Welcome to the news section of the website, which shows updated news articles featuring the Company, its events and activities.

Things had gone badly for Jay.  Life had been difficult since he was a young teenager and by the time he was in his early 20s he was homeless and living on the streets.  A passing stranger offered him help and gave him the telephone number of Michael Kenny, the Director of SMLBYHC.  One telephone conversation has transformed Jay’s life.

The Plaisterers’ Charitable Trust has made occasional donations to SMLBYHC in the past but this year decided to make a donation of £1,000.  On Tuesday 17^th January, the Master, the Clerk and Past Master Robin Doran, the     Chairman of the Charitable Trustees, met Jay and Michael Kenny at St Mary Le Bow.

 Jay told us his story.  Having spoken to Michael Kenny, Jay walked from Bexley to Cheapside to meet Michael.    Michael felt that he could help Jay and as a result of a longstanding arrangement with the Peabody Trust was able to arrange for Jay to move into one of the flats which the Trust make available to SMLBHYC for a modest rent.  The purpose of this arrangement is to teach young homeless people to look after themselves in a way that hostels  cannot.

After a ‘settling in’ period Michael was able to arrange for Jay to take up a three-month apprenticeship with Pret a Manger.  This far-sighted scheme has the potential to get young homeless people out of the cycle of deprivation and into work.  Jay explained that he began on basic tasks during his apprenticeship but because he had done so well he was then offered a full-time job and has since had a further promotion.  He is now part of the mentoring scheme looking after new apprentices.

He explained to us that his next two aims.  Firstly he wants to look for his own accommodation so leaving space for another young homeless person.  He also wants to learn to drive so that he has additional skills available to move on in the job market.  We were very impressed by this polite and gentle young man whose life has been turned around through the kindness and far-sightedness of a few people.   At the suggestion of Michael Kenny, the money donated by the Plaisterers’ Charitable Trust will be used to enable Jay to have driving lessons and we are promised a report on his progress.

Michael Kenny admits that not all of the young people who come his way are a success but by far the largest number who has helped since the scheme got under way in 1990 have not gone back on the streets.

The Plaisterers’ Charitable Trust will increasingly be looking for opportunities to ‘make a difference’ like this and it is good to know that the Trust money is being used in such a positive way.

Livery Visit to 282 (East Ham) Squadron, Air Cadets – “The best Squadron in London”

On Friday 20th January a group of eight from our Livery Company had the privilege to visit the smart, modern headquarters of our new military affiliation at the Cornwell VC Cadet Centre, led by our Master and the Clerk.

What an exciting visit this was! 

Meeting on two evenings each week, the Squadron offers up to 80 teenagers from the area a broad range of exciting activities from flying and gliding, sports, adventure training, marksmanship and camps to music. 

We were lucky enough to experience it all, including watching their football practice and, in addition, some very serious square drill practice in the blustery East Ham January air as well as the full range of indoor training activities.

We were shown around in excellent style by Corporal Soraya Anderson and Sergeant Rizwan Ahmed (Sergeant Ahmed attended our October Dinner with the CO for 282, Pilot Officer Chris Booty).  The intensity of teaching and learning that we experienced was very impressive, from 13 year old beginners being quizzed on their knowledge of kit and uniforms – parade shoes were to be polished “like mirrors” – to take off and landing of a Cessna 152 on an aerospace simulator.  (One of our number, who shall remain anonymous, managed to write off a large airliner at his first attempt!)

On a serious note, the youngsters were seen being schooled in the first stages of rifle training with their number 8 Lee Enfield which should culminate in their being able to shoot 5 rounds into a 5p coin space from 50 metres!

Another of the highlights was to hear the youngsters’ enthusiastic musical performances.  Our group was greeted with “When The Saints Go Marching In” at full volume from a 10-piece band, followed up by two drum solos of the highest calibre – we look forward to a repeat performance at our Hall some time soon.

One of the most salutary and moving remarks overheard during the course of the evening came as an ‘off the cuff’ comment from one of the young sergeants who said “this is a really great group you know….but if it wasn’t for the cadets none of them would ever have travelled outside the M25 area”.  Doesn’t that make this organisation’s work very worthwhile?

The Master addressed the assembled Squadron on parade, thanking their group for their reception and confirming our long-term commitment to developing a mutually rewarding association.  He exchanged plaques with our Company’s armourial bearings,   receiving at the same time, a plaque from Pilot Officer Booty, a gift of the cadets Arms.

We very much look forward to hearing of and supporting 282 Squadron in the coming months and years, and sharing in their growth and success.  Their appearance as a Guard of Honour at our Annual Banquet is planned and we know that we will be most welcome.