The City Refreshes, Rejoices and Remembers, plus Ryanair again!

How exactly does the Lord Mayor take Office? I knew it happened the day before the Lord Mayor’s Show but the How was a mystery!

Our Clerk very kindly invited me to attend Friday’s ceremony, generally called the Silent Ceremony and in a crowded Grand Hall of Guildhall. Lasting about 20 minutes with the symbols of Office being passed across, the only audible words are the incoming Lord Mayor making a one sentence oath to perform the duties of office. Its very silence brings it great dignity and import.

There is then a much more personal ceremony in the Art Gallery. Seated on a gilded chair with the two Sheriffs seated alongside, close affiliations of the new Lord Mayor and Sheriffs make individual presentations to them. Our Clerk is President this year of the Ward of Cheap, of which Sheriff Adrian Waddingham is a member. Adèle had the honour of presenting to the Sheriff a very special gift from the Club. It was a great privilege to attend.

These are formal ceremonies of long tradition. It would be easy to think that the Civic City is ossified. But the opposite is true because change occurs through people. These ceremonies serve by refreshing the leading posts – new people, new energies, new themes. Our own motto of Change Through Wisdom fits perfectly!

Moreover, we have a Lord Mayor and Sheriffs who are from the Modern Livery Companies. It was very noticeable in the presentations how the modern professions’ Companies were prominent. A fine demonstration that the Livery now reflects the current business life of the City of London!

The Fun of the Lord Mayor’s Show

A good number of us paraded in the Lord Mayor’s Show. I thoroughly enjoy the Show – The City en fête! We walked between the Sea Cadets’ matching band and platoon, and their decorated float. It is a real buzz to see so many spectators of all ages taking such pleasure out of the Show, and the happiness is infectious! We had our largest Company contingent in my experience of parading.

The Newsletter will have a full report, but here’s a little peek of us having our iron rations lunch!!

The City Remembers

On Monday I represented the Company at the City of London Remembrance Service at St Paul’s. Remembrance Services are always moving and reflective. All the Livery Companies’ Masters were there and we were bossed into the right places by a Sergeant Major of the Welsh Guards – whose voice even at half volume was sufficient to get us quickly shuffling into position!

Representatives of British Legion branches and other ex-Servicemen’s associations were there, carrying and dipping their colours.  We placed our crosses to Nimrod movingly played by the band of the Welsh Guards.

Ryanair Again!

I quoted last week a joke about Ryanair’s pricing of services that had been in a letter to the FT. The letter drew a response this week, this time of a true experience. A woman broke her ankle whilst away from home and sought to change her return Ryanair reservation. All went well and she wrote to Michael O’Leary to say how good his staff had been to change the reservation, provide assistance at the airports, and get her a ‘plane seat where she could be most comfortable.

She received a letter back from O’Leary: “Fly Ryanair again or we’ll break your other ankle!”

Full marks to him and his office for not only replying to a customer with good humour, but avoiding using one of the pro forma letters “Customer Services” resort to!

Yours

Edward                 10/11/13