News

Coachlines - July 2024

27.07.24   The Clerk Cdr Mark Leaning RN

Clerk’s Notes – July 2024 – Out with the old

40 years ago this month I became a trainee Royal Navy helicopter pilot flying the Gazelle HT2 with 705 Naval Air Squadron based at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall. The Gazelle was a slippery little beast, highly manoeuvrable but sufficiently challenging […]

Coachlines - July 2024

27.07.24   The Clerk

Clerk’s notes – in with the new

Lieutenant Colonel Craig Hallatt has been appointed as the 29th Clerk to the Coachmakers’ Company. He is a talented and accomplished member of the Royal Corps of Army Music and is completing 39 years of service, retiring from his current […]

Coachlines - July 2024

27.07.24   Assistant Lyn Litchfield

Meet the Team – Communications Committee

How time flies. It seems only yesterday when I launched this new feature “Meet the Team” in Coachlines. It has now reached its 10th and final edition, and it’s the Communications Committee’s turn to introduce ourselves. The title of our […]

Coachlines - July 2024

27.07.24   The Clerk

Please help the next Master, subject to election, ‘Escape from the Tower’

On 2nd September the Master Coachmaker for 2024/25 will be elected and installed after a rigorous selection process and democratically robust election. Spoiler Alert: the chances are that the successful candidate will be Steve Fitz-Gerald, the current Senior Warden. However, […]

Coachlines - July 2024

27.07.24   Renter Warden David Barrett

Introducing our new Civic Team of the City 2024-25

Following the election of Sheriffs at Common Hall on 24th June for the ensuing year, the successful candidates were joined by the Senior Alderman Below The Chair for a photo shoot in Guildhall Yard. The presumptive Lord Mayor, subject to […]

27.07.24   Assistant Lyn Litchfield

Coachmakers’ Summer Court Dinner marks end of Livery Year

On 11th July, Master Coachmaker Bettine Evans hosted the Summer Court Reception and Dinner in the delightful Saddler’s Hall. This was the last formal event of the Livery year and during which our current Clerk, Commander Mark Leaning RN formally […]

Coachlines - July 2024

27.07.24   Steward Neil Sheath & Freeman Katherine Keogh

Our bursaries and awards make a real difference

A recent LinkedIn post from one of our bursary recipients really shows how grateful our award winners are for all the support the Livery provides, writes Steward Neil Sheath. Katherine Keogh made this post entirely of her own volition and […]

Coachlines - July 2024

27.07.24   Steward Roger Woodbridge

British Driving Society Show 2024

Could there be a more perfect way to spend a day than enjoying a Champagne picnic while watching the cream of Britain’s coach and horses being driven around three show rings at Windsor Great Park? First to arrive was Junior […]

Coachlines - July 2024

27.07.24   Liveryman Adrian Smith

Livery welcomes new members at Summer Court

Elected Members Sworn as Freemen Freeman Hugo Cowley Hugo lives in Honiton, Devon. He attended Exeter College and Kingston University completing a Foundation Degree in Aeronautical Engineering. This was then followed by a period at the Flybe Training Academy achieving […]

Coachlines - July 2024

27.07.24   Renter Warden David Barrett

The road more or less travelled: a Nordic journey

In this instance, a ‘sea more or less travelled’ is more accurate, as Renter Warden David Barrett embarks on a journey covering three Nordic countries – Sweden, Finland and Denmark. The history of the Baltic Sea is dominated by a […]

Coachlines - June 2024

28.06.24   The Master Bettine Evans

Master’s message June 2024

Good day fellow Coachmakers. I do hope you are all well and enjoying this wonderful taste of summer. As usual, so much has happened since we last spoke. My husband and I managed to escape to Scotland for a few […]

Coachlines - June 2024

28.06.24   Assistant Lyn Litchfield

A letter from the Editor – June 2024

Dear readers, This June, we commemorated the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings. It was one of the most humbling moments in my life, facing Omaha Beach, with the American Cemetery behind me. The beach was golden, the white crosses […]