Clerk’s notes September 2020

A new Livery Year brings a new Master, a Court with new faces included and a number of changes to the various office holders as the Court progression moves on. And so it was that in accordance with the Charter granted to the Worshipful Company of Coachmakers and Coach Harness Makers by King Charles II on 31st May 1677 directing that the Livery be governed by a Master, three Wardens, the Assistants and Stewards who are charged to administer the Company, in accordance with the provisions of that Charter, the Election of the Master of the Company for the ensuing year was held on 1st September 2020.

Mark The Clerk

The Coachmakers’ Court duly fulfilled its duty to elect and install a new Master. Also, to address the various requirements of the ever changing needs of the Court progression, on this occasion the Court also installed the Senior Warden, elected and installed a Renter Warden, a Junior Warden, one Court Assistant, one Honorary Court Assistant with full voting rights, two Court Stewards and confirmed the re-assignment of an Assistant to the Honorary Assistant’s List with full voting rights. Additionally the Court signalled its confirmation of the officers of the Livery for the ensuing year, appointed one new Trustee, confirmed the continued tenure of two Trustees, confirmed the Trustee’s agreed nomination to be the Senior Trustee for the ensuing year and confirmed the appointment of the Father of the Livery.

Reflecting these unusual times, all of this was done via Zoom on Tuesday 1^st September 2020 and you can see how it unfolded by following this link.

However, if time is short and you only wish to hear the Master’s maiden speech follow this link.

Livery Committee events

You should already have received a rather neat little booklet that includes brief details of a number of forthcoming events that have been arranged by the Livery Committee. A soft copy is included in this edition of Coachlines. Many of the events are are different to what you might normally expect to see but offer a variety of ways to get involved with the Company and interact with your fellow Coachmakers while enjoying some varied and interesting new experiences, albeit mainly from the comfort of your own home. Look out for the e-mailed adverts and please do support these events.

Stop Press: The event entitled 60 Minutes with Leo Dr Vroomen will be held on Thursday the 29^th of October, NOT the 26^th of October as originally listed.

Looking further ahead, a review of Government restrictions for mass gatherings indoors is expected before the end of September. Once the detail is known a review of what may or may not be possible to achieve in the run up to Christmas and beyond will be conducted and details promulgated in the next edition of Coachlines.

City News

Election of Lord Mayor

The Common Hall Election of the Lord Mayor will go ahead as usual on 29^th September 2020, notwithstanding the Court of Aldermen’s stated intention to return the current Lord Mayor, Alderman William Russell, for a second term to ensure continuity of leadership to bring London through the pandemic and beyond. However, as expected significant restrictions have been applied to the event and although the instructions issued recently do not state that Liverymen may not vote in the election, to comply with the necessary restrictions only one Liveryman per Company may attend the event. Track and trace procedures will be followed (requiring pre-registration etc), full social distancing measures will apply on the day, there will be no church service before the event, no robing nor procession of Masters into the Great Hall. Not quite the jolly event that it usually is but at the end a Lord Mayor will be elected for the ensuing year.

Lord Mayor’s Show

As you will all know, the election of the Lord Mayor leads ultimately to his installation and the Lord Mayor’s Show. However, this year it too will be a very different event but one that will be worth watching on TV on the day. It will take place on Saturday 14^th November and an overview of the event can be seen here:

https://www.citymatters.london/scaled-back-lord-mayors-show-set-to-take-place-in-november/

Volunteer Members Sought: London Veterans Advisory & Pensions Committee

I have been asked to make known to the membership that vacancies exist for volunteer members on the London Veterans Advisory & Pensions Committee (VAPC). Sir Bill Charles, Chairman of the London VAPC, would be keen to receive applications from Liverymen who might be interested in assisting with the Committee’s work supporting the tri-service veteran community across London.

The VAPC is an arm’s length body with members formally appointed by the Minister of State. Further details of the vacancies in London, and other regions, may be found at https://publicappointments.cabinetoffice.gov.uk

In conclusion

I hope that everyone was able to take a little time off over the summer and do something to help counter the rather testing experiences of the past few months. The Assistant Clerk and I took a much needed break from the office and were able to catch up on a few of the many outstanding chores that come with any kind of rural acreage and elderly buildings. Some aesthetically pleasing protective liquid was applied to some external wooden surfaces – but not as much as the Assistant had been led to expect – and not a lot of the converted carbon material was cut back as far as had been planned.

However, horses were ridden, wine was drunk and motorcycles did see daylight, although they were not ridden that far from base. There was some great motorsport to watch on TV and we did get to Cadwell Park to watch some live motorcycle racing and enjoy a lovely picnic but the Goodwood Revival it was not. Hopefully next year!