165. Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners’ Banquet Mansion House 19 April 2024

 

I was very pleased to accept the invitation from the Master Elect, Mrs Lorraine Larman, the Wardens and Court of Assistants to join them as guests of the Company at the Installation Banquet at Mansion House.  The attendance was in strong contrast to many Livery Companies, being very diverse and young.  They are number 97 and have 450 members.  They emphasise that they are an equal opportunities organisation and the Master is the fourth Lady Master.

The beginnings of the Company go back to 1972.  Eric Hill, with Sir Kenneth Cork, Alderman for the Ward of Tower and later the Lord Mayor of the City of London, set up the organisation.  At an opening meeting on 22 October 1972 at the City Livery Club, attended by 43 colleagues and friends from the cleaning industry, ‘The Guild of Cleaners’ officially began.

The formalities started with the award of the lifetime achievement award Ameligen Cup.  The winner had set up and eventually sold a very successful cleaning company.  Rather than relax they had then set up a social enterprise which specifically employed ex-offenders to give them a second chance. No Going Back Clean is a social enterprise employing people from the No Going Back programme offering commercial, construction and industrial cleaning and support services delivering on social value with a commitment towards sustainability.

The No Going Back Charity provides individuals with convictions with the extensive support they need for their journey into work to reduce re-offending rates and transform lives.


In his speech, the Lord Mayor noted that more than half of the water mains in London were more than 100 years old.  We all want to live in a clean well-maintained city.  He had an ambition for London to be a world leading sustainable destination achieving net zero by 2040.

The Master welcomed us to a 50,000 strong movement, which was valued and recognised for its achievements.  Its Clean City awards helped recognise the value of the profession.  They were very well supported by their sponsors.  The Master had transitioned from a farming family which had lost their land, a hairdresser, postman, cleaner, through several husbands, with three daughters, to lead a major cleaning company and be the trustee of a domestic abuse charity.  I was impressed by her confident and optimistic spirit which was reflected in the mood of the Company.

Many thanks for a most enjoyable evening.


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