For many years our Naval affiliation was with the aircraft carriers HMS Invincible and HMS Illustrious.
Following the decommissioning of HMS Illustrious in August 2014 we were delighted to receive confirmation that our affiliation to the Royal Navy would be transferred to HMS Queen Elizabeth. We are privileged to have regular contact with the ship and it’s Company and occasionally be able to make visits.
We maintain our tradition of inviting the serving captain of our affiliated ship to be installed as an Honorary Freeman of the Lightmongers.
The Lightmongers’ Royal Navy Military Merit Award for excellence is sponsored by Past Master John Harding, with the Award being presented by the Master and the Sponsor at the Lightmonger Awards Dinner, usually held in March of each year. The nominations for the Award are made by the Commanding Officer of HMS Queen Elizabeth.
Company’s third Armed Services affiliation is with the Royal Auxiliary Air Force and was made in 2004 with 606 Chiltern Squadron) based at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire. 606 comprises a Headquarters element and 4 operational flights; Logistics Engineering, Operations and Regiment, a total of 187 personnel to augment the support Helicopter force in times of crises and war. The Support Helicopter Force itself comprises of all of the Royal Air Force’s Support Helecopter Squadrons together with the associated ground forces required to conduct 24 hour operations in support of the British Army.
606 is part of the Joint Helicopter Command providing support to the operation of the tri-service command across the whole range of its work. It is unique in being the only Reserve Squadron to do so. Members of the squadron have again deployed across all the theatres in which the UK has been involved including Iraq, Afganistan and the Balkans.
The Lightmongers’ RAF Military Merit Award for excellence is sponsored by Past Master Rod Bennion with the Award being presented by the Master and the Sponsor at the Lightmonger Awards Dinner, usually held in March of each year. The nominations for the Award are made by the Commanding Officer of 606 Squadron.
http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafreserves/squadrons/rafbensonno606chilternsquadron.cfm
The Company’s first affiliation was with the Army; with 873 Movement Light Squadron RE (V) Territorial Army Unit. When the affiliation came about in 1987 it affiliated the Company with the sole searchlight unit in the British Army. In 1992 the Army decided that it no longer needed searchlights and the role of the squadron changed from searchlights to explosive ordinance disposal (EOD – or bomb disposal in layman’s language) and became part of 101 (London) Engineers Regiment (EOD) (V).
In 1999 with continuing changes by the Government in the Territorial Army and at the request of the Commanding Officer of 101 (City of London) Engineer Regiment the Court agreed to transfer their affiliation to 579 Field Squadron (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) (Volunteers) based in Tunbridge Wells. The Regiment has, over the recent years, had members posted to all the major world hot-spots where the British Servicemen have served, including Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Lightmongers’ Army Military Merit Award for excellence is sponsored by Liveryman Bob Harris with the Award being presented by the Master and the Sponsor at the Lightmonger Awards Dinner, usually held in March of each year. The nominations for the Award are made by the Commanding Officer of 579 Field Squadron.
Cadets
The Lightmongers are proud to support two Cadet Units in London:
56 (Woolwich) ATC Royal Air Force Cadets
TS Wizard, Haringey SCC
These affiliations were both formed in 2010 and have flourished with the support from both members and members’ companies.
Our cadet liasion officer is Liveryman David Burns.
The Lightmongers give donations in kind and financial support to both units and in return the cadets support our events including parading in the Lord mayor’s Show, the Christmas Carol Concert and our annual dinners.
56(Woolwich) Squadron ATC
Flt Lt Mark Bird GCGI RAFAC
Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Woolwich Barracks
Green Hill
London SE18 4BN
0208 317 0868
(Tuesday and Friday nights – 19.00hrs – 21.45hrs)
Current Cadets 50
Assistants 4
Activities attended
- Providing the band at London remembers the First World War event at the Royal Chelsea pensioners Hospital.
- Performing at the Tower of London music festival
- Taking part in the Freedom parade of 56 Squadron Royal Air Force where they were given the Freedom of Epping Forest.
- Being in attendance during the RAF 100 celebrations in Central London and were privileged to observe the flypast over Buckingham Palace.
- 11 cadets attended an annual camp at RAF Henlow
Awards
- Flight Lieutenant Bird also received a certificate of recognition of outstanding service and devotion to the duty to the cadets services of Greater London by the Lord Lieutenant on behalf of London the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association
- Cadet flight Sergeant Paul Serbuca and cadet Sergeant Chloe Edwards received the deputy lord lieutenants award for the Royal Borough golf Greenwich
- On Armed Forces Day at Woolwich cadet flight Sergeant Paul Serbuca also received cadet forces, cadet of the year of the Royal Borough of Greenwich
October 2018
TS Wizard
Haringey Sea Cadets (TS Wizard)
SLt (SCC) Stuart Jackson RNR
345 White Hart lane
London
N17 7JP
0208 888 1346
Current cadets 31
Officers 1
Assistants 6
Activities attended
- 14 cadets went to Crowborough to attend various district 3rd class courses, Inc. Marine Engineering, Seamanship, Piping and First Aid, all 14 returned with a pass mark.
- London area diving team visited the unit and discussed the diving possibilities and the cadets had a chance to try the equipment
- The unit attended the 2018 YOU (Youth in Uniform) fun day at the Royal Victoria docks, this is an inter youth fun day, the ATC, Army Cadets, Police Cadets, Scouts, St Johns Cadets and Fire cadets all take part.
- 11 cadets attended the London area summer camp at Pirbright army barracks, they had a week of fun with various activities Inc. laser tag, off road go karting, it’s a knockout and Thorpe Park visits.
- The squad attended a cheque presentation evening, from Mrs Barbara Harding the Master of the Worshipful Company of Lightmongers. The master was presented to the squad and carried out the initial inspection at Flag raising, later was given a tour by the cadets of the unit and the activities being conducted and before flag lowering the Master gave a speech on the affiliation and how proud we are of the cadets then presented some younger cadets with the £500 donation from the Company.
Awards
- 8 cadets have been promoted
- 10 cadets carried out their weapons handling test and all passed
- 16 cadets took there SCC swimming test and all passed
- The unit competed in the Northern District athletics, the unit came 2nd overall in the male and female over 12s, 2nd in the under 12s female and won the under 12s male.
October 2018
Miss Mary Hare qualified as a teacher of the deaf at the age of 18 and opened her first school in 1916, in West Sussex, having previously taught children in her own home. She devoted her entire life to teaching as well as promoting the idea of oral education for deaf children. She was determined to prove to the hearing world that deaf children were capable of academic excellence and today the Mary Hare organisation still follows her principles, believing that all children should have the opportunity for academic and personal success.
The Mary Hare Primary and Secondary Schools remain at the heart of our work, educating over 240 profoundly and severely deaf young people each year. Mary Hare School is a registered charity and students come to us from all over the UK. In 2008 the schools were inspected by Ofsted and judged to provide students with an ‘outstanding’ education. Nearly all students leaving Mary Hare School go on to university or some other form of further / higher education.
Our academic results at GCSE and A Level are equally outstanding and in terms of ‘Value Added’ success, Mary Hare School has consistently come top in the country since this measurement was introduced. Language is at the heart of the education we provide and we place a great emphasis on the development of language skills, both in and out of the classroom. All staff teach using an auditory/oral approach, without the use of signing.
Mary Hare is now a true international centre of excellence in deaf education, working with families of children who are deaf as well as professionals working in the field of deafness. As a Specialist Special School and a Training School, we are committed to sharing our experience and expertise with the wider community, of all ages.
The Mary Hare organisation now embraces much more than ‘just’ the schools. Our earmould laboratory is now the second largest manufacturer in the UK, bringing customers the latest technology combined with Mary Hare’s long term experience of working with deaf people.
In 2006, Arlington Arts Centre was opened on the Mary Hare School campus. This unique venue is the only one of its kind specifically designed with the needs of deaf people to the fore. As well as housing the Music teaching department and a recording studio for the school, the Centre contains a Music Therapy Unit, a 250 seat theatre and a suite of Meeting / Seminar Rooms, all of which are open to the public.
Our hearing aid repair service and our high street Hearing Centres offer unique, specialist advice and support for adults with hearing loss. Our Training Services division runs a wide range of development opportunities for professionals – ranging from short course seminars, to major international conferences and post-graduate training (in association with Oxford Brookes University).
All of these ancillary services support our work with profoundly deaf children at Mary Hare Schools, who remain the driving force behind the Mary Hare charity.
New College Worcester
New College Worcester (NCW) is a residential school and college for young people who are blind or partially sighted, aged 11-19.
New College Worcester (NCW) is a residential school and college for young people who are blind or partially sighted, aged 11-19.
Underpinning all that we do is the recognition that a young person’s needs are about more than just their visual impairment. That is why we offer every student a tailored programme of education, mobility and Independent Living Skills to support them in reaching their full potential, both in and beyond the classroom.
Our students can access the full range of National Curriculum subjects, plus a variety of outdoor and leisure activities, from acoustic rifle shooting to rock climbing. In short, they benefit from a wealth of opportunities, which promote self-confidence in an enjoyable way.
Over the years, NCW has developed an enviable reputation for academic achievement. Our teachers are all specialists in their subject and additionally qualified to teach children and young people who are visually impaired. They also have a remarkable flair for developing our students’ self esteem, which is vital to learning. The result is young people who flourish, both as students and individuals.
Outreach Programme
Supporting Visually Impaired Students across the UK
NCW runs an Outreach Programme which provides cirriculum, support, advice. training and information to schools and colleges, offering practical solutions and resources for teachers and visually impaired students in mainstream settings.
Outreach
As part of the Outreach Programme, we have a dedicated Outreach Officer, who responds to hundreds of enquiries from professionals seeking help for various things such as enlarging written material, braille, mobility, tactile diagrams, access technology, practical lessons and social and emotional support.
NCW staff also lead training for professionals working with visually impaired students and run a three day residential GCSE revision course for visually impaired students from all over the UK every Easter holiday.
Fundraising
The College covers the basic costs of tuition and residence through the student fees charged to local authorities and the Learning and Skills Councils. All capital developments, investments in new technologies and new projects are funded through fundraising activities, grants and donations. Fundraising has raised money for a range of College activities from a life changing trip to Nepal, braille and magniciation devices, music workstations, to the refurbishment of residential lounges and kitchens. The College is also planning larger developments, including the refurbishment and extension of ILS (Independent Living Skills) facilities and the extension and improvement of our multigym and sports facilities.
College History
In 1866, a school for boys, Worcester College for the Blind, started at the Commandery. They
rented the Sidbury wing of this house which had acted as Charles II’s headquarters before the
Battle of Worcester. The need for more space led the College to move in 1887 to Slaughter’s
Court, a house in Powick. However, this was still rented. In 1902 Worcester College gained a
permanent home on the Whittington Road site. The school site had been purchased by Miss Eliza
Warrington from the Sebrights in 1897.
An important change came in 1936 when the then National Institute for the Blind undertook all
financial responsibility for the College. After the passing of the 1944 Act, Worcester College
for the Blind was designated as a grammar school for blind boys.
The establishment of Worcester College for the Blind in 1866 gave boys the opportunity to
progress on to higher education, but there was no such establishment for girls until Chorleywood
College was set up by the National Institute for the Blind in 1921. The school was located in
the Cedars, a large Renaissance-style mansion in Hertfordshire. After the Education Act of 1944,
the school was designated as a grammar school for girls.
In 1987, Worcester College for the
Blind, a boys’ school, merged with Chorleywood College for Girls, and the school site became the
home of RNIB New College Worcester. In June 2007, the new school became independent as New
College Worcester.
The Company is also proud to be affiliated with the Church of St Botolph’s-without-Aldgate. This City Church was built in the mid-18th Century at the site of the old Roman Eastgate to the City and is dedicated to the patron saint of Travellers. Designed by George Dance the Elder it is one of the City’s finest Churches.The affiliation builds on the tradition of the Guilds and Liveries of the City of London having a Guild Church.
The Rev. Laura Jorgensen is the Rector of St Botolph’s
The Company holds Carol Services for Members, their families and guests at St Botolph’s Church, which has the Company’s Coat of Arms in its west window.