Spectacle Makers support College celebration

Mr President, Baroness, ladies and gentlemen.

It is right and proper to celebrate anniversaries. Being master of an organisation that last year celebrated the 375th anniversary of receiving its Royal Charter, one is very conscious of the passing of time and what has been achieved in any period.

In contemplating what might be appropriate to share with you this afternoon, I turned to the history of the College so painstakingly put together by Philip Cole and the late Martin Lynch. I would like to be able to say that I re-read the chapter titled Foundation but I have to admit that the book has been waiting, with others, for a gap in my hectic retirement schedule.