The Master’s Message February 2025

Pictured above: The Lord Mayor Alderman Alastair King DL with representative Lady Mayoress Corrinne Lee, the Sheriffs, their consorts and Treloar’s College leadership

Visit to Treloar’s College, Alton, Hants

Each year the Lord Mayor visits Treloar’s College, one of the UK’s largest specialist education centres for young disabled people. Originally founded by Lord Mayor Sir William Purdy Treloar in 1908, the College’s vision is a world where physically disabled young people take control of their lives and achieve their aspirations.

The College is widely supported financially by more than 60 Livery Companies, and each year the Lord Mayor, a Trustee of the College, honours the memory and achievement of his predecessor by organising a visit where the Sheriffs, Masters and Prime Wardens are invited to join him.

Your Master had the honour of attending this year and found the facility to be immensely impressive and a deeply moving experience. Young people at the College are able to obtain a first-class education and lead an enhanced life with their disabilities, thus greatly increasing their life chances. Beverley and I will also be attending the Treloar’s gala fundraising dinner at Mansion House on 2nd April.

Livery Careers Showcase

During two days earlier in February, 3,700 children from 64 schools attended the Livery Careers Showcase, a part of the London Careers Festival. Thirty-three Livery Companies from the City set up their stands in the glorious setting of the Guildhall and library, while in the crypt, workshops on technology, podcasts and video-making took place.

The Coachmakers’ stand was led by me as Master, together with Assistant Eric Wallbank and Steward Roger Woodbridge. We were so delighted to have Fumi Looi-Somoye, a previous winner of the Coachmakers’ and Jaguar Land Rover Women in Engineering Award in 2018, join our team at the fair.

One of the tangible objectives of our Company’s four aiming points is to engage directly with 350 young people. It seems that we probably need to raise the bar a bit higher, because we have far exceeded that number just in these two days alone!

Summer Charity Fundraising Banquet

The big news this month is that we have finalised plans for the summer banquet, which is moving back to Mansion House, the Lord Mayor’s home, after a 10-year break. The date is Monday 9th June, and happily on this date the Lord Mayor, and Court member of the Coachmakers, Alderman Alastair King DL, is available to attend. It is also hoped that the Lady Mayoress, Florence, will be there. Currently we are expecting both Sheriffs to be joining us with their Consorts.

As an extra bonus, we will receive The Lord Mayor’s Chaplain, very well known to us, the Venerable Ray Pentland CB, our wonderful former Honorary Chaplain for many years. The title of this banquet event will be ‘The Coachmakers’ Charitable Fundraising Banquet’ to emphasise that this will be our major fundraising event, to support the 350th anniversary aiming point, and my theme for the year; a significant contribution towards an active Livery, investing in young people.

The Automotive Dinner 20th March

The annual Automotive Dinner is fast approaching and the booking link is available on our website. If you have not booked yet, the link can be found here.

Our Court and Dinner will be held at the Livery number two Company Hall, the Grocers’ Company. We have lined up two unique and interesting speakers for this dinner. John McLaren is a former diplomat, venture capitalist, author and investment banker specialising in automotive businesses. He is also currently a non-executive director of Macallan Whisky, chairman of the Barchester Group and Chairman of Eagle E-Types .

Our second speaker is Coachmaker Michael Quinn, who is steeped in rich motoring heritage as is grandfather was Sir William Lyons, the founder of Jaguar Cars. Michael founded a major Jaguar dealership Quinn-Lyons, and was formerly at Jaguar dealer RA Creamer & Son in Kensington where he developed his knowledge and skills about the business. Michael has very kindly agreed to put into context, our William Lyons Design Award.

We are expecting a memorable automotive evening of fellowship and friendship. We also plan to have some exciting new and heritage cars on display in the Grocers’ Hall courtyard. This is not a company event you want to miss.