Coachlines - March 2022

30.03.22 The Clerk

Clerk’s Notes – March 2022

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The time has come when my big books of nautical nonsense have failed to inspire me to share with you the details of an event in history that happened on the same date that this Coachlines edition is published. It would seem that the 30th of March has been rather quiet over the years. That said, the Treaty of Paris was signed on the 30th of March 1856 which ended the Russian Crimean War but given ongoing events I thought best not to delve too deeply into that. However, I fervently hope that an agreement to end the current violence can be reached sooner rather than later.

Coachmakers’ future events

An evening with the Royal Navy

The event at HMS PRESIDENT, planned to take place on Monday 25th April, has proved extremely popular and the places were snapped up within a few hours of the advert going live. As a result, I have arranged for a few more to be made available and if you are quick you can book here.

Visit to RAF Brize Norton

It is hoped that the re-planned visit due to take place on 28th April will still go ahead but given the situation in Ukraine it might not; I shall keep my ear to the ground and keep those who have signed up for it informed.

The Banquet

The Banquet remains fully booked with about a dozen names on the reserve list. However, should you wish to attend and would like to be added to the reserve list let me know, at this stage there is a possibility that for everyone who is on the reserve list a place might be found for them to attend.

Other events coming up in and around the City

If you happen to be near the South of England Showground on Easter Monday, the London Harness Horse Parade will once again be held for the first time since 2019. It is a show consisting of about 120 turnouts of various sizes and types and is an excellent spectacle. Originally established in the 19th century to encourage those using the horse for commercial purposes in London to show off how well they could keep their horses and vehicles, it was designed to improve the lot of the commercial horse. And it worked; at its height more than 1,000 turnouts would enter to be judged followed by a parade through London.

Over the years it moved to Battersea and with the advent of the internal combustion engine its fortunes dwindled. However, today it is held at Ardingly in East Sussex and has had a resurgence in its popularity as an event at which those who keep the traditions of coaching alive get the chance to show off their skills.

Along with several equine related Livery Companies, the Coachmakers’ Company sponsors the show and this year the Master will be presenting the prizes. For more information follow this link.

Lord Mayor’s Big Curry Lunch

The Lord Mayor’s Platinum Jubilee Big Curry – a message from The Rt. Hon. The Lord Mayor of the City of London:

I am aware that many of you have supported the Lord Mayor’s Big Curry Lunch in past years. Thank you for your support. I’m writing to let you know that the 2022 Lunch will take place on Thursday 7th April and is going to be an extra-special occasion.

A new name in a very special year

My Co-Chairman and I are delighted that we have been given permission to call the 2022 Lunch ‘The Lord Mayor’s Platinum Jubilee Big Curry’ in honour of Her Majesty the Queen’s extraordinary service to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth for over 70 years. Her Majesty is, of course, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces and takes a great interest in the Lunch and how it has developed over the years. In every way we can, the 2022 Lunch is going to mark this happy anniversary and extraordinary milestone.

Responding to need

Since 2008, we have worked hard each year to develop the Lunch. From 2008 to 2017 the Lunch supported only veterans from the Army. In 2018, we widened the scope to include all veterans of all the Armed Forces of the Crown through their National Service Charities: ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, the Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity and the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund.

A new focus on employment

In 2019, three things came together quite rapidly to create a new focus. The first; the development of the new Civic and Mayoral long-term strategy of ‘A Better City For All’ and the strand within that to do with employment and employability. The second; the three national service charities’ increasing focus on helping veterans into employment. The third; hearing about an impressive new initiative that helps prepare veterans for life in the civilian world. As a result, my Co-Chairman, successive Lord Mayors including myself and our Committee agreed that the Lord Mayor’s Big Curry Lunch was going to provide financial support for individual veterans to take part in a six-month programme – the Pain Management Programme (PMP) – at the King Edward VII’s Hospital’s Centre for Veterans’ Health. This programme is designed for veterans suffering from physical or psychological pain or both, to learn to manage their pain and, as a result, be able to obtain and hold down employment.

Impact of COVID-19

In 2020 and 2021 we faced the challenges forced on us by the COVID-19 virus. The 2020 Lunch was cancelled but still raised £167,000 through the generosity of sponsors and ticket buyers who said ‘put our contributions to good use’. For 2021 we developed a completely virtual fundraising programme over three months; that raised £205,000. In total, the Committee has handed over £2.55m to the three national service charities since 2008.

Where next?

These are still tough times for veterans, as they are for many in this country seeking re-skilling and employment. So, for 2022 we are continuing to focus our support on helping veterans into employment. Alongside funding up to 15 veterans through the PMP at a cost of £100,000, we are supporting a new – to us – employment-related charity. It’s called LifeWorks. LifeWorks’ sole focus is to find employment, education and training for veterans from all the services and their families. It offers practical advice, guidance and support regardless of the length of service and is available nationwide, wherever veterans live. The LifeWorks team is made up of highly-experienced career coaches and vocational assessors, helping veterans decide on career and training opportunities and develop job search and CV writing skills. Each course costs £1,500 but is always free of charge to the veterans taking part. Through the 2022 Lunch, we hope to fund 65 veterans through a LifeWorks course at a total cost of £100,000. Anything else we raise will go to the three national service charities to further their work in veteran employment.

Our target for 2022

We have set a target of £270,000 for the 2022 Lunch. If we achieve that figure, the 2022 Lunch will have raised more than any other Lunch. Surely a most fitting tribute in the Platinum Jubilee year? Do take the time to look at the Lord Mayor’s Platinum Jubilee Big Curry webpage. It contains more details about the 2022 programme, including the 50-prize online auction and 10-item draw, both of which were launched on 2nd February, and how to buy tickets for the Platinum Jubilee Lunch itself. There are many ways in which Livery Companies and Livery members can support the Platinum Jubilee Big Curry. Please support us in as many ways as you can. The Co-Chairmen and the Committee are obviously aware of the current situation with COVID-19. It is of course our hope that the 2022 Lunch will be able to take place as planned. Should that not be possible we will issue full refunds.

With best regards,
Alderman Vincent Keaveny
The Rt. Hon. The Lord Mayor of the City of London

Old Bailey Choir Performance

An evening with the Old Bailey Choir and Friends, performing Carl Orff’s exhilarating Carmina Burana, in the National Musicians’ Church.

Join an evening with the Old Bailey Choir and Friends, in the National Musicians’ Church, the Holy Sepulchre Church, Holborn Viaduct on Wednesday 15th June 2022 at 19:00-20:30. Tickets £25-£30. The Old Bailey Choir is joining together with an orchestra, soloists and choral groups to raise money for the Sheriffs’ & Recorder’s Fund. Please spend a glorious summer evening in the beautiful Holy Sepulchre Church for a thrilling concert, followed by some socialising with refreshments (included in the ticket price).

Tickets are available through eventbrite here.

More detail can be found here.

The Glaziers’ Ukrainian Stained-Glass Fundraising

The Glaziers’ Company has added a webinar to its programme as a fundraising effort for the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC’s) Ukraine Appeal to support the current humanitarian crisis. Glaziers’ Liveryman Oksana Kondratyeva, who is Ukrainian, is giving a talk on ‘Ukrainian Stained Glass’. It will be held at 18.00 on Tuesday 19th April 2022. You are most welcome to attend.

In these circumstances the Glaziers are asking everyone who attends to make a donation by way of payment, via Eventbrite, and it is suggested that a minimum donation of £5 is made. Eventbrite charges a reduced fee for events paid for by donations, which they will add to the ticket price. The Glaziers’ Company will donate all proceeds from the webinar to the DEC. The Eventbrite link is here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ukrainian-stained-glass Please do invite your family and friends to also book a place and help this most worthy cause.

City News

The latest City news from Alderman and Sheriff Alison Gowman can be found here.

In conclusion

And finally, in the context of this month’s edition of Coachlines at least, I must report that I have decided to retire from my position as the Clerk to the Coachmakers’ Company and have informed the Court accordingly. However, pausing only to allow the cheers to subside, I must also tell you that I shall not be standing down immediately and shall remain in post until 31st July 2024.

I have declared early, as one might say, to give the Company plenty of time to arrange for a replacement and to ensure that a measured handover can be achieved before preparations begin in earnest to celebrate the Coachmakers’ 350th Anniversary Year in 2026/2027. That said, given that Livery time seems to pass three times the speed of normal time, that day will very quickly arrive.

The Assistant Clerk will stand down at the same time but she has agreed that if the Company requires it, she will remain in post for up to six months to allow the new Clerk to settle into the role and recruit their own Assistant Clerk.

I was sworn in as the Clerk on 21st November 2012. When I stand down I shall have served almost 12 years in post, two years more than the average period of tenure of a Livery Company Clerk. However, in common with 45% of my former colleagues who have left the circuit during the pandemic, I have decided that there are things I need to do and see while I still can and which the Livery programme simply doesn’t allow the time to pursue, ergo it’s time to go.

In sum therefore, I have horses to ride, motorcycles to exercise, places to go and things to see – but I’ve got a few more Coachlines left in me yet.