Master Water Conservator

Livery Company Masters were invited to the launch of the promotion of the Lord Mayor’s Big Curry Lunch on Thursday 18th April 2024, in the Guildhall.  We heard the Co-Chairmen, the Right Hon the Lord Mayor Alderman and Professor Michael Mainelli and Mr Michael Hockney give a strong pitch to encourage individuals and companies to attend and raise more than £449,000 (this year’s total). The lunch is in support of the Armed Forces charities ( ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity and the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund), raising funds to meet the current urgent need to support veterans of the Armed Forces into employment. Created in 2007 and first taking place in 2008, the Lord Mayor's Big Curry Lunch is the City of London's hottest annual event. There are three sittings for lunch and free bars in the Livery Hall and Old Library serving wine and Cobra beer. In addition to an amazing set of offers in the silent auction, there is a chance to win...

We had a clear direction from HRH the Duke of Edinburgh to tackle the technological and environmental challenges of energy at the end of the morning session of the conference. Fuellers and a cross-section from other Livery Companies attended a full day conference looking at the way forward for energy.   The Duke of Edinburgh is a Member and Past Master of the Company. The day started with a perspective from the Energy Policy Research Foundation, USA which looked at business as usual scenarios and was very depressing. Lucian Pugliaresi, President, described the global economic and short-term political pressures which were driving the increased consumption of fossil fuels. The subsequent panel session was far more encouraging, recognising that we were facing a rapid global change to low carbon and renewable energy technologies.   I challenged them on how we share the technology and experiences globally to avoid making the same mistakes as Europe in the past. Juliet Davenpo...

Eileen and I visited the many brightly coloured stalls at the Guildhall Christmas Market in aid of the Red Cross.   It was a very varied shopping experience with over 80 artisan stallholders selling gifts, décor, clothing, and food and drink in one of London’s most beautiful medieval building.   I found the gin and mulled wine stalls particularly interesting.   The market has been running since 1961 and brings the City community together during the festive season, while raising vital funds to help people in crisis.   Many of the stalls were run by Livery Companies and it was a great opportunity to catch up with many Masters and Livery friends. We came home with: ·          A hat from the Felt Makers ·          Two Christmas decorations from the Basket Makers ·          An order for a Christmas pullover from the Framework Knitters ·  ...

Each year the Sheriffs invite the Livery Masters to the Old Bailey, where the Sheriffs live, for lunch with the judges who preside there.  The Master Glover and I were greeted by Alderman and Sheriff Bronek Masojada in his rooms with a glass of champagne (guests only).  He then gave us a fascinating insight into the work of the City of London in commerce, conservation, community and courts. (This list may not be accurate as my note taking hand was occupied, and recording, taking pictures and the use of mobile phones was prohibited.)  He went on to say that the Central Criminal Court stands on the west gate of the Roman City of London and there had been a prison on the site from the 12 th century until final demolition in 1902.  The prison features in several Dickens novels.  The Old Bailley takes its name from the Norman “Baillie” or fortified place. The Court was first built in 1539 and its jurisdiction covers England and Wales and British ships abroad. The...

Around 100 senior figures from the water and environment sectors and Livery Companies contributed to the debate on the financing of the water sector “Water Liquidity – How to Finance the Required Investment in the UK Water Sector to 2050”. Key points included: ·          massive investment in the sector is needed to meet our environmental and water supply targets ·          all of us must work to reduce per capita water consumption from 145 to a projected 110 litres per day ·          there is some scope for more, less carbon intensive ‘nature based solutions’, centred on river catchment areas ·          the sector can compete for government funding but significant private investment is required ·          there is a need to change the governance and regulation of the sector ·...

I have taken so many pictures of the current Lord Mayor standing at a lectern I thought that it was about time for a change so a previous Lord Mayor instead.   One of 625! This was one of the occasions when Masters had to be at the Mansion House to hear the Lord Mayor.   It was an impressive but informal occasion. The Lord Mayor started with thanks to the cadet forces from the Army, Navy and Air Force for their help at the Lord Mayor’s show.   He then outlined his vision and plans for the year ahead.   In particular he emphasised the importance of the Livery and cross-Livery working.   We were given a handout on 12 of the different pan-Livery activities.   Although we have engaged with many of them, I felt that we were active members of relatively few and we needed to revisit our pan-Livery activities. The Lord Mayor then focused on his theme of Connect to Prosper and the various initiatives that were helping to deliver it.   He described the seri...

There was a very colourful display of Livery Masters, Clergy and choirs at Westminster Cathedral for the annual Festival of St Cecilia.   This event is held at the Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral in rotation.   The festival has been the flagship event for “Help Musicians’” for over 75  years.   Help Musicians is a charity for professional musicians of all types in work and retired. The service was conducted by Fr John Scott, Chaplain of Westminster Cathedral, and the address was given by Monsignor Philip Whitmore, Rector of St James’ Church, Spanish   Place.   Sir Andrew Parmley delivered a reading.   Help Musicians supported cellist , Margarita Balanas played an excerpt from a Cello Suite by Bach which soared round the Cathedral.   The enthusiastic voices of the Livery and congregation were surpassed by the joint choirs of Westminster Cathedral, St Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey.   We were treated to the premier...

I joined other Masters of Livery Companies and City leaders in response to an invitation to the Mansion House to hear about the Lord Mayor’s Appeal.  We were welcomed by Alderman Alistair King, Lord Mayor Representative as the Lord Mayor was unavoidably detained at a Banquet with the President of South Korea. To ensure continuity, each Lord Mayor adds to a rolling programme of deserving causes such that each cause is supported over three years.   At the reception we heard from individuals at businesses participating in the programme, including City Giving Day, Power of Inclusion, This is Me and We Can Be.   We learnt how their involvement had impacted on them personally, professionally and as a business as they support The Appeal in creating A Better City for All. We heard powerful stories from individuals from the Charity Partners, which helped us understand the value of their work and what they had achieved thanks to funding from The Appeal and the generous support ...

I was invited to the annual Gresham College lecture given by the Lord Mayor of the City of London, Michael Mainelli. He explained how the 2023-2024 Mayoral theme: “Connect To Prosper”, with its emphasis on multi-disciplinary networks, hopes to link forces to advance, just a bit, a few solutions to global problems.   After the talk there was a discussion with Professor Julia Black, Professor Mark Birkin and Professor Michael Batty. Rather than provide a summary I thought it would be more useful to see the full text.   Therefore below is the transcript of the Lord Mayor’s Lecture. Connect to Prosper: The Power of Networks Professor Michael Mainelli Lord Mayor of the City of London 20 November 2023 My theme for this evening is ‘Connect to Prosper – The Power of Networks’.   I want to explore network theory and why it underpins my 695th Lord Mayor’s theme, celebrating the Knowledge Miles of our Square mile, the World’s Coffee House. Imagine you are in a coffee...