The Master was born in 1958 in Bow in the heart of London’s East End. As a baby, Steve and his family became part of the great diaspora from London to Essex. He spent the whole of his childhood and teenage years in Chingford, living just a stone’s-throw from “London’s Epping Forest”. Upon leaving school, Steve commenced a nineteen-year stint with Lloyd’s underwriters working in both the 1958 building as well as the iconic Richard Rogers’ building. It was whilst at Lloyd’s that he studied for the famous and arduous “Knowledge of London” course, then run by the Metropolitan Police Public Carriage Office. Steve became a student of Knowledge Point School, where he met the owner Malcolm Linskey, a founder member and Past Master of the WCHCD, receiving his coveted Green Badge in 1992. In 1989, Steve became a Freeman of the City of London. In 1995 he left Lloyd’s (“which had ceased to be fun”) to develop his music agency as well as performance opportunities as a drummer. Having studied percussion whilst at school, he went on to play drums in the London jazz scene; broadcasting in BBC TV, Radio 2 and 3 as well as playing in all the major concert halls in the UK. Steve is married to Angela, a community midwife who trained at the London Hospital. They have four married daughters between them as well as two granddaughters. A Liveryman since 1995 of the Musicians’ Company, he is also a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Parish Clerks. He serves as a Parish Clerk at St Margaret, Lothbury, behind the Bank of England. Chairman of the Society of Young Freemen in 1994/5, he is a Past President of Aldgate Ward Club and a Life Member of Lime Street Ward Club. Steve was formerly our Company Almoner and now holds the office of Company Membership Registrar as well as Chairman of the Company’s Finance Committee. The Master’s interests are: Social and Economic history of London, Real Ale, West Ham United FC and English Numismatics. An accredited tour guide, he is also Treasurer of St Albans Diocesan Evangelical Fellowship, having previously served on Deanery Synod.