The summer holidays finally came to an end and the Livery “season” got going at the beginning of September. My first event as Master was to attend the Modern Liveries Dinner at Farmers’ & Fletchers’ Hall in early September. This was an excellent way to meet my fellow Masters and Presumptive Masters and, over a very enjoyable few hours, I was able to learn a lot about how other Companies work and discuss how the coming year will run.
A few weeks later, I finally managed to do what all Freemen can do – herd sheep over Southwark Bridge! This ancient tradition is held each year and organised by the Worshipful Company of Woolmen and again it was a good opportunity to meet other Liverymen. The very next day, I took part in the Election of the Lord Mayor. A church service was held in St. Lawrence Jewry before all 110 Masters proceeded in pairs into the Guildhall for the Election process. Afterwards, I had a very good lunch at Tallow Chandler’s Hall, together with my Steward, PM Colin Hill and PM Ken Cupitt, before returning to the Hall to chair my first Master and Wardens Committee meeting. To keep me busy, the following lunchtime, I was invited to a drinks reception by the Sheriff of the City of London at the Old Bailey. Having only been elected on the previous Friday, it was his very first event and a group of four of us were given a very interesting insight into how the Old Bailey works. We then joined the judges for lunch, which also provided some very interesting conversations! In the afternoon, I was then able to sit in on an attempted murder trial, made more interesting by the fact that the victim was refusing to give any evidence. The CCTV recording of the suspect throwing the gun into a dustbin was though proving useful!
After a very busy three days, I needed a rest but am already looking forward to the next few events, which are already on the horizon.
