One of the more questionable celebrations in the annual calendar is the Associated Companies dinner. It springs in part from an initiative in the early 17 th century to appropriate a vast chunk of Northern Ireland – some 33.5 square miles – and build a new city called, with limited creativity, Londonderry.
The past year has been historic for the Broderers, even before Covid Not only did the Company see a marked increase in events and recruiting but, more importantly, it also received its renewed Charter.
In addition to the now usual round of Zoom meetings, the Masons’ Company and its associated charities have been surprisingly busy.
It has been another busy year for the Mercers’ Company. From April 2019 to March 2020 we have awarded 180 new grants totalling over £12.5m across our three people-based giving programmes: young people & education; older people & housing; and Church & communities.
For many years the Cooks have linked with the Mercers, Masons, and Broderers for shared events and shared charity. This year it is the Broderers turn to pick a recipient but there is a vicarious benefit for the Cooks as the charity of choice is the Museum of London, hard by the block on the site of the Cooks Hall.
It is a tale told around the Livery equivalent of camp fires every year. As with all history the interpretation of the story of the City and Northern Ireland shifts with time but the grievance is always there.
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