25. The Silent Ceremony

On 11 November the Master and his Consort attended the ‘Silent Ceremony’ at Guildhall. This marks the end of office for the previous Lord Mayor (Vincent Keaveny) and the Installation of the current one (Nicholas Lyons). A particular fascination is how the various judicial and executive powers are passed formally and seamlessly from one to another - it is at the heart of City Governance. (Our own Installation ceremony does the same, in a much smaller scale and less silently!).

Georgina and I were particularly interested to note where the new Lord Mayor signs for the inventory of City silver - a serious matter since if anything were missing it would cost a lot!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

56. City Water Debate - sector leaders at the top of their game

Image
On 21 March the Company staged our flagship annual City Water Debate, at Bakers’ Hall. It was a sell out and we were all privileged to hear five leaders of our sector, all at the top of their game, share their perspectives on the governance issues facing the sector. It was like being physically in the room in one of Plato’s dialogues listening in first hand to leaders discussing the great issues of the day. We hold the City Water Debate annually on the eve of World Water Day and it was the fifteenth in a series dating back to my previous term as Master. The packed event attended by Sheriff Andrew Marsden, Alderman Alison Gowman, Lord Mayor elect our own Michael Mainelli (wearing our Company tear drop),  Masters of associated companies, a very strong contingent of our own members and high profile guests from outside the livery. The event was a fine illustration of the ability of Livery Companies to convene and participate in debate on the major issues of their sectors and was hugely e
Read more

82. Water Conservators’ Summer Reception.

Image
The Company held its Summer Reception on Tuesday 27 July in the Marie Louise Room at the Oxford and Cambridge Club - familiar to many of us from the Master’s Dinner earlier in the year. It was a perfect opportunity for new members and their guests to meet existing Company members. We were a most diverse and lively cast of characters and, as one might expect, it was a really great evening. Conversation (and wine) flowed on some time past the expected end time after which the Master was delighted to take a group of guests round the various public rooms of the Club. It was a most congenial and encouraging conclusion to the Master’s year. Colin Drummond OBE DL Master Water Conservator
Read more

67. Royal Garden Party

Image
On Wednesday 3 May your Master and Consort were hugely privileged to attend a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace hosted by His Majesty the King and Queen Camilla. It was a wonderful event in very favourable weather. Despite a very busy week(!) the King and Queen were very much in evidence talking personally to inspiring individuals who have done so much for their local communities; this is very much a theme of Their Majesties as demonstrated in yesterday’s Big Help Out. We met a number of fellow Livery Masters and consorts. (See attached photos of Master Turner, Fueller and Water Conservator and their respective Consorts). It was also a joy to be able to walk round the beautiful Palace Gardens which reflect the various styles and interests of our King and his predecessors.
Read more