Category: Charities

The English Philanthropist

At lunch last month with three readers, one mentioned Christopher Ondaatje. I had heard that rich Christopher has not got over his not-so-rich brother winning the Booker prize. But I was told that Christopher has another skill besides making a shedload of money as a stockbroker and publisher.

The Loriners’ Company’s Annual Banquet

On Friday evening I was invited to dine at the Mansion House as a guest of the Master of the Worshipful Company of Loriners. I had previously only been to one livery company dinner (farriers) and had never dined at the Mansion House before so it was a big night out for me.

A Noble Thing?

The National Trust evokes a range of emotions and the appointment of Helen McGrady as its new Director-General stirs up some new ones.

The Loriners

The purpose of writing here is to enlighten, entertain and, perhaps, infuriate. What I don’t do is to share my irrational worries. For eight months I have been mighty worried. 

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Booth

No doubt you make a Pavlovian association between Booth and gin. Well the link has been broken since production ceased in 2017.

The Golden Bottle

Mrs Hudson came in without knocking while I was having forty winks. I awoke to hear Holmes expostulating “Dear Mrs H, please desist from wipin’ your hands on your apron – so common”. I knew that her intrusion must be warranted.

Nouveau Pauvres

As we bumble Brexit-wards I worry about my friends with properties in France. How will they manage? We must look to history for guidance.

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Crown, Shamrock & Brexit

Instituted in 1783 to assist Irish persons in need, resident in London. Registered Charity Number: 214824. President: Lord Aylmer. Patron: The Duke of Abercorn KG The President and Committee of The Benevolent Society of St Patrick request the pleasure of your company at a Talk by Mary Kenny, “Crown, Shamrock & Brexit”, on Wednesday 8th… Continue reading Crown, Shamrock & Brexit

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Risotto & Ratio

My great-great-great-great grandfather is a distinguished Spanish mathematician and scientist. It would be repetitious to write about him as older readers will remember the story from a September 2015 post, A Spy in the Family.

George Peabody

On Monday I walked across London for lunch at the City of London club in Old Broad Street. On the way home I snapped this bronze at the back of the Royal Exchange. In thirty-nine years working in the City I saw it countless times without having the curiosity to learn more.

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