The Worshipful Company of Poulters

The Worshipful Company of Poulters of London

 

Events

The City Food Lecture 2012

Guest Speaker: Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever plc.

This was held at the Guildhall on January 11th 2012.

For a transcript of the Lecture Click here
The Annual Pancake Race 2012

pancake race 1 pancake_Michael_s pancake dress pancake race 1 pancake race 2

In 2004 the Poulters inaugurated the City’s inter-livery pancake race. The original participants were Livery companies in some way associated with the making of pancakes with invited teams from the Mansion House and Guildhall. This event now takes place each year in Guildhall yard at midday on Shrove Tuesday by kind permission of the Chief Commoner.

It is a colourful event with competitors that included a Sheriff in 2004 running in their regalia and/or fancy dress. Each team consists of four competitors who compete for the Trophy - frying pans are awarded to the winner of each class final. Traditionally the Gunmakers start each heat with a bang, the Clockmakers are responsible for the accuracy of the timing, the Fruiterers provide lemons, the Cutlers plastic forks, the Glovers white gloves worn by each runner, and the Poulters the eggs essential in the making of the pancakes. A recent welcome additional attraction has been a specially commissioned piece sung by the Musicians Company.

Such is the appeal of the event that it has been widened to include other Livery Companies and Corporation Departments such as The Old Bailey, preferably with a relationship (however specious) to the making of pancakes. This year the Chief Commoner ran in, and won, a special heat which was put on by way of consolation for those Companies whose entries in the main event could not be accommodated because of its growing popularity. By so doing he also assured the Carmens’ Company, of which coincidently he is Master, of a place in next year’s main event.

Any surplus funds from the event and pancake sales are donated by the joint organisers, the Poulters’ Company and ‘The Cook and The Butler’, to the Lord Mayor's Charity.

The winners for 2012 were as follows:-

Masters' Race - The Clockmakers Company
Ladies' Race - The Plumbers Company
Liveryman's Race - The Glovers Company
Novelty Race - The Clockmakers Company
Victor Ludorum - The City Livery Club
Best Costume - The Furniture Makers Company

These Companies will have entry as of right in the Pancake Races to be held in February 2013.

 

For the Diary
For diary dates 2012-2013, click here

 

News
Sig Reg The Master visted the 37 Signal Regiment (Volunteers) on 24 January 2011. For a full report   click here

 

Newsletter
For the latest edition of the newsletter (No 14) click here
For the previous edition of the newsletter (No 13) click here
For an earlier edition of the newsletter (No 12) click here
For an earlier edition of the newsletter (No 11) click here
For an earlieredition of the newsletter (No 10) click here