Our news

Colonel’s Review of Trooping the Colour Saturday 6th June 2026

On Saturday 6th June a group of members and guests were delighted to attend the Colonel’s Review of Trooping the Colour on Horse Guards Parade.  Although the weather was slightly wet (think downpour in places) it did nothing to dampen the spirt of those in attendance.  After the parade the group moved to the Royal Horse Guards hotel for a reception and a splendid lunch.

(Picture Credits: John Canning and Rebecca Tanderyd)

Consorts Visit to Temple Bar

Consorts visit to Temple Bar followed by lunch

On Tuesday 26 May 2026, the Master’s consort, PM Brian Fishwick, hosted a visit to the ceremonial opening of Temple Bar Gate next to St. Paul’s Cathedral. Guests were busy sheltering under the trees from the 30C heat ahead of the ceremony but a couple are visible in the distance!
After the ceremony we beat a hasty retreat to Côte Brasserie for a splendid lunch where we celebrated PM Brian’s birthday…’

(Almost) Freeman James Goh enters Guinness Book of Records

I’m James Goh, 23, a 3rd year Engineering student at the University of Cambridge from Hong Kong and Apprentice of WCSIM (soon to be Freeman!).
Since 2016, I have been optimising the design of spinning tops as a design & build project/hobby. I research aerodynamics and tribology, collect scientific data from my prototypes, and develop physics models which help to inform and optimise design parameters including flywheel, tip and base materials, flywheel height and inner and outer diameter etc.
A couple years ago, I started applying my expertise to fidget spinners which share a lot of the physics. After a couple prototypes, I made the record-breaking ‘Pulsar’ fidget spinner. This spinner had a large 70mm pure tungsten flywheel, and the whole spinner weighs around 400g. The core is hollow and made from aluminium. As a result, the mass is concentrated outwards allowing for efficient energy storage. The bearing is a small hybrid R188 size with silicon carbide balls, providing very low friction and good wear resistance. Altogether, the spinner is designed to start with a lot of energy and lose it as slowly as possible.
I broke the Guinness world record on the 16th of December but had to wait 4 months for it to be approved in order to avoid paying a hefty fee. The record was set by spinning the spinner with one twirl and balancing it on one finger for the whole duration of 30 minutes 34 seconds. It was recorded and observed by 4 timekeepers and witnesses.
I hope to leverage this achievement on my YouTube channel, HiPer Tops, to try commercialising the design at a small scale. I am interested in entrepreneurship, and this project has proved to be a valuable learning experience – as a solo worker, I design, manufacture, fund, market and sell the products.
If there’s anything specific you would like, do let me know. If something is published, it would be great to mention or link the YouTube channel and possibly my website: hiperspinningtops.com. Thanks!

Master’s Birmingham Weekend

The Master’s Weekend 2026 took place in Birmingham over the weekend of 15 – 17 May. As well as some splendid dining, at the Hotel du Vin and the Bank, members enjoyed an historical walking tour of central Birmingham and on the Sunday even took to the water for a cruise on one of the city’s many canals (Birmingham has more than Venice don’t you know!).

For those wondering – the weekend is open to all. Look out for detail on the 2027’s Master’s Weekend around the same time of year in Belfast.

Inter Livery Clay Pidgeon Shoot

On Wednesday, the 13th May the livery was represented at the annual Inter Livery Clay Pidgeon shoot, 100 liveries take part, 50 teams (4 per team) each day (13 &14), that’s 400 shotguns and 40,000 clays. The team experienced the full force of a British spring, sun, rain, wind, hail. A good day was had by all and we even walked away with a prize at the close of the day.

Rev'd Tosin Oladipo

Welcome to the new Honorary Chaplin Tosin Oladipo

Rev Tosin Oladipo has served as Chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury since July 2021, leading the Archbishop’s priority of Prayer and the Religious Life, particularly through Prayer Missions and oversight of the Community of St Anselm – a praying community of young people based at Lambeth Palace from around the Anglican Communion.

Among his responsibilities, he organises the three daily services held in the Lambeth Palace chapels and offers pastoral care to those who live, work, and visit the Palace. As Chaplain he supports the Archbishop in their public ministry, across the Church of England and the Anglican Communion, and in private prayer. These responsibilities have given him a wide perspective on the breadth of worshipping traditions within the church and a deep commitment to shaping prayerful, Christ‑centred communities.

Before this, Tosin was part of the Leadership Team at SAINT, a resource church in East London, where he led the parish of St Mary’s Leyton. He oversaw outreach, prayer, and the development of interns and ordinands, helping to grow young leaders and strengthen the life of the church. He brings a creative and collaborative approach to ministry, with a keen interest in how tradition, imagination, and innovation can work together to help people flourish.

Earlier in his career, Tosin spent fifteen years in digital and video technology start‑ups across London, experience that has shaped his openness to new ideas and his enthusiasm for exploring fresh possibilities for mission. He is married to Angela, a mental health professional, and enjoys running, sport, world cinema, and coffee. He is a supporter of Leicester Football Club, which is the city in which he spent his teenage years.

He and Angela are very much looking forward to joining St Margaret’s Lothbury, getting to know the community, and serving together as the church continues to grow in worship, welcome, and joyful faith.

 

Tosin says:

“I am really looking forward to joining St Margaret’s Lothbury and getting to know the community. It is a privilege to step into a place shaped by many decades of faithful prayer and worship, and I am grateful to be joining this story. I am excited to discover more of what makes St Margaret’s and the City unique, and to see what God has in store for us as we walk and work together in the months and years ahead.”

Bristol Hub meeting March 2026

Our Bristol Hub arranged to join the Bristol Owners Heritage Club for a dinner on the  evening of Friday 27 March with a visit to the Bristol Aerospace museum on Saturday where many Bristol cars were exhibited, lectures were given and lunch served beneath Concord….
Thanks to Liverymen Joanna Migdal and Scott Greenwell and the Owners Club for hosting us at this splendid event.’

If you are interested in joining the Bristol Hub please get in touch with Joanna or Scott.

Deputy Master, Jim Webster

Manchester Hub meeting March 2026

On Thursday 19th March, the Manchester SIM Hub met for another great evening of catch ups, discussions, and great food. We welcomed a new member to the SIM Hub and discussed upcoming SIM events. We also discussed ways to better democratise access to SIM events for those who are based in the North, including suggestions of events that we could host around Lancashire and Yorkshire.

If you are interested in joining the Manchester Hub communication channels to keep up to date with our upcoming activities, get in touch with Freeman Mason Adshead.