Senior Master Whitaker has been extremely hospitable and friendly throughout our visit, and before we left, he insisted that we put on his ceremonial wig to take a photo (he is a great fan of photos). Here are D and I looking like complete toots.
The wig is a horsehair wig and is very big and heavy - evidently not meant for small heads of Asian girls.
Before I put it on I simply had to ask, "er, how is this thing cleaned? dry clean?"
To which, Master Whitaker replied, "I have no idea! It's never been cleaned!"
....*gawk*....
Master Whitaker also brought us around the Registry and the Masters' Support Unit, to show us the nuts and bolts of what really goes on in the Queen's Bench Division. The Registry doesn't look very different from any other Registry, full of papers and files.
But we did find an old seal that is still in use. Here is Master Whitaker showing us that he really does do everything around the shop in the Queen's Bench Division.
Lunch as usual was in the Inner Temple dining hall. We can't really take pictures of the hall and the Masters at lunch, but here's a picture of (the back of) Master Rose in his cute bowler hat out to lunch.
By the end of our 2 weeks, we were extremely heavy hearted to say goodbye to all the Masters. They are truly an endearing lot, very warm, very funny (fuzzy?). We invited all of them to come and visit us in Singapore, and we hope they will find the time and opportunity to take up the offer. (Though I think they might be quite shocked at how we do things in Singapore...)
(From L to R: Barbara Fontaine, Graham Rose, Steven Whitaker, Basil Yoxall, D, Me, Ian Foster, John Ungley, Patrick Eyre)
(Not in picture: Master Leslie, Master Paul Miller)
Goodbye RCJ, goodbye Masters.
The experience you gave us was truly memorable; we will treasure the memories.
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