Officers of the Company
Richard A Lawman CEng MICE MIStructE - Master
Richard Lawman joined the Glass Sellers in 1987. He was educated at Dauntseys School in Wiltshire and on leaving in 1954, took articles with a firm of Consulting Civil Engineers, R T James and Partners, in Victoria. He studied Civil Engineering on a day release basis at what is now City University. Richard became a Chartered Civil Engineer in 1964 and a Chartered Structural Engineer in 1971. He continued to work for the firm until 1992 at which time he was a Senior Partner. He had spent much time during this period working on the shipyard in Barrow in Furness and at Derby with Rolls Royce, latterly being involved with the design of engine test beds. In 1992 he left R T James and Partners to form his own practice Alexander Associates, he continues to run the firm with the help of his son Matthew and they have offices in Rickmansworth, Salisbury and Oxfordshire, Richard is especially interested in work with old buildings and the environment and enjoys legal work as an expert witness.
Richard married Tricia in 1964 and they have three children, two of whom are married, and they enjoy time with their two grand children and two step-grand children. They enjoy golf, bridge and drinking fine wine, spending time in Cornwall, rugby as a spectator and driving sporty cars.
Martin W Scarth CEng MICE MCIOB - Prime Warden
Martin Scarth was appointed to the Court in 2008 having joined the Livery in 1990.
Following Grammar Technical school education he was sponsored by a Kier PLC’s derivative company on a sandwich degree course – the beginning a highly successful career. During 40 years with the firm he was closely involved in the company’s buy out in 1992 and floatation on the London Stock market in 1996. Although he retired in 2003 he has continued to take an active interest in construction and property.
During and following his working life Martin has been active with various Charitable Trusts, namely The Construction Youth Trust, Charles S French C.Trust and St. Aubyn’s School Trust, which have been key interests to him. He has a keen interest in encouraging young people and empowering them. Currently he is involved in setting up a Youth Project which supports young people in Loughton.
He has a long and significant history of success in dinghy sailing at National and World Competition levels in Fireball Racing - reaching the top ten. He is also a serious skier each winter.
He was married to Elisabeth in 1969 and they have three children and three grandchildren with whom they spend time and have delightful fun.
Martin looks to encourage the Glass Sellers connections with young people interested in glass and developing further connections with people working in and around the glass industry.
Vivian W H Bendall – Renter Warden
Vivian Bendall joined the Livery in June 1995 and was appointed Renter Warden at the Court Meeting on 10th December 2009. He is a Chartered Surveyor and sole principal of Bendall Chartered Surveyors, of Croydon, which has been a family practice since it was established in 1924. In the 1960’s and 70’s he was a Croydon Councillor holding chairmanship of various committees and he was a member of the Greater London Council in the early 1970’s being vice Chairman of the North East Area Planning Board. In the two general elections of 1974 he unsuccessfully fought the parliamentary constituency of Hertford and Stevenage. In 1975 he was elected as Parliamentary Candidate for Ilford North which he won in by-election in 1978. He held the Parliamentary seat for 19 years until 1997.
Vivian's interests are cricket and motor racing. His grandfather was a former Past Master of the Fruiterers. He was former Chairman of the Livery Committee and, at present, Chairman of the Finance and General Purposes Committee of the Company. His partner is Angela who is also a Liveryman of the Company.
Colonel Audrey J Smith BA FCIPD - Honorary Clerk
Having graduated from Nottingham University Audrey Smith spent a full career in the Army in a variety of different fields. One of her earliest appointments was to be in charge of the instrumentation for the user trials of the Guided Weapon Swingfire. In Singapore she assisted with the Manpower aspects of the withdrawal from the area in the 1970s, went on to be responsible for the career planning of all Army officers in the Midlands and then became the first non Medical Officer to look after the career planning for the Army Medical Services. Having commanded the Women’s Royal Army Corps Training Centre in Guildford she was then posted to take charge of the Manpower Management Survey Capability for NATO before returning to UK to develop a selection test for middle management.
Audrey left the Army in 1992 but continued to be a consultant in the field of selection testing for a further ten years. Having joined the North London Branch of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development shortly after leaving the Army she has been the Secretary, Branch Chairman and then the Council Representative. She is a Trustee of the ATS and WRAC Benevolent Fund, Chairman of the Grants Committee and also a Member of Council and Trustee of the Mission to Seafarers, As the Administrative Secretary of an occupational charity involved with the pottery and glass trades she met many Liverymen of the Glass Sellers’ Company which resulted in her becoming a Liveryman of the Company and now its 20th Clerk.
