Lime Street Ward Club was created in Jan 1946, its founding Meeting being on 17th January.

It was formed, by, amongst others, Alderman Sir Bracewell Smith BSc. (Aldermanic Sheriff 1943/44 who became Lord Mayor in November 1946), Sir Percy Shepherd. CC, The Rt Hon Ralph Assheton. MP, Alderman Sir Percy Greenaway.Bt.
Membership stood at 45 at the end of its first year. The Master for the first two years was Major Alfred D.S.Rice, JP, CC. with the first Honorary Secretary being Mr R.T. Rivington MA. LL.B. Sir Bracewell Smith was President from the founding until 1965.
Sir Bracewell Smith know as “braces” in the City. On one occasion after a Banquet at Mansion House apparently could not sleep so went for a walk in his pyjamas, dressing down and slippers! Whist staring into the river on Southwark Bridge a policemen shouted out “Don’t do it” (believing a suicide imminent) to which the reply came “Unhand me, I am the Lord Mayor!” – “A likely story”. He was taken to the Police Station, where he was recognised!

Cornhill Ward
Under a Corporation of the City of London experiment around 1975/6, Cornhill Ward was grouped together with Lime Street Ward on some committees etc. Although the experiment at the Corporation level failed the David Howard CC  from Cornhill and  Harry Duckworth (Deputy) Lime Street agreed that as there was a good relationship between the CC’s and Aldermen that people from the Cornhill Ward should be invited to join the Lime Street Ward Club. This included inviting Cornhill Councilmen on the Club  Committee. The link is still strong.

At our AGM in February 2016 that we agreed to change our name to reflect how we have actually operated for some years – a Ward Club for both Cornhill and Lime Street Wards. Robert Howard who was Lime Street’s Deputy until he was elected as Alderman for the Ward of Cornhill and Lime Street’s Alderman (Sir) Charles Bowman were equally pleased.

Within our Membership today we have various City Civic figures including;

Our Vice President: Alderman Robert Howard

• Alderman for Cornhill Ward
• Common Councilman (and Deputy) for Lime Street Ward (retired Oct 2015)
• Master of our Ward Club (2017/2018)

Our  President: Alderman Sir Charles Bowman

• Alderman for Lime Street Ward

Common Councilmen – Lime Street Ward

• Henry Coulthurst – (Deputy)
• Dominic Christian
• Irem Yerdelen
• Anthony Fitzpatrick

Hon. Ward Clerk
Tim Willens

Beadle.   Charlotte Kipping

Common Councilmen – Cornhill Ward

• Mr Peter Dunphy (Deputy)
• Ian Seaton
• Joanna Abeyie

Hon.Ward Clerk   Mark Gubbins

Beadle.    Joanne Collins

Our Alderman – Sir Charles Bowman
On being elected Sheriff and with the kind generosity of many in the City, was presented with his Badge of Office at Grocers Hall – it was very pleasing that The Master and The Hon. Secretary were among the guests.

Our Master, the Hon. Secretary, Immediate Past Master, Hon. Treasurer and Member Teresita Cutting were honoured to attend The Presentation Ceremony in the Guildhall Art Galleryy after the Silent Ceremony on Friday 13th 2015. Our President as Sheriff, was presented with an illuminated address – copy below.

Our Club President and Alderman was elected Lord Mayor in 2017

He is a member of the Court of the Worshipful Company of Grocers and a liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales

He was appointed Knight of the Order of St John in January 2018 in the 2019 Birthday Honours for services to trust in business, international trade and the City of London.

For info on the Ward Club’s involvement in the Lord Mayor’s Show click here.

This is used on all our stationery and our Web-site “Banner”.
One story regarding this design was that, it was taken from an image being part of a mantelpiece that was originally situated in one of the main rooms of the East India Company’s Head Office in Leadenhall Street. The story went that when the building was pulled down this mantelpiece was removed to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in Whitehall.

According to the FCO (with much thanks to one specific individual) a “mantlepiece” with this design is definitely not in the FCO building, although there is a mantlepiece that does come from the East India Company’s Offices. Very similar concept but not the same design as our note paper.

The “story” almost certainly derives from a letter, from the British Library Jan 1993 in reply to an enquiry from Past Master Brian Wakeham regarding our “Header”. It states “I have not seen that particular seascape before and it looks rather a though it was commisioned as an “overmantle”.

A copy of a painting detailing typical “East Indiamen” Ships of the era was also included – very similar in style to the ship on our cufflinks.

“The Inglis East Indiaman”

The actual story re our “Header” is slightly different.

The Background

November 19^th 1970 Meeting, Abercorn Rooms.

It was agreed at this meeting that part of the design on the fascia of the East India Company’s office in Leadenhall Street (early 1700’s) be incorporated into our note paper.
N.B. The Building was located approx. where the entrance to the Lloyd’s 1928 building is situated.

Why take something from East India Company at all ?
“As Lime St Ward has no church or “gate” this seems an appropriate idea, being an organisation from within our Ward”. 

The actual header itself is taken from an etching of the Companies Head Office in Leadenhall Street that was pulled down in 1726 and rebuilt, over the following three years. The committee in 1970 obviously researched the history in some detail, particularly taking extracts from a book called The East India House by William Foster.

There are only three etchings known of this particular building – one is called the Dutch View because of the Dutch written at the top – this was an engraving from a small painting – the painting and the original plate have never been found.

It is known that the superstructure was not put up until 1661 and a balcony, not in this picture was added in 1688.
A 1993 British Library Reference (E.I. House to Orbit House Ex H. Cat No 3 + Negative B1050)

This is not the print that we used the ships are different.

The next is called the “Overley” named after a William Overly, a “joyner” who used the picutre to promote his wares.

The text below this print talks about making “at the Sign of the East India House all sorts of  Sea Chests, Packing Chests, Tables, Writing Desks, Letter holders also counters and all sorts of joyners work done at reasonable rates”.

This one was apparently originally prepared in the late 1600’s but amended at a later date to incorporate a new Royal Coat of Arms. The version below was reproduced in the ‘Gentlemen’s Magazine’ December 1794 issue (British library Reference from 1993: E.I. to Orbit house Ex H. Cataologue no 4 + Negative B1049).

The 3rd etching is called “Vertue” and is named after the likely engraver George Vertue and can be dated to 1711.
There are more ships included and no dolphins on the top of the building – this is the one our notepaper banner is based on.

The first proof of our notepaper was used it seems on  11^th March 1971 with a letter to our President of the time, Alderman Alan Greenway (Daniel Greenaway and Sons – Printers and Stationers),  Dashwood House, Old Broad Street) who had very generously provided the paper and printing. It included the following very practical request.

“I wonder if it would be possible to have 1,000 sheets to cover our requirements for this year.
I understand that this letter is being written on A4 size paper(210cm x 297cm). I wonder if there is a slightly larger size because as you know we have to fit in a tear off slip for people to use in replying.”

2 weeks later a version was provided on “foolscap” (8½ inches x 13 ½ inches / 215cm x 342cm) which had been a standard size English Paper for over 400 years – problem solved.

Our Honorary Secretary  Daphne Cave in 2011 opined “what a sensible request, would save having to use 2 pages of A4 as we have to do sometimes now”

See an example (foolscap) of its first use below below noting that the original colour chosen was brown ink on cream paper.  Mr Alan P Greenaway on the 25th March 1971 commented “The colour as you will agree, is non political and I feel the general effect is one of stability and tranquility. The picture, (East India Company) will no doubt raise certain observations from various quarters, but after all, this is a Ward Club for “discussion and goodwill”.

Mr Greenaway himself had suggested something more akin to our “Badge” (and cuff links) (City of London shield, with sailing ship as an overlay)

A very detailed proposal was put to a sub-committee at the end of 1970 which involved the “logo” being printed in red and the names of the officers in black. With the logo proposed being basically as per our cuff links below, other ideas were Lutine Bell (Lloyd’s) or a Pair of Scales – Leadenhall Market.

In a memo dated 28th September 1970, another suggestions included a picture of East India House from A History of Lloyd’s (Charles Wright and Ernest Fayle), the picture being by Thomas Malton (Younger)

The Minutes from a Meeting discussing this topic include the quote, “We need to consider if we want a view of the East India House on our notepaper as this is already on our Master’s Badge!!” See note below.

Although in the end it was decided to use a Banner Headline for our note paper, as menioned above there was a very strong case put forward for “a simple symbol representing the City of London and, Shipping, Insurance or Leadenhall Market. Please look at our Tie Pin (and Cuff Links) below.

Presented by Sir Bracewell Smith Bt KCVO BSc (Founder President) on the creation of the Club in 1946.

It was believed that the picture on the Jewel was of The East India Company Head Office in Leadenhall Street. If you look carefully at the pictures – it does not show East India House – it shows the Mansion House (Columns and steps going up both sides at the front)

The only clue is one letter after the meeting in Nov 1970 that states, “although the design for the Master’s Badge was passed round I did not get a close enough look to see that the badge actually does include a picture of East India House”.

Obviously a group of the Committee at the time thought it did!

The Upper Warden’s Badge was very generously donated by Past Master Bryan Wakeham at the 1998 AGM

The Lower Warden’s Badge was very generously donated by Past Master Rowland Hughes at the same time as the Upper Wardens Badge was presented.

The Hon Secretary’s Badge

was very generously donated jointly by John Tuff – Master 2001 and John Bristow Master 2002, in February 2002

The Immediate Past Master’s Badge

Was very generously donated by Master Mr Stanley Liu in 2011
                                                                                                   

The Hon Treasurers Badge

was presented in to Mr Christopher Otter, in 2013  purchased with donations from many Past Masters and Officers of that year.

The Club has had two designs for its tie, the earlier one involving Mr Dicky Bird which shows an East Indiaman (Ship) and The City of London Coat of Arms as a Crest.  The current tie just shows our “crest”, being the badge of the City of London with a sailing ship super-imposed on top. This is the same design as on our Cuff Links and Brooch.

• The first was presented by Mr Bryan Toye Alderman of Lime Street 1983 – 1996
• The second was presented by Mr Bryan Wakeham – Master 1999

Presented by Bryan Wakeham – Master 1999