Master’s message – March 2026

I was ‘away from the office’ for the early part of the month, judging at The Oberoi Concours in Udaipur, India, and then attending The Amelia Concours in Florida immediately afterwards – it’s tough being retired!

There was much to look forward to once I returned, including the first meeting of the new Progression Committee, chaired by Father of the Livery, Past Master Sir Tim Lawrence KCVO CB ADC. Last year we overhauled the progression process – the way Assistants move towards becoming a Warden and Master – such that rather than everyone moving up each year, over perhaps 15 years, without knowing if they would be in a position to serve, we now have a pool of Assistants, one of whom is invited to join the progression each year. The horizon is much shorter, seven years in fact, so a potential Master will have a pretty good idea of what their circumstances will look like when their time comes.

The Progression Committee, which also includes the current Master and Wardens, the Immediate Past Master and a further Past Master, considers suitable candidates and decides which to approach to join the progression. It’s a much better progression system, which has the important benefit of encouraging experienced and talented Liverymen who don’t wish to progress to Master, to have the opportunity to serve on the Court.

We had a fascinating and special day on 19th March when we held a Quorum Court, including myself and the Senior Warden, to meet with a small group of high profile American coaching enthusiasts who wish to join the Livery to support our 350th anniversary year. We held the Court Meeting in Vintners’ Hall and swore them to the Freedom of the Livery, and then that very afternoon arranged for them to receive their Freedom of the City of London at The Guildhall. They will come forward to be clothed in the Livery at a Court Meeting later this year.

That same evening Zoë and I had the privilege of attending the Lady Mayor’s ‘Meet the Masters’ white tie dinner at Mansion House. This is a very special event, attended by all Masters, Upper Bailiffs and Prime Wardens, and was a memorable occasion, one of the most special evenings Masters get to experience.

The following day, 20th March, was another such experience, the United Guilds’ Service at St Paul’s Cathedral. This colourful gathering of all Liveries and Guilds from the City of London was started in 1943 to provide a bit of positive relief from the horrors of the Second World War, and has continued since. To see the Masters, Wardens, Clerks and Liverymen in their robes and chains of office is quite a spectacle.

As I write this, we are shortly to enjoy the annual Automotive Dinner at Vintners’ Hall. I am delighted to say it is a sold-out dinner, and will have the Chairman of The Royal Automobile Club on Pall Mall, Duncan Wiltshire, as our guest speaker. I want to say a sincere ‘thank you’ to the many Liverymen who have responded to my request to attend our dinners, it makes such a difference to have sold-out events. The remaining opportunities in ‘my’ year are the Annual Charity Fundraising Banquet, which this year will be held at the headquarters of the Honourable Artillery Company on 18th June, and the Summer Court Dinner which will be at Girdlers’ Hall on 16th July.

As I have said many times, I really believe every member of the Livery should attend at least one dinner each year. I don’t like paying the higher charges that we must, to avoid making a loss any more than you do, but such is the price of a dinner out in London these days, and we do try to provide value for money.

Zoë and I look forward to seeing you soon.

Richard

Master Coachmaker