65. Lord Mayor’s Show, 11 November 2023


What a day, what a team!

In the early 13th century a cash-strapped King John agreed that the City of London could appoint its own Mayor. He insisted that each newly-elected Mayor must travel to Westminster and swear loyalty to the Crown. The Mayors, and then the Lord Mayors of the City of London, have been doing so ever since.  It has become the show we see today with the Lord Mayor Elect travelling to the Royal Courts of Justice to swear loyalty and by so doing become Lord Mayor.

The Lord Mayor is elected each year at Common Hall, in effect the AGM of the combined Livery of the City of London, held in September, where potential subsequent Lord Mayors are also identified.  On 29 September 2023 I had the pleasure of representing the Worshipful Company of Water Conservators when we elected Alderman Michael Mainelli to be our next Lord Mayor.  It is a long process to become Lord Mayor; candidates must have served as a Sheriff of the City, and are chosen from the City’s Aldermen. So it was September 2022 when the gathered Livery identified Michael Mainelli as the next Lord Mayor.

Michael Mainelli is an honorary member of our Company so we had a challenge ahead of us - how to demonstrate our support for his confirmation as Mayor.  Do we continue to join the other Modern Livery Companies in a joint float or do we strike out on our own? The Court decided we would have our own unique float in the show.  It was quickly obvious that it should be similar in design to the float used in 2016 when Alderman Dr Andrew Parmley, an honorary member of our Company, was elected Lord Mayor


For months our project manager Andy Williamson worked on the paperwork and design and we submitted our proposal in April 2023 to the Pageant Master.  Meanwhile our Thames Warden Dylan Barker turned the idea of the magic tap into reality.  Practical details included whether to use a battery or generator to power the pumps and where to fill the water tank.  One thing learnt from the previous occasion was to locate the generator on the float rather than on the tractor unit.  When negotiating tight bends previously the linking cable became very stretched.

Meanwhile Past Master Peter Hall worked hard and successfully secured generous sponsorship from Past Masters and Court Assistants.  Liveryman Kevin Clancy contributed a vehicle and drivers, the same vehicle and drivers as came in 2016.  Over the weeks the Water Conservators’ team and the Drivers and colleagues from Clancy’s pulled together all the ideas and equipment needed to build the float.


Over the days in the run up to the show it was all put together in Clancy’s Harefield Depot and we are grateful for all the work to prepare the float. We had water in the tank, safety rails, multi-coloured lights and surround sound.  With the final briefing from the Lord Mayor’s Office we were ready to go.


Before 10.00 in the morning on Saturday 11 November, which meant a very early start for some, we congregated on London Wall where all the other floats were being prepared.  It was very impressive to see our float after all the hard work of preceding months and especially of the past few days. We were introduced to our drivers John Carter and Steve Payne who were looking after us and the float for the day, and hopefully giving us a smooth ride.


Our capable Clerk ensured that everyone was issued with (and encouraged to wear) the Company sweatshirt and cap.  Due to the bright sunshine the Company ponchos and umbrellas were not required.  I said that it would not rain!

As it was Armistice Day we all stopped at 11.00 for two minutes silence to remember and reflect.


The generator was turned on, the water started to flow and we were ready to go.  Then a bit more posing. Then it was sound, lights and action:   


the walkers preparing for their leg exercise and the riders practising their waving and dancing skills. To the mixed delights of Moon River, It’s Raining Men and Handel’s Water Music, we were off.  Very unusually, I was complimented on my choice of music.


As we passed the Bank of England and approached the Mansion House I called upon the Company to give three cheers for the Lord Mayor and congratulated a fellow member of the Water Conservators on his election.  We acknowledged each other by the doffing of hats.


Subsequently we found that there was good television coverage of the float as we passed the Mansion House with the commentator observing that “talk about the relevence of the Livery, what could be more relevent than water conservation.  The Company works to promote the long term health of water resources and the broader environment”.



The team worked hard at practising their waving.


There was a great turn out from the public, older and younger, families and uniformed groups, waving and cheering us on.  It was lovely to see the reactions on the faces of everyone we passed.  How does the Magic Tap work?  We brought pleasure to so many as well as raising awareness of water and environmental issues.

I was very proud of the whole team of walkers and riders from the Company.


Eileen and I bid farewell to the float at the Mansion House.  I joined other Livery Company Masters and we prepared to form a guard of honour for the new Lord Mayor.


Eileen took a Distinguished Guest’s position at the front of the Mansion House watching the end of the parade.



Watching the other amazing floats.


We welcomed the new Lord Mayor outside the Mansion House, before following him in for a late lunch.


We took the hint to go in!

At the Mansion House the Lord Mayor said that the Water Conservator’s Float was one of the best three in the show. 

It was an absolutely superb day!


Goodbye to the float until next time.

I must express my grateful thanks and the thanks of the Company to everyone who contributed so generously in money and time to the costs of joining the show and putting together the float.

Major Donors

Stuart Herritty

Andy Williamson

Dylan Barker

Peter Hall

Ken Marsh

Christine Duthie

Colin Drummond

Rob Casey

Christine Jarvis

Other Donors

Trevor Harrington

Carolyn Roberts

Mark Lane

Dinah Nichols

 

I should like to give special thanks to the following:

  • Kevin Clancey for the use of the vehicle, depot and the two super drivers
  • Dylan Barker for the Magic Tap that attracted everyone’s attention
  • Andy Williamson for managing our application and turning it into reality
  • Peter Hall for keeping us all under control

And thank you everyone for your enthusiasm, commitment and contribution to a great day.

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