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Common Hall will be held on Monday 8 March at Cutlers' Hall.  Timing: 5.45pm for 6pm..

Presentation of Quills to Sheriffs and Karen Nehammer Handwriting Competition Prizes

In a ceremony at Old Bailey on 14 January the Master presented Sheriff David Wootton and Sheriff Peter Cook with the quill pens with which they signed themselves into office, each in an engraved presentation case, and with a donation from the Company to the Sheriffs' and Recorder's charitable Fund.   The Master also awarded certificates, quills and gift vouchers to the winners of the Karen Nehammer Handwriting Competition which was held for the first time last year.   The winners came from City of London School for Girls and from Sir John Cass School.

                                                         The four prizewinners with the Sheriffs

                                      The Master presenting a prize to one of the two Year 9 winners

Red Cross Fair

The Master, assisted by a good number of volunteers, manned the Scriveners' stall at the Red Cross Fair at Guildhall on 30 November and 1 December.   On sale were a variety of quill fountain pens and ballpoint pens together with attractive pewter pen-and-inkstands.   Among those who took advantage of the wares on offer was Her Royal Highness, Princess Alexandra, who opened the Fair.

Many thanks to the Liverymen and their guests who came to the Candlelight Supper on 21 November.   The evening raised over £1,000 for the benefit of the Company's Sexcentenary Fund.   Particular thanks are due to those who entertained us with music and song, and to those who helped with the catering.

Scriveners' Prize for Calligraphy

This year's prize for calligraphy was awarded to Sally Mangum, who has been studying at Reigate School of Art and Design.   Sally, who is originally from Maine, is pictured below with a partially completed work.   The prize, together with a certificate, was presented to her by the Upper Warden, Ruth Campbell, in the course of an evening's entertainment at The Charterhouse on 30th September.

Autumn Dinner 2009

Lord Levene of Portsoken KBE was the Principal Guest at this year's Autumn Dinner, which was held at Ironmongers' Hall on 22nd October.   Lady Levene and the Masters of the Apothecaries, the Environmental Cleaners, the Tin Plate Workers, the Paviors and the Cooks were also present, along with the Prime Warden of the Basketmakers, the Senior Steward of the Newcastle Scriveners and the Master of the Guild of Scriveners of the City of York.

Music was played before and during Dinner by Brass Spectrum.   A Guard of Honour was provided by the Light Cavalry, Honourable Artillery Company, who also deployed for the first time the Herald Trumpet and banner commissioned by the Scriveners Company (pictured below).

Office Holders in 2009-2010

At a Court meeting held on Wednesday 15th July at Tallow Chandlers' Hall, the following were elected to hold office in the year 2009/10:

                         Master                        Leslie Leonard Brace

                         Upper Warden            Ruth Margaret Campbell

                         Renter Warden           Peter Duncan Esslemont

                         Notarial Deputy           Edward Gardiner

(left to right)

Notarial Deputy - Edward Gardiner, Renter Warden - Peter Esslemont, Master - Lee Brace, Upper Warden - Ruth Campbell

About the Master:

Now retired from full time employment and wondering how he found the time etc, Lee was for 23 years a Legal Advisor to the City of London Magistrates. Master Parish Clerk in 1992/93 and Clerk to the Worshipful Company of Constructors from 1995 to 2003. He is an Honorary Freeman of that Company and as a result is well versed in City matters. His hobbies include singing, cooking, gardening, DIY and travelling. You might have heard him singing with the Alleyn Singers in St Paul’s Cathedral on the 6th  and 31st August last. He is an Orthodox Christian and when living in London sang with the Russian Cathedral Choir. He now lives near Canterbury with Arthur and 3 French Bulldogs, supports many charities and is active in village life.

A party of Scriveners, led by the the Master, visited Canterbury Cathedral Archives on 11 September for a fascinating introduction to a number of rare and ancient documents, including the Grant by William de Traci, circa 1173, to the Chapter of Canterbury Cathedral Priory of 100 shillings worth of land in Moreton Hampstead to clothe and feed 1 monk who shall celebrate divine service for the souls of the living and the dead.   The grant was also made for his soul and the souls of his predecessors and for the love of St Thomas Becket.   William de Traci was one of Becket's murderers.   Following the visit the party enjoyed lunch at the Master's home in Hoath.

                                                                    

                                                                                                                 Cathedral interior (courtesy of Nicholas Mackey)

The Worshipful Company of Scriveners is 44th in the order of precedence of the Livery Companies of the City of London, with first ordinances granted in 1373.   As the name implies the Scriveners have always been writers and they were originally known as Writers of the Court Letter, as opposed to members of the Stationers' Company, who are derived from the Writers of the Text Letter.   The distinction is essentially between those who wrote confidential documents such as wills, charters and legal documents, and those who wrote other books - particularly, in the early years, church service books.

In the case of the Scriveners the legal connection is now represented in particular by the Scrivener Notaries who have traditionally practised in the City of London and who are obliged to become members of the Company on qualification.   Scrivener Notaries hold 14 out of the 27 places on the Court of Assistants, the Company's ruling body.

Nowadays members of the Scriveners' Company come from a wide range of professional backgrounds and include solicitors, barristers, genealogists, financial advisers, accountants, patent attorneys, teachers, civil servants and many others.

The Company's principal activities are a mixture of social, professional, charitable and civic functions.   The Company maintains a charitable fund, from which annual grants are made, including a donation to the Lord Mayor's charities, a number of school bursaries and grants for institutions associated with the Company's traditional links with heraldry and the College of Arms as well as support for the Welfare Funds of our two services affiliations - HMS Portland and LXX Squadron at RAF Lyneham.

Social activities include a variety of lunches, receptions and visits to places of interest.   The latter have included the Bell Foundry in Whitechapel, Sir John Soane's Museum at Lincoln's Inn Fields and a visit to the Freemasons' Hall.   Outings further afield have included Oporto and Lincoln, while a visit to St Petersburg is scheduled for May 2010.

The Company's Spring and Autumn Dinners in April and October are enjoyable formal occasions, as is the annual luncheon at Mansion House, at which the Lord Mayor is presented with the Scriveners' Quil Pen with which he signed himself into office.

See also History.

Membership

Events             Membership            Contact Details           History          Qualification as a Scrivener Notary