Page 24 - July 2019

St Florian’s Installation Banquet Saddlers’ Hall
Friday 4th October 2019 40 Gutter Lane, EC2V 6BR
There are several reasons why it is believed Saint Florian earned the title of Patron Saint of fire and firefighters: legend has it that during his life, St. Florian put out a massive fire with only one bucket of water, saving a village from ruin.
The Worshipful Company of Saddlers is one of the very oldest of the City of London Livery companies. The earliest surviving records of a Guild of Saddlers in London date from circa 1160 AD, although the Guild could well pre-date that.
Today, the Saddlers’ Company still has a close interest in, and involvement with, its original trade. This is exemplified in its support of the Society of Master Saddlers, its leadership of the development of saddlery training standards, its support of saddlery trainees and apprentices through bursaries, awards and prizes, and its promotion of British saddlery.
The Company is the Trustee of a number of historic charities. These were founded with funds bequeathed by past members of the Company but it also endows its major charity, The Saddlers’ Company Charitable Fund, which responds to a wide range of charitable initiatives, with a particular emphasis on charities working for the benefit of disabled people and
disadvantaged youth.