Update from the Membership Committee

Steward Sir Kevin Leeson

I am delighted to be writing this my first update as Chair of your Membership Committee. It is an honour to take over leadership of the Memcom and I thank my predecessor, Assistant Rakesh Sharma OBE, for his good work during his years in the role.

Rakesh’s last year finished very successfully, and we saw a cohort of seven new Freemen sworn into the Company and one new Liveryman clothed at the Summer Court on 10th July 2025 at Pewterers’ Hall.

We welcome the following new Freemen:

Adrian Baguley CB

Adrian has recently retired from the Ministry of Defence where he was one of the senior director generals in the procurement and support organisation. Adrian was responsible for the procurement of many major air and joint systems for the UK Armed Forces.

Air Vice-Marshal Shaun Harris CBE

Shaun is Director of Support in the Royal Air Force Air Command Headquarters, where he is in charge of the support of all of the RAF’s equipment. He is also Chief Engineer (Royal Air Force) and in this role oversees technical airworthiness in the RAF and is also professional head of the engineering personnel specialisation.

Alex King

Alex is an airworthiness surveyor with the CAA and member of the CAA Skyline shadow board, having previously worked for Jet2 as a mechanic and reliability engineer.

Max Lamb

Max is a senior financial analyst with London United Buses having previously been a manager of data assurance for PwC.

Mark Langmead

Mark heads the Defence and Security practice at Whitetree consultancy having previously worked in his own consultancy business, and also with Rolls-Royce, and Westland Helicopters. He is also a long-standing member of the Goodwood Road Racing Club.

Stuart Southgate

Stuart has recently retired from the Ford Motor Company where he was Head of Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering for the Europe area.

Haydn Webb

Haydn is a Horse Master working in the film and TV industry, including productions for Disney, Warner Brothers, Netflix and the BBC. He is also a restorer and researcher of English carriages and harness.

Daniel Williams

Daniel runs Tristar Horseboxes, a family-founded and run manufacturer of a wide range of horse and livestock transporters. He is also an enthusiastic owner and driver of a four-in-hand carriage.

The Summer Court also clothed a new Liveryman, Christopher Smith KC. Christopher specialises in maritime commercial law and arbitration. He is a former Chair of British Carriage Driving and is the current Chair of the Council of the British Equestrian Federation.

I am also pleased to welcome Liveryman David Pitchforth as Deputy Chairman of the Membership Committee, who will also join the Court as a Steward from 1st September 2025. David has held a mix of motor sport, automotive and aerospace senior positions in his career, so will be a great asset as our Deputy Chair.

As your Memcom, we are, of course, your agent in ensuring the Livery continues with a vibrant membership cadre that is well connected to the industries we represent and who are enthusiastic supporters of our fellowship and charitable objectives. Here, all of you can help by ‘talent spotting’ for us in your networks and letting one of us know of your nominees, and we will take it from there. The composition of the Committee and contact details appear below.

I am also keen to hear from any members of the Livery who might consider joining the Memcom to help us in our work. Members with bulging contact books of potential candidates are particularly welcome! We have been tasked by the Court to see the Livery at 500 members by our 350th year – this time next year, and we are nearly there.

In a new approach, our recent Freemen will be mentored by members of the Memcom to encourage them through the Freedom of the City ceremony and, thereby, to move promptly into being full Liverymen. To any of those longer-standing Freemen who have yet to progress to Liverymen, you will shortly receive an email from me asking if we can help in anyway with your progression to Liveryman. Do please get in touch if you are having any challenges with getting your Freedom of the City of London – the Clerk may be able to help.

It would be wonderful if, as we achieve 350 years of being an active Livery investing in young people, we also have our largest ever cadre of Liverymen notified to the City.

Best wishes to you all for the summer period.

The Membership Committee:

Steward Sir Kevin Leeson (Chair) kevinjleeson@gmail.com
Liveryman David Pitchforth (Deputy Chair) david.pitchforth@btinternet.com
Steward Peter Ruddock (Aerospace) ruddock54@btinternet.com
Assistant Mark Garnier MP mark.garnier.2nd@parliament.uk
Liveryman Peter Grinstead (Aerospace) petergrinsted16@gmail.com
Renter Warden Mark Broadbent (Coachmaking) enquiries@fenixcarriages.co.uk
Liveryman Chris Sturgess (Automotive) chrissturgess@sturgessgroup.com
Liveryman John Boyes (Automotive) john.s.sboyes@btinternet.com
Freeman Martin Amen (Aerospace) martin.j.amen@outlook.com
Clerk Lt Col Craig Hallatt (Secretary) clerk@coachmakers.co.uk
Freeman Callum Parker (Assistant Secretary) callumbparker@gmail.com