Apothercary 2016

my wife, a fellow Liveryman, was a great support both
at events in Hall and in supporting me ‘behind the
scenes’. The Livery Committee is one of the Society’s
great assets and produced many splendid social
events. To all of them I express heartfelt thanks.
The Master has the privilege of seeing the
Examinations Department in action, attending (as
silent observer) the OSCE examinations and the
Examiners’ Meetings. It was a pleasure to preside at
the Diploma Ceremony and to welcome so many of
our new Diplomates.
Of external events there were many, all of them
most enjoyable. I attended many lunches and dinners
of other city livery companies and was able to view
their Halls – albeit none quite as ancient as ours, save
for the visit to the Merchant Adventurers of York and
their hall, dating from 1357, which makes our 1672
Hall seem positively adolescent! Visits to the Mansion
House and to the Guildhall were especially
memorable. The ceremonies to elect the Lord Mayor
and the Sheriffs and the United Guilds Service in St
Paul’s Cathedral were particularly colourful.
Another happy memory, albeit shortly before I was
elected Master, was to sail in HMS Somerset (the RN
ship that we support) from Neath to Plymouth and to
witness the calm efficiency of the ship’s company as
well as to present the Society’s prizes to the three
winners.
Of the many, enjoyable internal events in Great
Hall two remain especially memorable: first, the
dinner to commemorate the 150 th anniversary (almost
to the exact day) that Elizabeth Garrett (later Garrett-
Anderson, after her marriage) received the Society’s
Licence, the first woman on this side of the Atlantic to
qualify as a doctor. The other was the visit of the Lord
Mayor and Sheriffs and the dinner following the June
Court meeting.
I have already utilised more than the space allotted
to a Past-Master by the Editor so I must desist from
longer discourse. The one blessed relief on completing
my year is that I shall never have to prepare and
deliver another speech! Other than that challenge, I
have had a marvellous year in office as The Master
Apothecary and I am grateful indeed to all who
helped make it such a happy one.
Dr Roy Palmer
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