Coachlines - September 2026

24.09.26 Assistant Sir Kevin Leeson KCB CBE

Membership update

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Our 350th year started with some significant membership events.

On 1st September the Coachmakers’ block booking at the Chamberlain’s Court saw Freemen Nicholas Chaffey, Philip Cole and Richard Atack gain their Freedom of the City (pictured below).

The Election Court that evening saw nine new Freemen sworn – pictured at the top of the page with the new Master and Wardens.

We also saw three new Liverymen clothed:

The start of our 350th year sees the Livery number some 462 Liverymen and Freemen. We also have a further 14 candidates at various stages in the process of becoming a member.

The Court is very keen to see us have 500 paying members of the Livery during our 350th year celebrations, so do please come forward with suggestions of friends or colleagues who would like to become a Coachmaker and enjoy the many spectacular events in this very special year.

To help those contemplating joining us, here is a list of the main membership events this Livery Year:

Candidate Dinners for prospective new members to meet us; the start of the journey to being a Coachmaker.

Block bookings at the Chamberlain’s Court for Freedom of the City ceremonies. There is quite a waiting list for individually arranged ceremonies, so using our Coachmakers’ block booking system is an efficient and easy way to progress your membership.

Our own Courts, at which being sworn as a Freeman, or clothed as a Liveryman takes place.

The key dates are:

29th October 2026 – 1830. A Candidate Dinner for potential new members held in a private dining room at Guildhall. It is a chance for senior members of the Livery to meet the new joiner and for the candidate to learn more about the Livery.

24th November 2026 – 11:30. A Freedom of the City Coachmakers’ block booking at the Chamberlain’s Court. This is the same day as the Aerospace Awards Dinner, so a chance to be sworn, or clothed at the Audit Court at 1730 hours in the spectacular Drapers’ Hall.

6th January 2027 – 1830. A Candidate Dinner in a private dining room at Guildhall.

25th February 2027 – 1830. A Candidate Dinner in a private dining room at Guildhall.

2nd March 2027 – There is a Freedom of the City Coachmakers’ block booking at the Chamberlain’s Court at 1130. This is also the day of the Spring Court and Automotive Awards Dinner, so a chance to get your Freedom of the City in the morning, or be sworn as a Freeman, or clothed as a Liveryman, the same evening at 1730 hours in the splendid Goldsmiths’ Hall.

19th May 2027 – 1830 A Candidate Dinner in a private dining room at Guildhall.

8th July 2027 – There is a Freedom of the City Coachmakers’ block booking at the Chamberlain’s Court at 1130.This is the day of the Summer Court and Carriage Driving and Award to Industry Dinner, so a chance to get your Freedom of the City in the morning, or be sworn as a Freeman, or clothed as a Liveryman the same evening at 1730 hours in the lovely Saddlers’ Hall.

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

At the Election Court 2026, the new Master welcomed to the Livery as new Freemen:

Professor Mark Gillan

Mark is a Director of Celeritas Applied Technology and a visiting Professor at the University of Surrey, and at Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University.

Air Vice-Marshal David Arthurton CB OBE

David is Managing Director of Anduril Combat Air for UK and Europe, having previously served in the Royal Air Force.

Dean McCumiskey

Dean has recently retired from BAES, where he was Sales and Business Development Director, and also Managing Director and CEO for BAES India. He is also a Trustee of the RAF Museum.

Elliott Menezes

Elliott is currently studying for an MSc in Aeronautical Engineering and is a recipient of the Coachmakers’ Sir Sydney Camm Award.

Wil Martin

Wil is studying for a degree in Automotive and Transport Design at the University of Trinity St David’s and is a recipient of the Coachmakers’ Automotive Design Award.

Jason Cranswick

Jason is the founder of his own automotive consultancy company, having previously been COO of Marubeni Auto Investment UK.

David Emsley

David is an airworthiness surveyor for the Civil Aviation Authority and also an adult instructor and deputy sector commander for the RAF Air Cadets Organisation.

Harry Broadbent-Combe

Harry is a Director of Batcheller Monkhouse Chartered Surveyors.

The following Coachmakers were clothed as Liverymen:

Richard Atack

Richard is Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters UK.

Edward Crouch

Edward was both sworn to the Livery and clothed at the Election Court. He is also a Liveryman of the Wheelwrights. Edward is the proprietor of Croford Coachbuilders.

Philip Cole

Philip is CEO of Agile Spray Response having previously been Head of Strategy at RVL Aviation.

We welcome and congratulate them all.