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Like many businesses, we have made full use of Skype and Zoom to meet on a regular basis, at a very safe distance.

As you may know, the Master Cutler’s term of office runs from October to October, so the

Covid-19 shutdown came just as I was getting into my stride.

That being the case, and with the generous support of all my colleagues, it has been decided that I shall remain in post until October 2021, when James Tear, the senior warden, will take over.

This is a very unusual occurrence.

However, we are living through exceptional times.

The only other occasions when a Master Cutler has retained office for more than 12 months was during the two World Wars.

Also, at that time, the decision was taken not to fine Members of the Company for not attending meetings.

Although this seems obvious and sensible to us nowadays, it did have to be debated as to why serving in the trenches might be a reasonable excuse.

Meanwhile, Cutlers’ Hall remains closed, although the company office is open daily and the staff will respond to any communication.

Like every business across the region, we are doing our best to maintain a presence and to keep in touch with freemen, friends, clients and suppliers.

Our hospitality business remains closed for now and all the hospitality team, with the exception of the business development executive, have been furloughed.

We are looking to reopen this in September, if the situation allows.

We are keeping everything under review, are developing and implementing Covid-safe working practices and will make our final decisions based on the extant regulations and government advice.

This continues to be a difficult time for all of us.

Our businesses are all being ‘stress tested’ as it were and some have, sadly, may not survive this pandemic.

The Cutlers’ Company is, thankfully, expected to survive this crisis in relatively good order.

We have developed and continually update our recovery plan post-crisis but, thanks to the wonders of modern technology, those plans are in place and ready to go, once we are given the green light.

Colonel George Kilburn has been at the helm of the Company for the past 10 years.

His plans for retirement this summer were made 18 months ago and stay firmly in place.

The Company, always with its eye to the future, has a new man already in place.

Col Philip Bates has taken over as chief executive; he will be in charge of implementing our recovery and future plans.

He, like his predecessor, is a retired Army officer.

He left the Army in 2014 and, since then, has worked for Veolia, an environmental services company, looking after its defence and airports business in the UK.

He has taken over at what is, undeniably, a difficult time but during the next few months, as we gradually right ourselves, you will have the chance to meet him.

As you know, we have had to cancel the Cutlers’ Feast and decision has now been taken that the Forfeit Feast cannot go ahead.

We are keeping the other planned Company functions under review as the situation develops.

Meanwhile, stay safe and stay sane.

Nicholas Williams is the Master Cutler, the head of the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire, a trade guild of metalworkers based in Sheffield. It was incorporated in 1624 by an Act of Parliament, when it was given jurisdiction over ‘all persons using to make Knives, Blades, Scissers, Sheeres, Sickles, Cutlery wares and all other wares and manufacture made or wrought of yron and steele, dwelling or inhabiting within the said Lordship and Liberty of Hallamshire, or within six miles compasse of the same’.