The City of London is divided into 25 wards, each with an ancient form of local government, which avoided the many local government reforms in the 19th and 20th centuries. The ward of Walbrook contains two of the City's most notable landmarks: the Bank of England and Mansion House. Every ward has a club and Sandra and I were invited to the Walbrook Ward Club’s 208th Anniversary Banquet held at the Saddlers’ Hall by Past Master (and Club member) Peter Hall and his wife Georgina on 6 December.
Presided over by Alderman John Garbutt (Upper Bailiff of the Weavers’ Company) we had a relaxed and very enjoyable evening. John spoke about the foundations of Livery Company precedent and how the Weavers, arguably the earliest, missed out in the reign of Henry VIII when the (modern) precedence was fixed on the basis of the value of ‘loans’ to the Crown.
A delicious Christmas menu with fine wine and great company made the evening pass too quickly. Music, which included a spectacular rendering of the “Post Horn Gallop”, was provided by The London Banqueting Ensemble.
A thoroughly enjoyable evening for which our thanks go to Peter and Georgina.
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