Worshipful Company of Arbitrators

Easter 2004 Newsletter PDF version The Master’s Message The Senior Warden, the Clerk and I have had time to get our breaths back after the splendid evening at the Mansion House. I do hope you all enjoyed it. The Lady Mayoress wrote afterwards to say that she had never seen such lovely flowers at the Mansion House before. Congratulations Gaye. They were truly beautiful and showed the Mansion House off in all its glory. The top table enjoyed themselves. Sir John Thomas wrote, “It was the friendliest and warmest evening we have ever enjoyed on such an occasion; everything was so magnificently thought through, the dinner and wine quite outstanding and some elegant speeches”, which was very nice to read. Merida and I dined with the Mercers last week. The Master pulled our arbitrators’ legs. He said, “Nobody arbitrates unless there is a lot of money at stake, so large fees and lots of lawyers. It was a Lloyds Underwriter who went to arbitration and lost. He then tried the Court s and lost each time. “Where do we go now?” he asked his lawyer. “You go straight to Newmarket and stand at stud. Then your progeny will keep lawyers in business for the next generation”. I think he must have been thinking of the old Arbitration Act. Now we approach three important Company functions Philip Otton`s lecture on Sports Arbitration at Kings College on March 30th, the Great Somerset Weekend from April 16-18th and the Recruiting Cocktail Party at the Royal Green Jackets on April 28 th. Do support these and don’t forget your guest at the Recruiting Party comes free. Now that should encourage a grand turnout. Meanwhile best wishes to all for Easter.		NEWSLETTERS Dec 2008 Aug 2008 June 2007 Dec 2006 Aug 2006 Oct 2005 May 2005 Dec 2004 Aug 2004 April 2004 Dec 2003 April 2003 Dec 2002 Dec 2001 Sept 2001

The Master and Wardens with The Lord Mayor and Guests on the occasion of the Mansion House Banquet on 20 February 2004
Mansion House Banquet The Mansion House Banquet is always a splendid affair, and we maintained that high tradition on 20 th February this year when 230 members and guests sat down to dine in the company of The Rt Hon The Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress. As usual, the logistics were superbly handled by the Clerk, and the famous red finger of our welcome packs meant there was never a moment’s uncertainty as to where each of us was seated. The Militare Orchestra kept us entertained throughout the sumptuous meal, rising to the climax of the Post Horn Gallop, designed we suspect to rouse even the most drowsy in time for the speeches, but not before we had all participated in that wonderful ritual, the Ceremony of the Loving Cup. With usual exuberance and wit, the Master proposed the traditional toast to The Lord Mayor, the Corporation of London and the Sheriffs. Having greeted many eminent guests from the worlds of arbitration, insurance, and the judiciary, he was quick to congratulate our Liveryman Michael Goodridge on being awarded the MBE in the New Years Honours List for “Services to Further Education”. He also paid tribute to Bertie Vigrass’ contribution to arbitration over many years. Interspersing humour at every opportunity, he applauded the educational benefits of The Lord Mayor’s Charity, the LSO Discovery Project, and gave the Company’s financial support in tangible form. He also looked forward to hearing our own GSM&D sponsored oboist, Elizabeth Court ney, play at our Spring Livery Dinner at the Innholders’ Hall on 26 th May. In his response, The Lord Mayor thanked the Company for its generosity, and described in detail his ceaseless activities as a promoter of commerce in the City. The Senior Warden followed to bid our guests a hearty welcome. She identified those leaders of arbitration, insurance and the judiciary who were present on the night, and having drunk the health of all our guests, The Rt Hon Sir Martin Nourse responded with memorable humour. Guest Speaker The Rt Hon Sir Martin Nourse responding to the Toast to the Guests at the Mansion House Banquet on 20 th February Master's Lecture, 30 March 2004 With the Olympic Games just months away, this year’s Master’s Lecture entitled “Sport - ADR and Discipline- Public Grief or Private Prurience?” by Sir Philip Otton, could hardly be more topical, nor our speaker be more distinguished Sir Philip was a High Court judge from 1983 until 1995 when he was elevated to the Court of Appeal. He retired from the Bench in 2001 and now practises as an arbitrator. He finds arbitrating Sports disputes intensely interesting and challenging. His enthusiasm for his subject is obvious as soon as you meet him, and we are indeed fortunate to be the recipients of his thoughts on this fascinating and novel branch of arbitration. Dinner after the Lecture will be served in the handsome 18 th century Great Hall at King’s, which is an exciting venue worthy of our Master’s Lecture, and a congenial place for us to entertain our guests. Full-time students are always guests of the Company on these occasions, and dine for free, but like us all, should book with the Clerk. So do come and bring a guest. The Lecture will be in Room 2C, King’s College London , 30 th March at 6:30 p.m. sharp. Inter-Livery Yacht Race The City Livery Yacht Club’s Inter-Livery Yacht Race will be held at Cowes on the weekend of 15 th-16 th May 2004 . This highly social event will be of interest not only to serious mariners, but to occasional sailors as well. And we are always on the look-out for new skippers and extra crew to expand the Arbitrators’ Company Team, so why not have an invigorating mid-May break in the yachting capital of the British Isles ? All enquiries to Honorary Commodore Immediate Past Master Michael Wilkey (office telephone: 020 7374 0788) The Great Somerset Weekend This year we propose to explore the delights of Somerset during the weekend of Friday 16 th to Sunday 18 th April 2004 , which is the weekend immediately following Easter. Home base for the weekend will be a converted 17 th century farmhouse, The Hollies Hotel, Bower Hinton, near Martock, where dinner for our party on Friday 16 th will be served at 8 p.m. Best aim to check in early, so we can all meet for a drink in the bar beforehand. On Saturday 17 th, after a leisurely breakfast, we plan to meet at 11 a.m. some 15 miles away for a tour of the medieval Forde Abbey of Chard, home of the Roper family and the world famous Mortlake tapestries, as well a host of outstanding furniture and visual art. A nourishing lunch of soup, cottage pie and salad will be followed by a tour of the Abbey gardens, rated amongst the top ten in England for timeless elegance, old walls, colourful borders, wide lawns and much much more. Our champagne reception and dinner that evening will be held in the magnificent Elizabethan mansion Montacute House, Montacute, some 6 or so miles from The Hollies Hotel. We plan to meet at 6 p.m. , whilst there is still good daylight, for a pre-dinner guided tour of the splendid portraits of Tudor and Stuart monarchs hanging in the glory of Montacute House, its great Gallery running the full length of the top storey. On Sunday 18 th we have a difficult choice to make, Wincanton Races or Wells Cathedral? But first, we are invited for “coffee at eleven” by the Master and Mrs Drysdale at Pitcombe Farmhouse, Pitcombe, near Bruton, some 20 miles from The Hollies Hotel. At noon , will it be Wincanton, or will it be Wells? Here are some snippets to help you decide. In Wincanton we will be participating in Countryside Day, with a ring-side table in the Kingswell Restaurant, which will form our base camp for the day, with excellent viewing of the Parade Ring, and easy access to the Club Grandstand. Racing starts at 2 p.m. and is not just confined to horses. Terriers and ferrets will also be showing their form. The Wincanton package includes car parking, 3-course lunch in the Kingswell Restaurant, afternoon tea, Club enclosure badges and race cards. Only our drinks and bets are extra. The alternative itinerary for Wells will include a guided tour of the Cathedral, a visit to the Bishop’s Palace, and Choral Evensong. Our guide will be former Director of the Members’ Centres for the National Trust, Tom Burr, who will meet us at Pitcombe Farmhouse. Lunch in Wells is available in the excellent restaurant of the Cloisters or the Crown Hotel just outside the Close. Evensong starts at 3 p.m. , and will be sung by The Wells Cathedral Voluntary Choir. Sitting in the Choir, the experience promises to verge on the overwhelming. Daphne Mackie (deceased) We offer sincerest condolences to Past Master James Mackie on the sad loss of his wife Daphne, who had been ill for some time. Bertie and Betty We are delighted to announce the marriage of Bertie Vigrass and his long time companion Betty Champney at the High Altar of St Paul’s Cathedral on 18 th October 2003 . In the Master’s words at the Mansion House recently: “Bertie Vigrass is the plinth upon which stand the three colossi of Arbitration; the Worshipful Company, the London Court and the Chartered Institute. He was present at the birth of the first, he stimulated the resurrection of the second, and he prepared the third for life eternal .” We offer Bertie and Betty our best wishes for health and happiness in their new life together. A Livery Man's Promise It is traditional for the most senior of those being admitted to the Livery on any given occasion to address the Court on behalf of all newly admitted Liverymen and Freemen. On 28 January 2004 that duty fell on Liveryman Judge Bill Huss, and this is what he said: “Master, Wardens, Past Masters, Members of the Court of Assistance, learned Clerk and distinguished guests, as the senior of those now just admitted as Freemen and those receiving the Livery of our company, I have been given the honor of speaking for us and pledging our devotion to upholding the high standards of professionalism of our guild. As a judge and a descendant of judges, I know that rarely, if ever, do litigants have the opportunity to choose their judges. Parties to arbitration and mediation nearly always may choose their tribunal together. Consequently, it is of the utmost importance for arbitrators and mediators to assiduously maintain the reputation, and the reality, of fairness and impartiality. Our Company sets those highest standards for us and we promise to adhere to them. That promise includes, as well, our duty of mutual aid and protection of our members and their families. Thank you very much .” The Master welcomes The Hon Judge William Huss, Late of the Los Angeles Superior Court , to the Livery. Company News
	Hearty congratulations to newly elected Court Assistant Kay Linnell , who was welcomed to the Court on 28 January 2004 . Kay is a Chartered Accountant, MBA and FCIArb, who last year delivered the Master’s Lecture on the topic: “Arbitration and Fraud”
	Don Smith, chartered surveyor, FCIArb and member of the adjudication panels of the CIArb, RICS and CIC, who became a Liveryman on 28 January 2004
	Robin Kendall, oil and gas industry executive, who was admitted to the Freedom on 28 January 2004
	David Arpel, principal of Allianz Risk Transfer, and specialist in reinsurance, risk management and dispute resolution, who became a Freeman on 28 January 2004
	Stuart Kennedy, barrister and chartered quantity surveyor, who was admitted to the Freedom on 28 January 2004
	Peter King, barrister, part-time special immigration adjudicator and part-time judge advocate sitting on military and air force courts-martial and member of the Summary Appeal Court , who became a Freeman on 28 January 2004 .
DIARY OF EVENTS 25 March CIArb Annual Dinner, Drapers’ Hall 26 March United Guilds Service, St Paul ’s. 30 March Master’s Lecture at King’s College London, entitled: “Sport - ADR and Discipline - Public Grief or Private Prurience?” to be given by The Rt Hon. Sir Philip Otton. 5 April Lunchtime Concert, Wigmore Hall, plus visit to Royal Academy . 16-18 April The Great Somerset Weekend 28 April Court Meeting at Guildhall and later, Recruitment Meeting at Royal Green Jackets Club 26 May Spring Livery Dinner, Innholders’ Hall May/June Beating Retreat on Horseguards: Final Rehearsal for Trooping of the Colour, followed by drinks at the Farmers’ Club 7 June Lunchtime Concert, Wigmore Hall, plus visit to Sotherbys 23 June CIArb Summer Lunch 24 June Election of Sheriffs at Guildhall 7 July Court Meeting followed by Annual Service at St Mary-le-Bow and Dinner at Saddlers’ Hall 14 July Livery Procession to St Paul ’s Cathedral for Deanery Service tba August Evening Walk to see Secret Gardens of the City tba September Evening Visit to Foreign Office and War Cabinet Rooms followed by Supper in the Farmers’ Club 29 September Election of Lord Mayor at Guildhall tba October Recruitment Cocktail Party 27 October Court Meeting, Common Hall and Installation Dinner ^ Back to the top ^