

The Master’s Weekend away is possibly the highlight of the year for most Masters and mine to Malta and Gozo was no exception.   Having visited the island a couple of times to recce the possibilities – and with the advantage of details of a previous visit by the Guild of Freemen – I was truly delighted, and immensely relieved, that our trip was a great success. 

A further highlight for me was the fact that, purely by chance, my husband Richard was installed as Prime Warden of the Goldsmiths’ Company three weeks after my installation which, most fortuitously, gave me a City ‘home’ in Goldsmiths’ Hall for the year!  In conclusion, I return to where I began and reiterate how proud and grateful I am of having had the opportunity to serve as Master of such a distinguished Company.