159. Lord Mayor's Private Lunch for Livery/Guild Masters/Prime Wardens Chartered Accountants’ Hall 15 April 2024


Each year the Lord Mayor-elect holds a Private Dinner for an informal briefing and discussion with the Senior Wardens who will form their Past Masters’ Association.  It takes place shortly before the start of the new Mayoral year each autumn.  Michael and Elisabeth Mainelli held their dinner with us on 3 November 2023.

The Lord Mayor has also followed the practice of his predecessor, and arranged a similar Private Lunch with those who are almost all by now Masters, Prime Wardens, and Upper Bailiff, at what is broadly the half-way point in his mayoralty.  However, this time the Lord Mayor did not give a speech, but instead undertook an extended Q&A session in order to maximise the level of information exchanged.  As always, it took place behind closed doors and under the Chatham House Rule.  

The first question related to the Livery Masters’ Weekend in June.  This year it will be in London with a number of activities, including lunch in the Tower of London and a dinner in the Guildhall.  The details were circulated the following day.  The second question was about the sharing of the valuable presentations and outcomes from the Coffee Colloquys. This is work in progress.

The main value of the event is not only meeting all the Masters you have come to know over the past few months but also the new Masters.  As each Master group is defined by the Masters’ Weekend you participate in, you get to know almost two years of Masters.  It is a great network for sharing knowledge, issues and solutions.

My thanks to the Accountants for hosting the event in their large modern hall.  They also have a very welcoming bar in the basement to which we adjourned for further refreshment and discussions.

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