Earlier this year the Freeman and Apprentice Wardens conducted a survey of younger members. We received many good suggestions on how to briefly describe the company and Gabrielle’s contribution won the approval of the Membership Development and Promotion Committee. Click on the link below to read.
Read More “Apprentice Gabrielle Feenan wins brief description prize”
Oxford Sigma hosts university students Lauren Mentiply and Alistair Darnton for the
UKAEA Fusion Industry Programme Summer Placement Scheme
Read More “Liveryman Dr Tom Davis’ company Oxford Sigma update”
Congratulations to Ruth for making it into the Inventors and innovators, Top 50 Women in Engineering 2022 list. Click here to read more.
The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress Alderman and Mrs Vincent Keaveny,were present when Prince Michael of Kent, a Liveryman of the Company of Scientific Instrument Makers, presented the Company’s Royal Charter to Mr C A Holroyd, Master, at Mansion House on 22 June 2022. The Lord Mayor was the principal speaker at a banquet held afterwards and the Master paid tribute to the founding fathers of the Company and, in particular, the 10 Past Masters present. Alderman and Sheriff Alison Gowman and other members of the Company members and their guests were present.
Reported in the Court Circular, Other notices in The Telegraph on 23 June 2022
Photos of event can be found here.
Please click on the following link to see news of Liveryman Joanna Midgal who has been creating bespoke sundials (perhaps one of the oldest scientific instruments?) for decades. Joanna designed the Millennium Measure that can be found below the Millennium Bridge on the north side. The Millenium Measure was given to the City by SIM.
Ms Tamara Finkelstein CB was guest of honour and spoke at the Annual Family Dinner of the Worshipful Company of Scientific Instrument Makers on Wednesday 27th April, 2022.
Tamara became Permanent Secretary at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in 2019, having previously led the department’s work on EU Exit Delivery. Prior to her recent appointment, she led the Building Safety Programme following the Grenfell Tower fire at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Tamara is the daughter of Professor Ludwik Finkelstein OBE FREng who was himself a Liveryman of the Company and a sister of Lord (Daniel) Finkelstein OBE, an Honorary Liveryman of the Company. However, Tamara reminded her audience that she herself had been supported as a Scholar of the Company during her study of Engineering Science at Balliol College, Oxford and prior to studying at the London School of Economics (LSE). From University, she joined HM Treasury in 1992 as an economic adviser.
In her speech, she reflected on becoming a speechwriter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1997 and a senior adviser in 2000 in the Treasury, before holding a number of director roles. She spoke in a moving speech of the influence of her mother, a holocaust survivor and her father who had been deported from his native Poland to the Soviet Union at the start of the war and how they met in London after the war. She encouraged the audience, which included a large number of newly appointed apprentices and freemen, to pursue their career dreams and aspirations.
The WCSIM trip to Geneva has been a long time in the making and it marks the Masters’ weekend for both the current Master, Charles Holroyd, and Deputy Master, Martyn Wheatley. The organisation of this trip could not have been done without a huge effort by Liveryman Alessandro Raimondo and his family, who made us all feel very welcome throughout our trip.
Past Master Ron Howard most kindly bequested a sum of money to the Livery, to be spent on an annual dinner for members of the Court and their consorts.
This year’s dinner was arranged by our Clerk Emeritus Neville Watson. The 17th May was overcast with a threat of rain, and a bit cold for the time of year, but as we arrived at Berry Bros & Rudd No.3 St James’s Street we were met and cheered up by a glass(es) of fine champagne and some excellent hors d’oevres.
After a suitable interlude, during which Past Master Ken Saunders made a lovely speech thanking Caroline the Master’s Consort for her support of the Livery, we were called to dinner in the Sussex Cellar. Surrounded by many cellars containing hundreds of thousands of bottles, we suspected that it would be a special evening – with no shortage of good wine.
We were not disappointed: A 2018 Meursault with the cured seabass on blood orange escabeche; a 2019 Nicolas-Jay pinot noir from Oregon to accompany the saddle of venison; the sweet 2013 Tokaji Aszú for the black cherry with iced pistachio parfait; and a 1994 Warre’s Port to round off dinner.
Whilst we were enjoying the port, Past Master Sir Ivor Cohen gave a wonderfully entertaining talk about Ron Howard, and then the Master gave a short speech to thank the Clerk Emeritus and those who had attended, and to wish everyone a safe journbey home.
WCSIM is proud to be a supporter of the Livery Climate Action Group. A group of London Livery Companies helping each other deliver the City’s Climate Action Strategy.
