Stephen Fry's Key to the City Page #6

their finery

for a trip to the Apothecaries Hall

wherever that is.

Gosh. Hello. Hello.

Oh, that's fantastic.

Opiferque Per Orbem Dicor. Oh, good

Lord!

I'll have to look it up.

The Society of Apothecaries is one

of the City's livery companies

who got their name because of their

distinctive uniform or livery.

They began in medieval time as early

closed shops for different trades.

In this case, pharmacists.

They still have powers in the

election of the City's Aldermen.

Apparently, I'm going to have to

take part in some ritual

involving rose water.

Used to stimulate this nerve.

All the aldermen know because they

dine so well

that they needed some stimulus

to help their intestines to empty.

(GAVEL BANGS)

Master, wardens, My Lord Mayor,

Sheriffs, ladies and gentlemen,

dinner is now served in the Great

Hall.

There you are.

Dr Dale, how do you do?

I've no idea what the right thing to

do is here.

One of things that astonishes me

about this whole thing is

people looking will see the Latin

and portraits of ancient figures

and so on, and then I discover that

people like you are doing

absolutely up-to-the-minute work in

medicine around the world.

I know. The thing about the society

is it gives the impression

- that it's full of... - old fogies?

- Let's be honest. - White men of a

certain age.

But you're a rather glamorous doctor.

No. I'm not the only one. But I

think...

Your field is something called

Catastrophe.

We deal with conflict

and catastrophe medicine.

And behind all the cloaks and the

ceremony,

we're actually training doctors and

nurses

to work and adapt all their medical

knowledge

and skills working in conflict zones

and disaster zones.

(GAVEL BANGS)

The Master would like you join with

him with a loving cup

and bids you all a hearty welcome.

There you are. And if you protect my

back...

You stand up. We bow.

You take the lid in your right hand.

I'll take a...

swig.

This take the silver plate off the

cup, you know, this stuff.

- Yes, I bet it does.

- You pop the lid back on. We bow.

- We bow. - I give it to you. You turn

around and I'll protect your back.

Hm. I may have had too much.

That's all right. Just not down in

one.

- Thank you. - Now you can protect her

back.

- Now, we can sit back...

- No, you stand.

- She might be attacked.

- Of course. I have to protect her.

- Face outwards. - Outwards.

Shame on me.

Shame on me.

Hooray. Oh, my goodness. Thank

goodness...

I have to stay standing.

I did my best.

I knew you could look after

yourself, you've been in war zones!

Please be upstanding for two toasts.

- The Queen.

- ALL:
The Queen!

The Royal Academy!

The Lord Mayor, the City of London

Corporation and the sheriffs.

The Lord Mayor, the City of London

Corporation and the sheriffs.

Phew. I like a drink but I can see

how the word 'liver' got into livery!

The Worshipful Society of the Art

and Mystery

of the Apothecaries of the City of

London.

May it flourish bringing help to all

till time ceases.

ALL:
Till time ceases.

Of course you can mock and say

it's a load of fogies

enjoying themselves with wine and

stupid rituals

but all these people are

professionals in the health world.

And some are initiating new ways of

taking medicine and health care

into the world which are the absolute

cutting edge

but they're doing it in an old

frock.

To me, that sums up not just the

City of London but Britain itself.

Behind strange layers of silk and

tassels,

there can be some very modern,

cutting edge brains.

And I think it's absolutely

wonderful.

I'm an old sentimentalist at heart

and I'm also someone who embraces

the modern world.

For me, this is kind of home.

- So, do you enjoy exercising your

freedom, Doris? - Absolutely.

- This is...

- We should do this every week.

Good exercise for us and good

exercise for Grace.

- That's right. Yeah. - Isn't it fun to

be free? - Absolutely.

(SHEEP BAAS)

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