On Friday I flew up to Edinburgh for a dinner with the Company of Merchants of the City of Edinburgh in Merchants’ Hall, Hanover Street.  This was their biennial Charter Dinner celebrating the award of their Royal Charter from King Charles II in 1681.

Ian Watson was installed as the new Master, and the guest speaker was Brigadier David Allfrey MBE, the director of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.  Other guests included the Lord Lyon King of Arms, Lord McKay of Clashfern, Lord Uist (Senator of the Court of Sessions), the President of the Scottish Royal Academy, the Chief Executive of the City of Edinburgh Council, ten Masters from the Great Twelve Livery Companies of London with their clerks and six Masters of other City of London Livery Companies with their clerks, and Masters of Companies from other cities – Bristol, York, Hallamshire and the Deacon Convenor of Trades Glasgow.

The menu was very Scottish – salmon, haggis, venison and cranachan with homemade shortbread; the wines were very French; and the toasts included The Queen, The Duke of Rothesay, The City of Edinburgh, The Company of Merchants of the City of Edinburgh, and the Stock of Broom.  There was plenty of pipe music.  It was a great and special evening enjoyed by all.

To find out more about our hosts please click here.