Our 350th Charter celebrations are nearly here

Dear fellow Livery members,

I have had the pleasure of meeting many of you during my time with the Company and now, as we approach our 350th Charter celebrations, for those of you I have yet to make acquaintance with, I’d like to introduce myself. I’m Mark Broadbent, Master Elect for this momentous year, which commences in less than five months on 1st September 2026. A huge amount of planning and organising is already under way, and I can at last share some details with you.

The most important thing is to save the dates. We now have all the main dinners organised and our Charity Banquet, for which I can give you a sneak preview by saying that it will include a display in the Guildhall Courtyard that has never been seen in this country before – it is not to be missed!

So, whether you are a diary and pen user, have a calendar on your desk or kitchen cabinet, or are totally digital and let your phone take the strain; here are some events at which you will definitely want to secure your place, seat, or table.

Tuesday 1st September 2026 – Election Court at St James Garlickhythe, dinner at Tallow Chandlers’ Hall

Tuesday 24th November 2026 – Aerospace Dinner at Drapers’ Hall

Thursday 10th December 2026 – Carol Service at St James Garlickhythe, dinner at Tallow Chandlers’ Hall

Tuesday 2nd March 2027 – Automotive Dinner at Goldsmiths’ Hall

Thursday 22nd April 2027 – Thanksgiving Service at St Bartholomew The Great, service and reception

Thursday 3rd June 2027 – Charity Banquet at The Guildhall

Thursday 8th July 2027 – Coaching Dinner and Award to Industry at Saddlers’ Hall

In addition, there will be a spectacular event with exhibits to showcase our coachmaking heritage, including a parade of outstanding carriages on Friday 14th May 2027 at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.

You’ve heard of ‘save the date’ alerts, well this is a ‘save the year’ alert! In the coming year we will have many unique opportunities to gather together in fellowship and friendship – with a big dash of fundraising activities thrown into the mix.

It’s taken 350 years for us to reach our coming Charter celebration, and now we are only a few months away from a memorable year, one that will combine a renewed interest in our heritage, in our ability to move with the times and remain relevant and of course, in our core value of actively investing in young people.

I look forward to meeting you all.