The Coachmakers’ Charity Banquet 2025: Putting the fun into fundraising

The 2025 Coachmakers’ Charity Fundraising Banquet was a resounding success in many ways. It embodied the Master’s focus of fellowship, friendship, fundraising, fun – and philanthropy.

Our theme was Celebrating the Jet Age, and the work of Air Commodore Sir Frank Whittle OM, KBE, CB, FRS, FRAeS – the inventor of jet propulsion, who obtained his first patent for a turbo-jet engine in 1930. We celebrated the 95th anniversary of an invention that changed the world forever.

Lord Mayor Alderman Alastair King

We returned after many years to the prestigious Mansion House, the home of the Lord Mayor of London, The Rt Hon. Alderman Alastair King DL, who was in attendance alongside the Lady Mayoress and Sheriffs, with other illustrious guests. Recognising the Lord Mayor’s Scottish heritage, he was piped into the room by a lone piper, and received a fanfare written specially for the occasion by our very own Clerk, Lt Col Craig Hallatt. The Lord Mayor was gifted a unique signed copy of the score of the music.

With a focus on fundraising for the Coachmakers’ charitable fund, the evening started with a short video featuring some of our activities and recent award winners, before an online auction in aid of the Coachmakers’ Charity (see separate report). For those who have not seen it please follow the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdQtxXKmE64

Our guest of honour was Ian Whittle, Sir Frank’s son, himself a former RAF and commercial pilot – of jet-engined aircraft, of course. He gave an enthralling speech dispelling some of the myths surrounding the early days of the jet engine and shared that one of the things he learnt from his father was how to make paper aeroplanes, which he amply demonstrated by throwing several across the expanse of tables in the splendour of the Egyptian Room. One had the word ‘jet’ written on it: the lucky recipient received a copy of Sir Frank’s book, Jet: The Story of a Pioneer.

On this spectacular evening of celebration and fun we enjoyed entertainment from military musicians, the world-renowned Military Wives Choir, and a Post Horn gallop featuring our very own Clerk on horn and, rather unusually, kazoo.

The Master presented our annual affiliated service unit awards, which are nominated by the units themselves, to an outstanding service person:

Commando Helicopter Force: Leading Air Engineering Technician Samuel Stevens-Everett of 845 Naval Air Squadron

Royal Dragoon Guards: Trooper Joab Fleming

RAF Brize Norton: Flight Sergeant R Dalziel

The annual Coachmakers’ Award to Industry 2025 was also presented to Draken (see separate article).

We would like to thank our event sponsors:

Gold: Aeropeople
Silver: Draken, Aerotron, and Babcock
Bronze: Lockheed Martin, and Polar Technologies

Special thanks go to Cranfield University for the loan of its W2 Whittle jet engine, which provided a focal point outside the venue while our guests queued to enter, and to the Ruskin Museum, home of Donald Campbell’s restored Bluebird K7, which, as it was powered by a jet engine featured in a welcome video during the reception.

Many people from across the Livery contributed to the planning and delivery of the event, including the Master and the Charity, Fundraising, and Communications Committees, as well as the Clerk and Assistant Clerk: our thanks to all for their collective efforts.

With the support of our sponsors and strong attendance of more than 230 people, the event raised an outstanding £30k for the Coachmakers’ charitable fund, while the auction raised more than £10k. All these proceeds are earmarked for distribution during the next few years as we run up to our 350th anniversary and beyond.

Those who attended enjoyed a fabulous evening. We hope to see you all and others at next year’s Charity Banquet.