| On Tuesday the 5th February our Livery
Company entered a team for the City’s Inter-Livery Pancake Race
inaugurated by The Poulters Company in 2004 which takes place each year
in Guildhall Yard at midday on Shrove Tuesday by kind permission of
the Chief Commoner.
Such is the organisation of this event that other Livery Companies
are necessarily involved. As you may expect the Poulters supply the
eggs, the Bakers the flour, Gunmakers man the starting gun for each
heat, the Clockmakers are responsible for the timekeeping, lemons
are provided by the Fruiterers, plastic forks by the Cutlers, with
the Glovers contributing the white gloves worn by each runner. The
Musicians Company provide a tuneful accompaniment to the events by
a specially commissioned song.
 Teams
consist of runners for each of the four races, the Wardens, Ladies,
Liveryman and novelty races. We were well represented by Past Prime
Warden Olivia Elton Barratt, Liveryman Stephen Gee, Assistant Jennifer
Jasper and Liveryman Oliver Gostling. Suitably engraved frying pans
are awarded to the winner of each class, but sadly our noble team,
who acquitted themselves in an exemplary manner, came away without
a trophy.
Olivia Elton Barratt is shown above in full flight, as is Liveryman
Stephen Gee and Assistant Jennifer Jasper deftly tossing her pancake,
the requirement to toss the pancake once on the outward leg and once
on the return journey, not an easy task when running at full pelt!
Liveryman Oliver Gostling is shown in his fetching fancy dress outfit.
Pancakes are sold to the eager crowd of keen supporters, with the
proceeds and any surplus funds from the joint organisers The Poulters
Company and The Cook and The Butler being donated to the Lord Mayor’s
Charity.
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