The Silent Ceremony

The Silent Ceremony takes place the day before the Lord Mayor’s Show when the Lord Mayor is formally admitted to office and this was Friday November 11. The ceremony is known as the Silent Ceremony because, apart from a short declaration of office by the incoming Lord Mayor, no words are spoken. The outgoing Lord Mayor ceremonially hands the City insignia to his successor.

What I had not realized is that this takes place “on the flat” not on the stage in Guildhall so unless you are seated close to the action or are tall, once the procession has passed you have no idea what is going on (it's silent!). Note for next time – bring large cushion!

I did not go to the Lord Mayor’s Show this year as we had grandchildren responsibilities in the morning and an engagement in the evening (yes it does take me that long to get ready). I regretted it as it was a beautiful day and the parade, watched on television, looked amazing. I wish Alderman David Wootton a very successful year.

Garden of Remembrance, St Paul’s Cathedral

I was honoured to represent The Worshipful Company of Needlemakers at the opening of the Garden of Remembrance Service at St Paul’s on Monday, November 7.

The encampment outside St Paul’s had already had an impact on this event – both with the resignation of Rt Rev Graeme Knowles who was to lead the service and the absence of the marching band which had no place to muster. However the Royal British Legion overcame and everything ran smoothly and movingly.

The National President addressed us in the Crypt of St Paul’s and we were delighted to hear that their annual street collection at stations around the City (for which many present had volunteered) raised substantially more than last year, even in these difficult times, which is a tribute to the work of the Legion. He had visited the “encampment” outside before coming in – many tents but not as many campers. Perhaps this was all too early for them. I am happy to say that nothing intruded on the day.

It was a short but moving service and a fitting start for this week of Remembrance. I planted a cross with a poppy with the other Masters.

Although I was born after the war, World War II was very much part of my growing up. My father volunteered, as did many other members of both John’s and my families. There was no conscription in South Africa and it was touch and go at one point whether the government would support the Allies or the Axis powers. If it were not for the Allies we would certainly not be here: when we visit Wannsee during the Berlin trip you will see that the plan was to rid Europe of all Jews. It is also unlikely that the happy campers outside St Paul’s would be there either – freedom of speech was not available.

I know that these words are familiar to all of us but I think in this week it is worth repeating them.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning


We will remember them.

The service concluded with the The Kohima Epitaph

When you go home, tell them of us and say,

For your tomorrow, we gave our today.

City of London School Prize day

I was trying to think back to my own school days – there were a few prizes and they were generally given out at the last assembly of the year in front of the school, no parents to glow with satisfaction. Yesterday’s prize-giving was an altogether different matter.I was delighted to represent the Needlemakers Company at this annual distribution of prizes which takes place in the Guildhall and the prizes are given out by the Lord Mayor. Unfortunately I couldn’t meet our prize-winner as he was not able to attend. (A number of boys who left the school at the end of the academic year were not there to receive their prizes.)

One would expect this to be a very impressive ceremony held in the Guildhall with the Lord Mayor, Sheriffs and all accompanying officers in full regalia – and it was. But more impressive was the composure of the boys and the record of success that the school has. The boys come from a wide range of backgrounds – I believe that over forty countries of origin are represented – but all striving for excellence. Clearly this is an independent fee-paying school but there are also a number of full scholarships awarded each year to draw in bright boys from less privileged backgrounds.

The Head of School, Nicholas Hulbert, made an excellent speech in praise of the founder, John Carpenter. The Lord Mayor commented that of the many hundred speeches he has heard this year this was one of the best. Oh, to have that confidence and poise at such a young age! I suspect that young man is destined for great things.

I think that our Lord Mayor will have set some kind of new record for the number of speeches he will have made this year – well over 900 and he is as enthusiastic as ever.

The afternoon concluded with a beautiful series of Hebrew love songs sung by the school choir. An unexpected and unusual choice skilfully rendered.

Broderers, Drapers and The King’s Speech

I was very privileged to be a guest at a magnificent banquet hosted by the Worshipful Company of Broderers at the Drapers Hall last night. It was such a super event that I hardly know where to start.

The Drapers Hall is a magnificent building – if you saw the movie “The King’s Speech” the ‘Accession Council’ meeting took place in the Livery Hall where we had dinner. If you haven’t been to the Hall do look at it on the weblink above – it is beautiful.

There were over thirty-five Masters of other companies there with as many Clerks and other officers of a number of companies, so there were many and varied badges (and medals as well).

This is the 450^th anniversary year of the Broderers’ Company and they have raised a substantial amount of money for their charitable activities from Liverymen. Both our Companies support the Royal School of Needlework and Fine Cell Work and the Master was presented with a lovely cushion from the Fine Cell Work exhibition that I mentioned in an earlier blog.

Apart from the delicious dinner (I am getting into serious eating……) there was very amusing entertainment provided by musicians from the Guildhall School of Music. As part of the Broderers’ fundraising for City Gateway during their 450th year, the Master initiated a ‘Master’s Raffle’ for a sculpture of a running hippopotamus by Mark Coreth. Needless to say the entertainment concluded with a raucous rendition by all of The Hippopotamus Song by Flanders and Swann. It was doubly hilarious hearing this sung in such grand surroundings with everyone in their finery.

The Broderers’ has a tradition that the Master sings a special song (can be found on the website) with all joining in with the rousing choruses. What a nerve-wracking thing to have to do and he did it with style and panache.

Thank you Broderers!

Fine Cell Work – exhibition of work

This excellent charity is one of the causes supported by the Needlemakers’ Charitable Fund. The background to this, and much of our charitable support, is that we support people who use needles as the manufacture of needles has ceased within the UK.

I make no apology for quoting Fine Cell’s mission directly – I couldn’t express it better. Have a look at their website for further information Fine Cell Work. Fine Cell Work trains prisoners in paid, skilled, creative needlework undertaken in the long hours spent in their cells to foster hope, discipline and self esteem. This helps them to connect to society and to leave prison with the confidence and financial means to stop offending.

Both my mother and grandmother (who trained as a milliner) were fine needlewomen so although I may not be very skilled I can tell good work when I see it. I have several cushions and the quality of the work is superb. The designs range from the traditional to the funky.

More importantly - some of the stories told by the prisoners are very moving. They are paid for their work and the purchaser is encouraged to write a letter of thanks – just first names – and some report crying when they receive these letters. I defy you to read some of the stories with dry eyes.

So it was a delight and a privilege to be invited to represent the Needlemakers at a reception at the Glaziers’ Hall for a pre-Christmas display and sale of work. Fine Cell Work has been commissioned by the Glaziers to produce a triptych for the Hall – the work will be done in up to 100 separate batches in different prisons and the design looks stunning. It was also a chance to see the quilt that was created for Help for Heroes listing all the different regiments serving in Afghanistan.

Fine Cell Work receives support from a number of the Livery Companies and I am proud that ours is one of them.

A twelve hour day – counting money

I love counting money. In the early days of Breast Cancer Campaign we used to count all the money from street collections in the office and bag it up to take to the bank – there weren’t very many collections or many of us. Now most of the collections are done by others – groups of volunteers, RAGs etc and they count the money and deposit it – except for one day of the year, the day of the mega-raid during October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Part of the deal when I left was that I was invited back for mega-raid day, which was Friday October 21. Raggies from a number of universities across the UK come to London and collect at tube and train stations around the City. Members of staff volunteer to don backpacks and go and empty the buckets (too much like hard work for me) and bring the cash back to the office to be counted, which is the bit I like. Members of staff also give a hand and a contingent from Barclays come in and work in shifts as well and it is hard work but great fun. The Raggies are hugely competitive so the first task is to count the total from each bucket so that by the end of the day (or an early hour of the following morning……) they know who the top money raisers are – the sorting and bagging come later. I finally left just before 10 pm at which point the total was over £31,000.

This morning the front of Number 10 Downing Street was bathed in pink to raise awareness of breast cancer - what a coup. Well done Campaign!