Coachmaking and Carriage Driving Awards Dinner 2025

I have always quietly wondered why the Worshipful Company of Coachmakers and Coach Harness Makers has an Aerospace Industry Dinner, an Auto Industry Dinner, and yet, not a Carriage Making Industry Dinner – after all, our name is a bit of a give-away! Not any more.

The Master’s final dinner of his Livery year was a resounding success, combining all the ingredients which define our Livery and its goals; fellowship, awarding and encouraging skill in young people, and recognising the contribution given by those with a lifelong experience of achievement.

Plus, of course, held at the Pewterers’ Hall, a distinct ‘coming home’ theme was evident. We enjoyed our meal above the site where many years ago horses of the old Coachmakers’ Hall would have been stabled, equally content munching on their hay!
The evening started with the Master’s address in which he announced the renaming of the Summer Court Dinner to be the Carriage Driving Awards Dinner.

During the evening three awards were presented by The Master, assisted by The Renter Warden, who initiated the Coaching Bursary three years ago. The recipients this year were Catherine West and Eleanor Wilson who proudly accepted their certificates. Speaking afterwards, they clearly not only enjoyed the evening, but were grateful to the Coachmakers Company for its support.

“It was a pleasure to attend,” said Eleanor, who works at the Royal Mews, “and I am very proud to have received my certificate at such an event.”

Araminta Winn, who received the Coachmakers’ award at this year’s British Driving Society Show, was also present at the dinner to accept her certificate, for her outstanding contribution to the carriage driving world through her career, including her harness making skills.

Guests of the Company clearly enjoyed the evening, and everybody was hugely entertained by our guest speaker Sir Andrew Parmley KSt J, whose speech was spectacularly amusing and enthralled us all.

The evening was packed with emotions. Past Master Richard Dallimore, one of the most senior members of the Livery, with an amazing 75 years of service, honoured us with his attendance and in turn was honoured when The Master announced the decision to have the Motor Centenary Bursary Award named ‘The Richard Dallimore Motor Centenary Bursary Award’.

Richard’s response was most moving, and declared there was ‘nowhere he would rather be’. At that moment in time, I think we all felt the same.

Well done to all those who assisted in the organisation of what was, in my view, one of the best evenings of the year.