Coachlines - July 2026

31.07.26 Assistant Sir Kevin Leeson KCB CBE

Meet our newest Freemen and Liverymen

---

July saw our last Memcom of the year and an associated Candidate Dinner, to complete what has been a very good year for seeing new members join the Livery. One of our longest standing committee members, Liveryman John Boyes, took the opportunity to stand down from Memcom and we thank him for all his efforts over many years.

The total paying member cohort of the Livery is now 457 Liverymen and Freemen with a further 21 candidates at various stages in the process of becoming a member. Of course, we are still open for new members to join us for our 350th year celebrations, so if you have friends or colleagues who might be interested, do get in touch with the Clerk.

On 16th July, we held another of our popular ‘block bookings’ at the Chamberlain’s Court which saw three of our Freemen: Stuart Faulkner, Cliff Robson, and Julian Whitehead, gain their Freedom of the City, witnessed by the Master and Clerk.

Later that day, the Summer Court saw us swear eight new Freeman and clothe six new Liverymen in the splendid surroundings of Girdlers’ Hall.

New Liverymen and Freemen (well most of them) with the Master and Wardens

We welcome to the Livery as new Freemen:

Mark Johnston

Mark runs his own engineering consultancy, having previously been Chief Engineer and Chief Designer at Marshall Aerospace in Cambridge.

Oscar Pinder

Oscar is a Director of RR&B Garages Limited.

Tobias Thornberry

Tobias is a classic car restorer and is currently Workshop Manager at Toad Hall Workshops.

Mohan Venugopal

Mohan is an advanced stress engineer with Vertical Aerospace, having previously worked for Skybridge and Leonardo Helicopters.

Eleanor Wilson

Eleanor is a recipient of a Coachmakers’ Coaching Bursary. She is a Liveried Helper in the Royal Mews.

Malcolm Brown

Malcolm lectures at Exeter College in Aerospace. He has held many senior positions in Virgin Atlantic, Emirates Airlines and the Bahrain Royal Flight.

Tom Harris

Tom is lead partner in Pendley Aviation, an operator of business jets and helicopters. He is also an enthusiastic restorer of classic cars.

Leo Quinn

Leo is Executive Chair of WHSmith, having previously been Group CEO of Balfour Beatty, QinetiQ, and De La Rue.

We congratulate the following Coachmakers who were clothed as Liveryman:

Cliff Robson CBE

Cliff was formerly Group Managing Director Air and Group Managing Director Submarines with BAES.

Stuart Faulkner

Stuart is Commander of Air Engineering in the Commando Helicopter Force.

Julian Whitehead

Julian was Executive Vice President for Global Business and Strategic Programmes and Chief Financial Officer for Airbus Defence and Space. He is currently President of ADS, the UK Trade Body for Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space.

Haydn Webb

Haydn is a Horse Master in the film industry and a founding member of the London Coachmen.

Geoffrey Dudley

Geoffrey is a celebrated coach harness maker of more than 50 years. He is a sponsor of junior carriage drivers and a carriage restorer and a Council Member of the Hackney Horse Society.

Max Lamb

Max is a Chartered Accountant and currently Senior Financial Analyst for London United Buses, having previously worked for PwC in the Channel Islands.

Col Erica Bridge

The Summer Court also saw us appoint a new Lifetime Honorary Coachmaker, the new Crown Equerry, Col Erica Bridge.

Erica was appointed Crown Equerry by HM The King in spring 2026 replacing Colonel Sir Toby Browne (also an Honorary Coachmaker), who recently retired from the Royal Household. In this appointment, Erica is operational head and responsible for day-to-day management of the Royal Mews. This includes organising the coaching elements of state events. She has completed 30 years in the Royal Artillery, including being the first female to command the King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery. Her last appointment before leaving the Armed Forces was Defence Attaché in the British Embassy in Rome.

As you contemplate your summer holidays, might I also remind you of the future dates of our group bookings for Freedom of the City ceremonies? These are designed to help our Freemen gain Liveryman status with the minimum of organisational effort from yourselves. There is quite a waiting list for Freedom ceremonies arranged directly with the Chamberlain’s Court, so this is a great way to grab a convenient slot. Direct bookings with the Chamberlain’s Court are, of course, still possible with slots available from November onwards. The forthcoming Coachmakers’ group dates are:

1st September 2026 – 11:30am: This is the same day as the Election Court Dinner in Tallow Chandlers’ Hall, so a chance to be clothed at our Court the same day as getting your Freedom and by the new Master for our 350th year.

24th November 2026 – 11:30am: This is the same day as the Aerospace Awards Dinner, so a chance to be clothed at the Audit Court in the spectacular Drapers’ Hall the same day as getting your Freedom.

2nd March 2027 – 11:30am: This is the day of the Spring Court and Automotive Awards Dinner, so a chance to get your Freedom of the City and be clothed as a Liveryman the same evening at the splendid Goldsmiths’ Hall.

8th July 2027 – 11:30am: This is the day of the Summer Court and Carriage Driving Awards and Award to Industry Dinner, so a chance to get your Freedom of the City and be clothed as a Liveryman the same evening at Saddlers’ Hall.

Please pass any requests for bookings to these ceremonies, or names of suggested new members to the Clerk (clerk@coachmakers.co.uk) and we will do the rest.