The next event of my year is the Annual Banquet which will be held at Apothecaries' Hall. 

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The Worshipful Society of Apothecaries was incorporated by Royal Charter from James I in 1617. The Letters Patent gave the Society the right to "have, purchase, retain and appoint a certain Hall , or Counsel-House" in the City.

Cobham House in Blackfriars was chosen. Situated in the precinct of the former Dominican Priory of The Black Friars, the property had originally been their guesthouse and the Society bought it for £1,800 in October 1632. The hall was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666 and the Society immediately set about re-building which was completed in 1672. It is claimed to be the oldest Livery Hall in the City, with the arrangement of the Great Hall, Court Room and Parlour remaining as re-built between 1668 and 1670.

A major restoration and building programme was carried out in the 1780's and although the Hall underwent further re-development in the 1980's, its external appearance has altered little since the late-eighteenth century. The Great Hall has Irish oak. panelling and an oak floor and the central 24 branch candelabra was presented to the Society by Sir Benjamin Rawlings who was Master in 1736. Even by City standards I think we can say this Hall is "steeped in history".

My principal guest will be Maggie Morgan, Assistant Director at the National Trust.  Maggie has responsibility for a number of the large properties owned by the Trust in the South East including, of course, Knole and Chartwell. She will tell us about her work and perhaps let us into a few secrets we didn't know about the Trust.

We shall start the evening with a champagne reception in the Parlour with music by members of the Guildhall School of Music followed by dinner in. the Great Hall.