The Court - 2010/11
The Court of Assistants comprises the Master, Upper Warden, Renter Warden,
Deputy Master (who is the immediate Past Master), the Master's Steward (who is the Senior Assistant),
Past Masters and other senior Liverymen nominated by the Court for their personal qualities on the
understanding that they will be willing, subject to formal election, to serve in turn the offices of
Renter Warden, Upper Warden and Master.
The
Company's Charter lays down that the annual election of the new Master and Wardens shall take
place on Ascension Day.
The Master and Wardens for 2009/010 were elected at the Election Court held at
Apothecaries Hall on 13 May 2010.
(For a full listing of Past Masters since incorporation,
click here)
Officials of the Company
The Clerk, appointed by the Court, is the Administrator of the Company. He deals with the
day-to-day running of the Company and is the keeper of its records. For a full listing of Clerks of the Company
since incorporation,
click here.
The present Clerk, Edward Windsor Clive, has held the post since 1999.
The Beadle is elected by the Court, and has responsibility to summon persons of the
mistery and make return of their answers, and for warning every person concerning any controversy between party and
party. In 1608 he was entitled to be paid 4d (approximately 1½ pence in todays money) for entering every
order. The Beadles staffhead dates from 1784 and is a handsome George III silver mace made in the form of an
upright arm grasping the bottom rim of a Catherine wheel.
The current Beadle is Stephen Grundy.