Master’s Message November 2024

November has been a very active and memorable month for the Livery, the City and the Company. We have also enjoyed the Aerospace Dinner on the 21st at Ironmongers’ Hall, more about that splendid evening below.

Garden of Remembrance

Monday 4th November saw the opening of Remembrance Week and the annual Garden of Remembrance Service for the City and Livery at St Paul’s Cathedral Churchyard. Some 370 attendees enjoyed a fellowship breakfast in the Crypt before being expertly transferred to the garden by Company Beadles ready for the planting of poppy tokens on the lawn in precedence order. The service was attended by Masters, Prime Wardens and their Clerks – every Company and Guild was represented.

The Service was attended by the full Civic party, the out-going Lord Mayor Alderman Professor Michael Mainelli addressed the attendees. Also in attendance was a band of the Scots Guards, city leaders, senior military service COs, emergency service chiefs, cadets and city school choirs.

The Silent Ceremony

On Friday 8th November I attended the Silent Ceremony with Court members to witness the installation of our very own Court Assistant Alderman Alastair King DL as the 696th Lord Mayor. Immediately afterwards a delegation of 12 from the Coachmakers, along with some of Alastair’s other Companies, attended the Presentation of Addresses ceremony where Masters present gifts to the new Lord Mayor and Sheriffs on behalf of their Companies. The Coachmakers presented a gold-plated Mont Blanc fountain pen to Alastair.

The next day, Saturday 9th November was the Lord Mayor’s Show and Coachmakers were out in force accompanying the splendid Millennium Mail Coach and horses, (see separate report).

To conclude the busy weekend, Beverley and I attended the Service of Remembrance at St Paul’s on Sunday 10th, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the Royal Exchange memorial with ensuing march past. Wreaths were laid by the Lord Mayor followed by numerous military and civic organisation leaders.

A busy schedule of invitations and events have continued throughout November including a Pattenmakers’ Company Masters & Clerks’ lunch, a Saddlers’ Company Livery dinner, a Joiners & Ceilers’ banquet at Armourers’ Hall and the annual briefing for Masters and Clerks from the Lord Mayor at Mansion House.

Aerospace Industry Dinner

This year’s dinner took us to a new venue not used in modern times, that of the beautiful Ironmongers’ Hall. At 100 years old it is an amazing replica of Tudor Jacobean period architecture, and the Hall contains many salvaged relics from the earlier hall destroyed by enemy action. We were sold out on the evening at 146 and filled the banqueting hall.

The theme of the evening was the celebrated late liveryman Capt. Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown, a British Royal Navy officer and test pilot who flew 487 types of aircraft, more than anyone else in history. We enjoyed two speakers, Brown’s biographer Freeman Paul Beaver told us about his WWII exploits, followed by Cdr Paul Tremelling, a modern jet fighter pilot.

The evening was made very special by the award of no less than seven Aerospace scholarships and bursaries to deserving and capable students. I give my grateful thanks to the Aerospace Awards Committee for their diligent work on behalf of the Coachmakers’ Charitable Trustees.

The Aiming Points

I am delighted that we are making steady progress towards our Aiming Points whilst pursuing my theme of the four ‘F’s; being Fellowship, Friendship, Fundraising and Fun. The Aims draw nearer with full attendance at this month’s dinner, a large group of new candidates admitted and Freemen clothed at the Court meeting, and lastly increasing numbers of members agreeing to make regular recurring conations to the Charitable Trust.

To support the Trust on a regular basis with a modest donation, please contact the Fundraising Chairman at donations@coachmakers.co.uk

You can also look out for the giving QR code on dinner menus and the 350+ brochure.