The Club had another successful year in 2005 with just over £1500 being transferred to the Company to support its charitable efforts.  Some 61 members of the Livery participated and my thanks go to them for their support.  There were four draws in 2005, each with four winners and with remarkably one number coming up twice!  The winners of the Draws were:

February 2005   April 2005   September 2005
£30   -   Paul Marley  £30   -  Ian Lumsden  £30   -  Billy McCoubrey
£40   -   Ron Steward  £40   -  Andrew Panter  £40   -  Adrian Blacker
£100 -  Oliver Whitehead  £100 -  Phillip Anderson  £100 -  Mike Cottell
£150 -  Ian Edwards  £150 -  Sir William Francis £200 -  Alderman Michael Bear

December 2005   February 2006
£40   -  Benny Kelly  £30   -  Peter King
£50   -  Andrew Panter  £40   -  Frank Loughlin
£150 -  John Clugston  £100 -  Alderman Michael Bear
£250 -  Christopher Laing  £130 -  Doug Weston

The Draws took place at the Luncheon Club lunches except in December 2005 when it was at the Luncheon Club Christmas Party at Cutlers Hall.  For 2006 we are following the same format.  The first Draw was on 14th February at the Luncheon Club luncheon at the RAF Club with the result as shown above.

However, it is never too late to join and with units costing just £10 and still 12 opportunities of winning, it is worth a flutter and even if you don't win you are supporting a very good cause.

Liverymen are invited to make nominations for the Paviors Medal to be awarded in 2006.  The Medal is awarded annually to an individual for excellence in innovation or a lifetime contribution to the 'craft of paving'.  In its modern context the craft includes the planning, design, construction, maintenance and management of all paved areas as used in floors, pedestrians areas, playing surfaces, hard standings, landscaping, pavements, streets, roads, motorways and runways.  The Paviors Medal was established in 1999 and has been awarded to:

2000 Douglas Colwill OBE - Transport Research Laboratory
2001 Professor John Knapton - University of Newcastle
2002 Liveryman Kenneth Alfred Riley - Tarmac
2003 Graham John Bowskill - Highways Agency
2004 Professor Stephen Brown (Liveryman) - University of Nottingham
2005 Charles Lawrence - Sports & Play Contractors Association

Nominations may be made from within or outside the livery.  Nominations outside the livery promote the Company in sectors of the industry where it is not well known.  Nominations forms are available from the Clerk and must be returned by 30 April 2006.  The award winner will be selected by the Master on the advice of the Charity Committee.  The winner will be announced in July and the award presented at the Annual Banquet at the Mansion House.  In addition to the award the winner will receive a Certificate and, if not already a Liveryman, be invited to become an Honorary Freeman of the Company.

LUNCHEON CLUB - SUMMER EVENT - 15^th June  This year we are taking a northerly direction out of London to visit Knebworth House, near Stevenage, the Hertfordshire home of the Lytton family since 1490.  "The romantic exterior of Knebworth with its turrets domes and gargoyles silhouetted against the sky does little to prepare a visitor for what to expect inside. The house has stood for many years longer than the19th century decoration would suggest and the stucco hides from view a red brick house dating back to Tudor times."  The house is packed with history from all periods and is not to be missed.

Our visit will follow the pattern of previous years with coffee on arrival, a private guided tour, lunch and a chance to enjoy the gardens in the afternoon.  In recent times Knebworth has hosted numerous rock concerts including Robbie Williams in 2003 when 375,000 turned up.  No music for us and not quite so many guests expected but please put this date in your diary and await further details from Louise nearer the time.