The February Court Supper is traditionally an especially friendly gathering. Following the Court on the third Thursday in February it has become the custom of the Master Entrepreneur to admit new Freemen to the Company, and then for his Wardens and Court to dine in a modest and informal fashion. It is a key date in the calendar for new Freemen, who have the opportunity to mingle and relax with the Company’s officers, without the separation and stiffness that can sometimes mark the more formal of events.

 

So, to Carmen’s Hall on 16th February 2023 – a first visit for almost all those who were there – and the admission of Craig Kingaby and Trevor Worth to the Freedom of the Company. After a short speech of welcome by the Master, and a quick photo call, chilled drinks were served in the Carmen’s Museum Room – showcasing the history of the Carmen’s Company from its formation in the mid-Nineteenth Century to its work in the automotive and transport industries today.

The assembly distracted with fizz and chatter, the Hall staff and caterers deftly reset the Court Room as a sort of pop-up restaurant! Tables and chairs arranged and decorated to the satisfaction of the the Carmen’s Beadle, he then gavelled and announced the service of food. The Clerk, taking as his theme the miracles and example of St Dunstan (Carmen’s Hall was formerly the Parochial Schools building of St Dunstan in the West), recited a mischievous line or two of poetry by way of grace, and the diners were served to their complete satisfaction.

 

A surfeit of dishes – almost impossible to choose between – were presented: plump sides of roasted salmon atop mounds of lentils and herbs; chicken marinaded with lemongrass, ginger and lime; a wild mushroom stroganoff heady with tarragon and bright with peppers; vegetables glistening with butter; and tiny roasted potatoes crowned with rosemary sprigs. Freemen and guests remarked at the improbable generosity of the spread, such was the transformation of the Court Room and the apparition of the food, wine and smiling staff.

The Master, evidently delighted at the bonhomie, stood to toast the King, the Royal Family, and the Lord Mayor, before treating the Company to a short and invigorating speech – welcoming friends, encouraging new friendships, and looking ahead with eagerness to a year of charity and progress. He raised his glass to the guests, and, in reply, Mr Yori Griffiths CBE (one of a small number of guests present) applauded the staff, food and service, and the warmth of the Master’s welcome.
All rose in a final toast to the flourishing of the Company, and, after the applause had rung out, the Freemen and guests conversed animatedly over a final glass before heading home.

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NOTES: the Court meets to discuss the business of the Company five times a year: December, February, April, June, and September. In February each year, the meeting is followed by a simple buffet supper, which any Freemen and their guests may attend. Unlike the more formal events, the seating is unreserved and diners wear day dress.
The February Court Supper 2024 is on Thursday 15th.