The Master’s Outing – York 2019

The Master’s Outing is always one of the highlights of the Company’s social year and this year was no exception. The Master, Dids Macdonald OBE, hails from Yorkshire and over 40 liverymen and guests were treated to a brief, but packed, tour of her home county.

We started our adventure at the Rowntree Chocolate Museum where we learnt from knowledgable chocolatiers how York had become the home of a product originating 3000 years ago as a bitter drink which we were invited to sample. Opportunities to taste its successor products as we followed the process through were eagerly taken and we concluded by making our own chocolate lollies in the demonstration kitchen.

That evening we were privileged to enjoy a black tie dinner at the York Mansion House (the oldest in Britain) where we were joined by the Lord Mayor, Councillor Janet Looker, and her consort. Proposing a toast to the Furniture Makers, the Lord Mayor congratulated the Company on upholding its values and support of young people in the industry we represent.

The following day required an early start to get to Pickering for the 09.25 steam hauled train to Whitby. Our coach driver had arrived a little late but with the benefit of local knowledge made all haste through the country side to arrive at the station with minutes to spare!  Having boarded our reserved coach we travelled at a more sedate pace through the Yorkshire Moors, with Master and her consort, Shelagh serving bubbly en route, utilizing the many skills they had acquired in earlier careers. Lively conversation competed with our desire to admire the beautiful scenery and enjoy the nostalgic sound and smell of the steam locomotive hauling us.

Arriving in the historic fishing port of Whitby, a few energetic members climbed the 199 steps to Whitby Abbey to admire the fine coastal views , while others made a more leisurely journey through the picturesque streets to one of the port’s famous fish restaurants, The Magpie, where we all enjoyed some of the freshest fish and chips we had ever tasted.

Back on the coach again we had a spectacular drive through the North Moors National Park to the village of Kilburn where we visited the workshops of the famous Yorkshire furniture maker, Robert Thompson, the Mouseman, and saw the craftsmen carrying on his traditions today.

Arriving back in York we had a short time to ourselves before an evening visit to the Castle Museum where after our tour we enjoyed an informal dinner at tables set in the re-created Victorian street of Kirkgate and every table having an appointed liveryman to carve “Ye Roste Beef of Olde England”

Finally on Saturday a visit to the National Railway Museum had been organized. Here small groups were taken to view key exhibits with the benefit of enthusiastic guides to entertain and inform. A highlight for one group was to visit the National Archives in restricted strong-rooms within the Museum. Here we were shown the original exquisitely drawn notebook of Daniel Gooch, Brunel’s first Locomotive Superintendent in 1837. (Furniture Makers – think Chippendale’s original sketches in the New York Metropolitan Museum!)

The visit was rounded off by lunch in the restored Countess of York’s carriage giving the opportunity to reflect on the few days.  All agreed that the visits, the free time to explore and simply the opportunity to spend time in good fellowship had contributed to a very enjoyable Outing , with well deserved thanks to the Master and Shelagh for their efforts.