Social Events
There’s more to a hot summer’s evening in Clerkenwell than beers and bustling crowds. A conspiratorial look here, an enquiring glance there, is sufficient to track down the tribe of translators gathering beneath the shiny, modern façade of Farringdon Station. Name badges sorted, off we went – a perfect blend of established LRG glitterati, new recruits (me included!) and ITI Chief Executive herself, Sara Robertson.
Guided by knowledgeable historian Roger Bone, whose passion for local history led us down sunlit streets with a somewhat shadier past, we began with an introduction to The Castle at Cowcross Street. A busy and popular venue where King George IV is reported to have pawned his pocket watch to settle a gambling debt. Not wishing to engage in any unseemly cockfighting for the sake of a pint, Roger guided us away to the Holy Tavern on Britton Street to quench our thirst. Formerly known as the Jerusalem Tavern, we discovered the site upon which the Holy Tavern now stands is rooted in monastic history – dating back to the twelfth century, at which time it was the site of the Clerkenwell Priory. A well-scheduled stop indeed: a notable pub serving, some did say, the best beer in London. Roger’s impeccable timing no doubt influenced by the watchful eyes of the area’s once prolific clock and watch makers.
The beautiful St John’s Gateway is quite a sight to behold and well worth a look if you are ever in the area. Just around the corner is the Sekforde, a pub notable for its presence on the street since the 1800s but whose modern restoration blends in well with the architecturally beautiful Georgian street in which it is located. En route to our next stop at the Crown Tavern, we took in the Marx Memorial Library and the Clerkenwell House of Correction. By now a few beers down, our little group of linguists was busy chatting and enjoying the buzz of a warm summer’s evening in London.
Experienced translators and new entrants enjoyed the opportunity to chat and socialise in busy pubs steeped in history. As we ambled through dusky streets, it was remarkable to note that with a short departure from the main drag, it is still possible to find peace and quiet in the capital. To be liberated from the thunderous roar of modern-day London’s ubiquitous 4×4. To take a step back in time, whilst developing and nurturing professional relationships is perhaps the unique selling point of this particular event.
A final stop at the Betsy Trotwood for food and another pint (well, why not, it is a pub crawl after all!), but perhaps the most important part of the evening too: the opportunity to relax and consolidate those connections.
Author: Sarah McColgan
Social Events
After more than a year of COVID-induced disruption, December 2021 saw the return of the LRG’s much-loved Christmas festivities at the Glassblower pub. Pamela Mayorcas reports.
Three years ago, and thanks to scouting by Committee member Marta Prieto, LRG had organised its 2019 Christmas Party – with a resplendent buffet – at The Glassblower pub.
Our usual venue, The Devereux – also a pub – had closed down, having been sold to developers for conversion – yes, you guessed it – into luxury flats (of which more on page 6). But, in any case, we had decided that the upstairs room was not big enough for the large crowd that usually attends the LRG Christmas Party.
Due to COVID, we could not hold a Christmas Party there in 2020, so it was with great delight that the Committee was able to announce to LRG members that there would be an in-person Christmas Party, back at The Glassblower, on 8 December 2021.
Still mindful of COVID-related precautions, the Committee decided we would not have the usual buffet spread, as that would involve people crowding around the buffet table and serving themselves from bowls and plates from which others would also be serving themselves.
We therefore decided on providing the traditional mince pies, which come in individual foil cases, and slices of stollen and of panettone, together with small, individual bags of nuts, crisps, and savoury crackers. We also bought clementines that came in their own individual wrapping!
Safe arrangements
We arranged several small tables around the very large room, with four to five chairs at each one. Committee members arrived ahead of the designated start time, opened windows, identified an area where guests could leave coats and bags, and started to put the food items on each table. This would minimise the amount of contact people would need to have with one another.
The pub staff were also extremely kind and helpful, providing lots of plates and napkins and putting individual candles on each of the tables.
The room itself looked very festive, with garlands, lights, and Christmas wreaths.
Free bar
Since we had had to cancel the Christmas Party in 2020, the Committee had decided to use some of LRG’s funds to offer the party free-of-charge to all LRG members (there was a small charge for non-members). On arrival, everyone was given three cloakroom tickets, which they could exchange for drinks at the bar – prosecco, mulled wine, wine, beer, and soft drinks.
There was such a buzz as people started to arrive and greet friends and colleagues who they had not seen, in person, for more than a year. Everyone commented on how wonderful it was to be able to do this and there was still a crowd at the bar as late as 11pm! We held a brief AGM in the course of the evening and announced that there would be an online AGM in January 2022.
The room looked very festive, with garlands, lights, and Christmas wreaths
Most Committee members were standing again for election, apart from Daniela Ford, who was stepping down as Webmaster. In her place, we welcomed back Cecilia Lipovsek onto the Committee (see Committee News on page 2).
It had been a lot of hard work and schlepping (Yiddish for ‘hauling’) both before the party and on the way to the pub. But it was definitely worth it, just to see everyone so happy, smiling and generally cheerful after almost 18 months of Zoom meetings.
Face-to-face
The life of the average freelance translator is generally a solitary one, so the average of six events per year, at a pub or university venue, were and are a welcome opportunity to get out of the office or house and meet and exchange news and views – both work related and personal – with fellow professionals.
This had been so much missed since March 2020. We hope to be holding several more in-person meetings in the course of 2022.
Thanks are due to all the members of the LRG Committee who worked so hard to plan and deliver LRG’s 2021 Christmas Party.
