Time is short

Elsewhere in this month’s Coachlines you will read about the many great events that will populate our 350th anniversary year. I have previously mentioned that the Coachmakers’ Court seeks a Livery of 500 full members during our 350th year who will participate in the tremendous events that will abound in our celebratory year.

So how are we doing on the road to 500 Coachmakers in the 350th? The answer is very well. This Livery Year has seen a bumper number of applications from all age groups, drawn from applicants with no previous Livery associations, friends and relatives of current Coachmakers and work colleagues of our members. As of this week, we are only 27 Coachmakers short of the 500 goal, so your Membership Committee is keen to enlist your help to continue this year’s success.

The Election Court on 1st September will be a special event as the Master and Wardens for the 350th anniversary year are installed. There will also be an associated swearing and clothing at that Court of new Coachmakers – so what a wonderful opportunity for a member of your family, a friend or work colleague to become a Coachmaker at that event? It’s not too late! And if not at that Court, what about the next one?

What is the process? Well, our website lays it out in detail, but any Coachmaker can introduce a new candidate. The Clerk will then arrange the necessary proposer and seconder who need to be Court members and will then forward the name to the Court for approval. If a candidate is not known to two Court members, we invite the candidate to a candidate dinner in the Guildhall Private Dining Rooms (which is free for the candidate), so they can learn more about us. After the Court elects the new member, he or she attends a Court to be sworn as a Freeman of the Coachmakers. This then entitles the new Coachmaker to gain the Freedom of the City of London in the City of London Chamberlain’s Court. Our new Coachmaker can then attend the Coachmakers’ Court again to be clothed as a Liveryman.

So fellow Coachmakers, do you know a prospective new Coachmaker who would relish being part of the 350th celebrations? Here are the upcoming membership events this year which could be used by your protege to achieve membership:

2nd July 2026 – New Candidate Dinner in the Guildhall Private Dining Rooms
16th July 2026 at 1130 Coachmakers’ Block Booking for Freedom of the City at the Chamberlain’s Court – a chance for existing Freemen to gain their Freedom of the City
16th July 2026 – Coachmakers’ Summer Court – Saddlers Hall. swearing/clothing and dinner
1st September 2026 at 1100, Coachmakers’ Block Booking for Freedom of the City at the Chamberlain’s Court – a chance for existing Freemen to gain their Freedom of the City
1st September 2026 – Election Court at Tallow Chandlers Hall, with swearing/clothing, service of thanksgiving and dinner
16th September 2026 – New Candidate Dinner in the Guildhall Private Dining Rooms
29th October 2026 – New Candidate Dinner in the Guildhall Private Dining Rooms
24th November 2026 – 11:30 Coachmakers’ Block Booking for Freedom of the City at the Chamberlain’s Court – a chance for existing Freemen to gain their Freedom of the City
24th November 2026 – Audit Court and Aerospace Industry Dinner, swearing/clothing and dinner in Drapers’ Hall

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