22. Thames Fishery Research Experiment. 21st October 2017

Braving storm Brian we set off for Gravesend to attend the annual Thames Fishery Research Experiment. This was the 45th Experiment which takes the form of an angling competition. The objective is to establish the environmental condition of the Thames by the number and size of fish species caught. The anglers started at 8.00am and continued fishing for 5 hours. Unfortunately this year the event coincided with a very low tide and extremely muddy conditions. This resulted in fewer fish being caught than expected. It was good to see the Lord Mayor and our Michaelmas Lunch guest speaker, Fiona Adler, with their fishing rods! Not sure that they were too successful with the fish! 

Despite the occasional heavy shower and gusts of wind breaking up the glorious sunshine, we walked the length of the river bank and chatted with a number of participants including young ladies from the City of London School and young men from the Gravesend Grammar School. At the conclusion of the fishing we were all provided with an excellent lunch followed by the prize giving. I presented the Company’s prize of an engraved tankard for the most diverse catch. A very enjoyable day that provided an opportunity to speak to a number of eminent people from the City and the local Mayor.     

21. The Magical Taxi Tour

The collection after my Installation Lunch went to the Hackney Carriage Drivers. It was used to sponsor a taxi for their annual visit to Disneyland Paris, a trip for terminally ill children and their carers in more than 100 London Black Cabs.

The send off on 6 October included a 06.00 ‘Big Breakfast’ in Canary Wharf for all those involved: the Hackney Carriage Drivers, the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs, donors and, of course, children and families, and a band. The convoy (three miles long) set off, escorted by English and French police, the AA, and support services and made its way to the Channel Ferry, led by the Master Hackney Carriage Driver and the organiser, Phil Davis, who has made it all happen for 24 years. They returned the following Sunday.

The photo shows the Water Conservators’ taxi, our driver and the family - and Peter Hall, to whom I am most grateful for representing me, just before leaving the East Wintergarden.

20. Company of Musicians Evensong 4th October 2017

The Musicians Company have celebrated evensong in St. Paul’s Cathedral every year since 1907. I was delighted to join the Masters of almost all the Livery Companies at this service. Having donned gowns and regalia in the Crypt, we processed into the main body of the Cathedral followed by members of the Worshipful Company of Musicians. Without doubt, the ambience of sitting under the dome and participating in this service was for me a very moving experience. Sandra accompanied me and sat with the other Mistresses/Consorts for the service.

The reception in the Crypt after the service was another opportunity for us both to mingle and talk with Masters, their Consorts and members of the Musicians Company.

19. Election of the Lord Mayor, 29th September 2017.

The day started at 8am in the Private Members’ Dining Room at the Guildhall with a glass of bubbly and an excellent full breakfast all provided by The Cook and the Butler. My thanks go to Mark Grove for the kind invitation.

Following breakfast it was time to proceed to the Guildhall Crypt to don my Gown and Regalia. I then joined the procession of all 110 Livery Masters across the courtyard, in reverse order of precedence, to the church of St. Lawrence Jewry for the Divine Service prior to the election of the Lord Mayor. The sermon by the Rev’d Canon Roger Royle, Chaplain to the Lord Mayor, included both humour and much that was thought provoking.

Returning across the courtyard we processed into the Guildhall for the election of the Lord Mayor. This is a fairly lengthy ceremony with a great deal of tradition, speeches and processions in and out. Eventually it was announced that Alderman Charles Bowman had been elected as Lord Mayor for the ensuing year.

An interesting morning rounded off with a lunch at Browns with the Thames Warden and our consorts.