Master’s message July 2026

Dear fellow Coachmaker,

So, I come to the final Master’s message of my year, as the Comms team take a well-deserved break in August, when little happens in Livery-land anyway!

I have had an enjoyable year, and am proud of what has been achieved, in what I planned to be a quieter, lower profile year ahead of our 350th celebrations next year. Thanks to the hard work of the Wardens, Chairmen and members of our committees, and the Clerk and Assistant Clerk, we are in pretty good shape as I pass the baton to Senior Warden Mark Broadbent on 1st September, subject to election.

The Charitable Fund invested, under the watchful eye of the Chairman of Trustees, PM Ian Smith and his fellow Trustees, sits at just under £2M, despite weathering some of the most turbulent global uncertainties imaginable.

We are attracting external funds to distribute to our worthy recipients to the value of £80,000 each year, and the Fundraising Committee, chaired by David Barrett, has secured more than £30,000 a year from members of the Livery. This all means that our Charity Committee is distributing around £240,000 a year to help young people into our industries, double what we were able to provide only four years ago.

The Aerospace, Automotive and Carriage Driving Awards committees, who form part of the Charity Committee, with their industry-specialist Chairmen and members, are constantly looking for the most deserving and suitable potential recipients for our bursaries and apprenticeships, which involves liaising closely with various appropriate educational establishments.

The Membership Committee, under the enthusiastic Chairmanship of Sir Kevin Leeson, is bringing in some excellent new Freemen and Liverymen, with the skills we need to keep our committees and the great work they do moving forward, and to enjoy the social and charitable activities of the Company. We have an ambition to reach a membership of 500 during our 350th year, which I am confident is achievable.

I am indebted to the members of other committees; to the Livery Committee who work hard to organise great events for us to enjoy, the Communications Committee for the considerable time and effort they put in to increase awareness of what we do in the wider world, and the newly formed Finance Committee who ensure we live within our means and plan for the future.

It is only when you serve as Master that you fully appreciate the enormous contribution the Clerk and Assistant Clerk make to ensure the Coachmakers functions for all members. Lt Col Craig, and Deborah Hallatt have worked tirelessly and enthusiastically to not only make the life of the Master easier, but similarly for Court members and Liverymen, and have created and nurtured excellent relationships with the City of London and Guildhall officials, the Mansion House, and fellow Clerks from many other Liveries. I will forever be in their debt.

I would like to particularly thank those of you who have attended dinners during my year, my wife Zoë and I have enjoyed meeting you. As I have said many times, I think it should be expected that every member of the Livery attend at least one event each year, and I have been delighted to talk to many who have heeded my call.

Dinners provide the social glue that brings us together, relationships are formed and nurtured, and ideas are discussed. If we don’t get full attendance at dinners they lose money, such is the cost of hall hire and catering, which is unsustainable. Please continue to come to dinners and bring guests, the incoming Master and team are organising some wonderful occasions next year, so be part of our big birthday year!

I look forward to seeing you in the next Livery year and hope you enjoy the fine English summer.

Best wishes
Richard