Master’s message – May 2026

Hello fellow Coachmakers,

I was away at the beginning of May, and have just returned from judging at the Valetta Concours in Malta, which was fascinating. You wouldn’t believe how many classic cars there are on such a small island, and the quality was outstanding. The Best of Show was a superb Jaguar SS100 from 1939.

Important committee meetings continue under the guidance of our hard-working chairmen and secretaries, for which we should all be grateful, and I have had the privilege of attending a couple of Livery Dinners, which have been delightful.

My main focus this month has been arrangements for our major event of the year, the Charity Banquet at the Honourable Artillery Company in the City on 18th June. I am indebted to Bentley Motors for being our Gold Sponsor, which will enable us to make a generous donation to our charitable fund and thereby help more young people gain a foothold in our industries. Details are still to be ironed out, but I am hoping we will have some interesting Bentley models displayed in front of Armoury House for us to admire during the reception. I am honoured that Axel Dewitz, Member of the Board for Finance and IT at Bentley Motors will attend the event and be our guest speaker.

Our resourceful Clerk, Lt Col Craig Hallatt, has organised some musical entertainment for us during the reception as well, so I am looking forward to that.

I hope we will have a full house of 172 guests in the magnificent Long Room at the HAC. As I write this there were just three places available, so if you haven’t already done so, please contact the Clerk’s office to see if you can attend.

You will be delighted to know Senior Warden Mark Broadbent has been very busy developing some amazing plans for the celebration of our 350th year next year. More information will be forthcoming in due course, but with enormous help from the Clerk and several committee chairmen and members of the Court, things are falling into place. It really is going to be a great year, and you will want to be part of it.

I hope to see you at the Banquet, or at the Summer Court Dinner at Girdler’s Hall, more of which anon.

All the best

Richard