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Closing date for items for
the next issue of
The Salamander
is:
Friday,
25 January 2004
Email your comment to:
me!!
Peter Hopkins at:
members who still are not. Once
Free, then go to the Chamberlain’s
Office and start the process of
becoming a Freeman of the City.
Having Sworn that Oath in the
Chamberlain’s Court then the
individual can ask to be Clothed.
The cost is £500 and all
Company debts must be paid and in
good order. Quarterage and Charity
remain the same amounts as a
Freeman pays. The £500 is a one off
payment.
Once a Liveryman, one enters a
different position in the City. There
are some 23,000 Liverymen. Today
the Livery gathered to elect the next
Lord Mayor, Robert Finch, who takes
office on Friday 7th November in The
Any Freeman
can become a
Liveryman of the
Company.
To be Clothed in
the Livery is a
privilege and
once Clothed,
having the Livery
gown put on
one in a special
ceremony in
Court, that person can then be
elected to Court of the Worshipful
Company, if been a Freeman for
three years.
The first step is to take one’s
Oath of a Freeman of the
Company. There are a few
Silent Ceremony, when the
outgoing LM hands over to the
incoming LM without a word being
spoken
. Saturday that follows is The
Lord Mayor’s Show and fireworks
in the evening.
Today's Luncheon followed in
Painters’ Hall and eleven
Liverymen joined the Master to
enjoy lunch with about 120 other
Liverymen from 10 other
Companies. A very good feeling of
fellowship prevailed. It is fun and it
is very special.
Liverymen also gather at
Common Hall in Guildhall to vote
for the Sheriffs.
T H E C L E R K ’ S D E S K — W H A T I S A L I V E R Y M A N ?
T H E A R M C H A I R
today the show is just as much a
celebration of the City’s energy,
diversity and unique nature.
Alongside the more
traditional and historic elements,
including the Lord Mayor’s
coach and the pike men, are
floats representing the City’s
neighbouring communities, arts
organisations, businesses and
other organisations that keep the
City running.
This year the Worshipful
Company of Firefighters took
part with ten other companies
under the title of “The Modern
Companies”. The group of
worshipful companies was led
by the West Midlands Fire
Brigade Band and the final part
of our entry was a 1890 horse
drawn steam fire appliance on
which rode our Master, Colin
Livett, in his full Masters regalia
and in the capacity of the officer
in charge of the steam whistle.
Other members of our
company taking part in the
procession were Court Assistant
Neil Botten, Liveryman Patrick
Sheen, and Freeman John
Sewell and Under Warden
Martin Coffey.
The Silent Ceremony
On Friday 7th November
The Master, Wardens and two
of the Company's newest
Freeman attended the Silent
Ceremony at the Guildhall. This
was to witness the swearing in
of the Lord Mayor Elect as he
officially became the 676th Lord
Mayor of London. This is a very
ancient ceremony and as its
name implies is conducted
nearly completely in total
silence. The outgoing Lord
Mayor and the incoming Lord
Mayor are attended by the Court
of Alderman and Court Officials
and the main purpose of the
ceremony is for the handing
over of the articles of office.
These articles are the Sceptre,
the Seal of Office, the Purse, the
Sword and the Mace.
Once the incoming Lord
Mayor has sworn the
Declaration and the articles of
office have been transferred the
incoming Lord Mayor and the
outgoing Lord Mayor together
with Alderman, Recorder,
Sheriffs, Officers and the Livery
Companies walk out of the
Guildhall to a rousing fanfare of
trumpets.
The Lord Mayor’s Show
It didn’t start off this big but
over 800 years the Lord
Mayor’s Show has grown in size
and stature.
This year the procession
stretched more than three miles
in length and took over an hour
to pass the Mansion House
where the Lord Mayor took the
salute.
The first procession took
place in 1215 and its roots lie
with King John and the oath of
allegiance. Recognising the
importance of the City, the King
granted the people the right to
choose their own Lord Mayor.
However, the person chosen still
had to appear before him for
royal approval and to swear
loyalty to the Crown. In practise
this involved the Lord Mayor
and his supporters travelling
from the City to the Palace of
Westminster to swear the oath
of allegiance.
Since that time, the scope of
the Show has changed
considerably. Even though the
oath of allegiance is still sworn
(although these days it is done at
the Royal Courts of Justice),
Page 2 I S S U E 3
Forthcoming
Events
Friday 13th February,
2004, at 1830hrs. The
Foundation Evening at
Winchester House.
Tuesday 30th March,
2004, at 1845hrs. The
Massey Shaw Dinner at
The Insurance Hall. (This
dinner was formerly
known as The Annual
Dinner.)
The Clerk
Margeret Holland-Prior
JP
Tel: 020 7600 1666
Email:
The Society was
founded by the Corpo-
ration of London to
“promote an interest in
and the interests of the
City of London”
Contact:
Nigel Andrew Hall
Tel: 020 7581 3232 (W)
020 8780 2878 (H)
Open Forum
Margaret Holland-Prior
What was Said?
This picture taken at the recent Salamander Ball
poses a question. What where these two great masters
saying?
So here is the challenge to all. Send me a quotation
– humorous of course!!
It will be judged by Gerry Clarkson and Bertie Gillings
- the winner receives a small prize! E-mail the editor!!
The Editor
Closing date for
items for the next
issue of
Th Salamander
is:
Friday,
23 January 2004
E-mail your comment
to: me!!
P