53. Whittington600


On 14 March, the Master and his consort, along with the Thames Warden and Past Master Peter Matthews and their consorts plus the Walbrook Warden, all attended the commemoration of the 600th anniversary of Dick Whittington‘s death. The event at St Michael’s Paternoster Royal was organised by Alderman Alison Gowman and the Water Conservators made very significant contributions (see below).

Proceedings started with a Service of Commemoration, delightfully led by The Rt Rev and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally, Bishop of London. At the close a wreath was laid at Dick Whittington’s memorial in the church.

Afterwards there were presentations on the life and legacy of Dick Whittington by Professor Caroline Barron OBE and by our own Walbrook Warden, Professor Carolyn Roberts. The latter presentation was on Dick Whittington’s ‘Longhouse’, a long vanished 128 seater public convenience located on the Thames, and was exceedingly well received. With Carolyn’s permission the text is reproduced in full below.

At the conclusion, Alison Gowman thanked both speakers and, leading directly on from Carolyn’s presentation on toilets, announced her own ‘Bin it don’t block it’ campaign. This is designed to address the scourge of sewer blockages and Alison paid specific tribute to the Water Conservators for our input. Readers will remember blog number 6 of 30 August (Bag it and Bin it) when Past Master Peter Matthews and I suggested to Alison that the City should set a lead in this area.

After the formal event, we all retired for a most genial reception at Innholders’ Hall.

It was wonderful to see our Company playing our full part in such an important piece of City ceremonial.

Dick Whittington talk

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