Tickets: £40 to include the quiz and drinks & canapes on the roof Book below where possible If unable to book below, then please contact Clare Ferrar on clareferrar@accountantslivery.org 0r 07828 554967
Twice a year, the City of London Corporation’s Common Hall is transformed from a standard local authority meeting on civic issues, into a day of great ceremony. Click here for more history and information. Each autumn Liverymen elect the next year’s Lord Mayor and every summer, it’s the turn of the two Sheriffs. After Common Hall, many Liveries go home, but the Master Chartered Accountant hosts a private Reception and Lunch in the Aldermen's Dining Room. We go up to Guildhall’s roof terrace on the fourth floor for the Reception and then into the Dining Room for lunch. Partners and guests are very welcome and will be able to have coffee and explore the Guildhall Gallery while Liverymen are attending the Election Ceremony. 11.30am - Coffee 11.45am - All attending the Election Ceremony must be seated 12noon - Shrieval Election Ceremony 12.45pm - Drinks in the Aldermen's Dining Room 1.30pm - Lunch in the Aldermen's Dining Room Dress: lounge suit or smart day wear Tickets: £89
You are invited to a Pub Takeover! Following the success of the pub takeover in February, the Financial Services Group of Livery Companies are once again holding a social evening at the historic ‘Hand & Shears’ public house at 1 Middle St, Barbican, London EC1A 7JA situated 100m from the Barbican exit of the Elizabeth Line Farringdon Station. This event is open to any member from the Companies below and is entirely open in format. The pub will be exclusively ours for the night from 6pm till 11pm. The idea of the event is that members from across the broad financial services sector will be able to meet and mingle with no agenda apart from serendipity and no cost apart from what you spend over the bar. And what better thing to do on a likely cold bleak night in the City (and possibly to break your ‘dry January’) but to meet up in one of the City’s oldest pubs with like-minded people? Pop in for an hour or two, or stay for the evening, however please do note that the pub does not provide food, so do plan to eat before or after. There is no need to register but, as a courtesy, and to ensure the pub has the right staffing levels, can you please let Clare Ferrar clareferrar@accountantslivery.org know if you are intending to come along. We look forward to seeing you there! The Financial Services Group of Livery Companies or FSG is made up of the following Liveries and Guilds: Accountants; Actuaries; Arbitrators; Chartered Secretaries; Entrepreneurs; Information Technologists; Insurers; International Bankers; Investment Managers; Management Consultants; Marketors; Solicitors; Tax Advisors; World Traders
Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park was opened to the public 22 years ago as part of the massive redevelopment of the area starting in the 1990s. Many of you may be familiar with the O2 but possibly less familiar with this wider redevelopment. The Conservation Volunteers have managed the park since its inception and have arranged a private viewing for us to learn about the biodiversity created on this former industrial site. They will show us their work including the wetland areas within the park as well as the ecological interest along the tidal Thames riverbank. They also manage an adjacent park which is an important green lung for the neighbourhood. The Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park is a 15-minute walk from the Jubilee Line’s North Greenwich station, a pleasant walk along the Thames Path, walking south with great views across the river and towards the Thames Barrier. We will meet at 17:30 pm for a briefing on the story of the development of the Peninsula, followed by guided tours of the park itself as well as the habitats along the Thames’s tidal river edge. There will be a closing Q&A session. The cost of this visit is £40/head and includes a donation to help the local community fund project in the park. Please book via the link below: https://buytickets.at/pollinatinglondontogether/1227416 After the park visit, we are planning a two-course meal at a local pub. Details on this, and booking will be separate to the park visit. Details to be confirmed.
Since 1973, Orchestral Masses had been a well-established annual feature of choral worship at St Paul’s Cathedral. The Masses stopped during the lockdown and the lack of tourist income meant the Cathedral was not in a position to reintroduce them immediately. The Charity Trustees have made a donation to St Paul’s for a couple of years now, which has enabled them to introduce Orchestral Masses to their regular programme again. This year, members and guests are invited to attend the Mozart's Coronation Mass sung by The St Paul's Cathedral Choir and accompanied by the City of London Sinfonia, held under the Dome of St Paul’s, as part of the Sunday morning Eucharist, on Sunday 30th June at 11:15am. There is no charge although contributions to St Paul’s would be welcome. After the Mass the team at St Paul’s have invited representatives from the Company to join them for pre-lunchtime drinks in the Chapter House, so that they may express their gratitude for the Charity’s support. You are welcome to join us for lunch at Cote afterwards – places for lunch are limited to 20.
Please click here to open/download a pdf showing the details of the weekend. If you are booking for two people, please select the relevant 'two-people' option from the list below and add one ticket to your basket. You will be asked for both attendees details in the one order. If you are unable to book online, please contact Clare Ferrar on clareferrar@accountantslivery.org or 07828 554967
We have arranged a guided tour of Westminster Cathedral for 13.30 which takes about 1 hour to be followed by lunch at 14.30 at the nearby Phoenix. https://www.thephoenixinvictoria.co.uk Westminster Cathedral is relatively modern in historical terms having been completed in 1903. We need final numbers plus pre-ordering of food and drink by 12th July. Once booked online then contact Vicky Andrew re food and drink orders. Her email is millcove1912@gmail.com We require a payment up front of £15 (£5 to the Cathedral and £10 towards the food and drink), balance payable after Vicky has calculated the exact figures. PLACES ARE LIMITED TO 20 Date: Friday 19 July Time: 1.30pm Tour 2.30-5pm Lunch
This year's Banquet will be held at Mansion House on Tuesday, 23rd July. The occasion is always the highpoint of our Livery's year, and this occasion will be no exception. As many Members will know, until the mid-18th century, Lord Mayors used their own houses or livery halls for their work as head of the City's governmental, judicial and civic functions. The idea of creating a permanent residence came after the Great Fire of 1666 to provide a house for Lord Mayors who did not have their own livery hall. The first stone was laid in 1739, and the first Lord Mayor to take up residence was Sir Crispin Gascoigne. The House was completed in 1758. Imposingly Palladian in style, it is faced by a grand temple portico at the front approached by flights of steps each side. The entertaining rooms were built on the first and second floors. The first floor had a roofless courtyard (later covered to form the Salon, the entertainment space) and the great Egyptian Hall. The second floor has a ballroom and private apartments of the Lord Mayor and family. After we have dined, Members and their guests will hear from The Chairman of the Bank of England, David Roberts. David's career began at Barclays, where he worked for over 20 years, rising to sit on the main board. He has also been Vice-Chair of NHS England, Chairman of Nationwide, and Deputy Chairman of Lloyds Banking Group. Currently however, his role as Chairman of our nation's central bank keeps him extremely busy and he will no doubt be keen to explain what the Bank of England is currently doing and why - rather brave, really, to a room full of chartered accountants! Tickets: £169 Time: 6.45pm - Drinks, 7.15pm - Call for Dinner, 10.30pm - Carriages...
This year's Summer Lunch will take place at Haberdashers' Hall. This modern hall was opened in 2002 by Queen Elizabeth and features a courtyard and orangery perfect for summer drinks. The atmosphere at this Lunch is deliberately more country garden party than formal City Civic event - dress is jacket and tie for gentlemen, with similarly smart casual for ladies. This event is extremely guest- and partner-friendly so do book up and bring a party. Tickets: £96 incl VAT Dress: Smart Casual, Jacket & Tie Time: 12:30 Drinks Reception, 1pm Lunch Please book below where possible Alternatively conatct Clare Ferrar on clareferrar@accountantslivery.org
Starts at Temple Bar in Paternoster Square and ends ….. ???? (quite near Covent Garden in fact!) This is an exciting and new event that we have tried out and recommend. We will be guided by text messages and we will learn interesting history as we search for the Holy Grail, discovering mystic symbols, sites, and hidden signs. (Attendees should make sure they have charged their mobile phones up for the day – we will issue a reminder beforehand.) Family and friends are welcome. It is a total of 5 kilometres and we shall have a pub stop half-way round. There is an optional meal at the end. To help us to finalise the booking the closing date for entry is Thursday 29th August. Tickets: £20 plus food and drink (£5 goes to the the Chartered Accountants' Livery Charity) Time: 2pm-5.30pm (including a stop halfway) Date: Saturday 31 August Location: Temple Bar in Paternoster Square, by St. Paul's Cathedral Please book online where possible. If unable to book online, please contact Clare Ferrar on clareferrar@accountantslivery.org
BOOKINGS HAVE NOW CLOSED FOR THIS EVENT. The Inter-Livery Tennis Tournament needs you! Each year, the Livery Companies come together in a tennis tournament organised by The Worshipful Company of Feltmakers of London, and this year it is scheduled to take place at Queens Club on Wednesday 18th September, starting at 11am. It is open to teams of mixed pairs: at least one player in each pair should be a WCCAEW member. There will be a dinner and presentation of prizes after the tournament, with the whole event scheduled to finish just after 9.30pm. We are looking for a lead/co-ordinator, as well as players to make up a WCCAEW team! Booking does not open until mid-June, but we are looking for expressions of interest before then. Please contact Vicky Andrew (Secretary to the Livery Committee): millcove1912@gmail.com Vicky would like to make it clear that she has not wielded a tennis racket for over 50 years! She is merely co-ordinating expressions of interest until we have a tennis lead/co-ordinator!
Alderman Sir Andrew Parmley and Graham Barker, Deputy Master of the Arts Scholars, are looking forward to welcoming you and your family and associates to the London Symphony Orchestra’s Annual City Livery Concert and Reception. This will be held on Thursday, 19 September 2024, at 7 pm at the Barbican Centre. We are looking forward to an evening filled with extraordinary music and your delightful company. Please find attached a digital flyer for the event. We would be grateful if you could circulate this invite around your company, club or guild and encourage your fellow Liverymen and Freemen to join us for this special occasion. The repertoire is as follows: Karol Szymanowski Concert Overture (16 mins) Frédéric Chopin Piano Concerto No 2 (30 mins) Interval, with reception drinks Gustav Mahler Symphony No 1 (57 mins) Sir Antonio Pappano conductor Yuja Wang piano London Symphony Orchestra During the interval, you are warmly invited to attend a reception with your fellow Liverymen and Freemen. Please book tickets below where possible. Alternatively contact Clare Ferrar on clareferrar@accountantslivery.org or Vicky Andrew on millcove1912@gmail.com We look forward to welcoming many of you to this special event. If you have any queries or require assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the LSO either by email at development@lso.co.uk or by phone at +44 20 7382 2572.
EVENT POSTPONED UNTIL THE SPRING We have joined with the Cork Club to offer you a private tour of Stanlake Park Wine Estate on Sunday 22 September at 12 noon, address Waltham Road, Twyford RG10 0BN. “Our wine tours are designed to be friendly, informal and fun! No prior knowledge is required as one of our experienced and WSET-trained guides will lead you through the ins and outs of English viticulture and winemaking, accompanied by some generous samples of our very best award-winning wines. During a Wine Tour & Tasting, you’ll visit one of our vineyards (weather permitting) before being taken through the winery to see all the winemaking process, including the grape-pressing area, the fermentation tanks, the barrel room, the ‘fizz’ room and the bottling line. At each stop, you will taste a different wine, making it 6 wines in total, including white, rosé, red and sparkling.” The private tour will start at 12 noon (please arrive no later than 11.45) with an optional lunch afterwards at a local pub.
Tour One Moorgate Place, also known as Chartered Accountants' Hall, with guide Malcolm Bacchus, a WCCAEW Court Assistant, and longstanding Livery Company member. Malcolm became ICAEW President in June of this year, and it is probably fair to say that few people know more about the history of the building than he does. This will be a very special evening. One Moorgate Place is a grade II listed building which opened in 1893. It has a range of diverse spaces that can accommodate a number of event requirements. Opulent rooms such as the Main Reception Room and Members’ Room remain true to the building’s historical and cultural heritage, while the Great Hall and range of contemporary and modern rooms are perfect for conferences and business meetings. As you venture through One Moorgate Place, you will appreciate the creative engineering work of the original architectural style and building design. With extensions and updates taking place throughout its history, there is a strong art-deco feel in some areas which juxtaposes the original features. Following the tour you are invited down for drinks in the the OMP Club in the basement of the building. You are also welcome to join the group at an optional supper nearby. There is no charge for the tour, but you will have to cover the cost of any food and drink you have. Pleaces are limited so please reserve your place below. Alternatively contact Clare Ferrar on clareferrar@accountantslivery.org or 07828 554967
HOSTED BY THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF WOOLMEN, ONE SPECIAL DAY – TWO UNIQUE EVENTS, ENSURING THAT EVERYONE CAN ENJOY THE ATMOSPHERE AND SPIRIT OF THIS WONDERFUL OCCASION. A long-established charity event, celebrating a Freeman’s ancient “right” to bring sheep to market over the Thames, toll free; all in aid of raising funds for The Woolmen Charity and The Lord Mayor’s Appeal. This year’s Sheep Drive will take place on Southwark Bridge. Access is restricted to registered and pre-booked Freemen of the City of London and their guests, to enable the remainder of the bridge to be open to vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Located on Queen Street and Queen Street Place, the magnificent Livery Fair offers visitors the opportunity to learn all about the Sheep Drive and the wonderful causes it supports and - here livery and specialist wool companies celebrate their trades with interactive displays and sales of their wares. Other fun activities include expert blade shearing displays and some wonderful rare breed sheep! The Sheep Drive & Livery Fair showcases the important enduring contribution of London’s livery companies, from the formation of the City of London in years gone by through to modern times, both in respect of the continuous evolution of sustainable trades and the important charitable endeavours in support of the various challenges we face today. Further details of past events: https://sheepdrive.london/ Tickets available below now!! Book your place for the 10.21am drive: £65 Alternativel contact Clare Ferrar on clareferrar@accountantslivery.org
After the historic ceremony of the Mayoral Election during the morning, the Master invites Company Members and their guests to join him upstairs in the Guildhall Club for a private Drinks Reception and Lunch. Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy drinks on the roof terrace before moving into the Aldermen’s Dining Room for lunch. After lunch, guests are welcome to move back out onto the roof terrace to view the events going on in the square below. 12.30pm: Drinks Reception 1pm: Lunch in the Aldermen’s Dining Room Tickets: £85 Please book below if possible Dress code: Lounge suit, Smart day wear Please book below if possible If unable to book online, then please contact Clare Ferrar on clareferrar@accountantslivery.org or 07828 554967
The Worshipful Company of Musicians are holding their Annual Evensong service at St. Paul’s Cathedral by kind permission of the Dean and Chapter, on Wednesday, 2nd October at 5.00 pm. The WCCAEW Master Wardens and Clerk are attending the Service and will Robe and take part in the Procession of Livery Companies. You are invited to attend the Service (free of charge) and/or the wine reception in the Crypt following the service (£27 per person) One £27 ticket available! Please contact Sue Field on clerk@accountantslivery.org if you are interested.
It’s decades since we last dined at Merchant Taylors’ Hall, which is very much one of “The Big Four” (We’ve been to all of Drapers, Goldsmiths, and Fishmongers in the past two years.). Hidden away behind anonymous facade, just east of the Bank of England, lies a collection of grand reception rooms and a lovely courtyard garden. The Great Hall itself is very splendid and the only one in London with an organ. As well as starting the new Livery year in style, and Installing Jonathan Grosvenor as Master, we have several things to celebrate! - Firstly, our splendid Beadle has served us for ten years, and we all wish to mark this milestone with a suitable presentation. - Secondly, there is our Sword of Honour to present to the best contributor to our fine 47 Squadron Association. - Lastly, but by no means least, we have a number of presentations to recent Past Masters. The Almoner will give a short update on the grants the Trustees have been making on our behalf, plus the first of our small appeals, made on big dinner nights this coming year, at which a Member will ask us to support a specific fundraiser of limited size, to which they are personally committed. As for entertainment, the meal, the fellowship and the lovely surroundings apart, we will take fully advantage of the organ, with a short concert after dinner. The Master-elect has persuaded our own Miles Hedges, who is a fine singer, to join up with leading Australian soprano, Samantha Hargreaves, and fine baritone, David Bole (a former state trumpeter, no less!) and the well-known City Minstrel, Julian Cable on the organ, to light up the Hall with a range of songs, the last of which should blow the roof off (Just don’t tell...
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Very few people know that underneath Guildhall is a large Roman amphitheatre, which occupied most of what is now the site of Guildhall Yard and the Great Hall. This was one of the centre-pieces of Roman Londinium, and the venue for countless gladiatorial contests, pageants and other displays. Some 2,000 years after they were built, few such amphitheatres survive in the UK and this is the only one which is so intact. It is also the only one to which the public can gain access - albeit by dint of much begging! We have been granted that privilege, but only for a maximum of 15 people, because the fabric of the arena has to be preserved from the tread of countless feet. Our guide is also going to give us a private tour of the Art Gallery, which we sometimes pass through on our way to big City Civic events - the cloakroom and loos are in the basement! It has a HUGE and ever-growing collection, including one of the original Magna Cartas. So hurry and book the very limited number of places (Capacity means Members can bring just one guest each.) for a ninety-minute visit, meeting our guide at Guildhall's West Wing entrance at 6pm. We will start with a tour of the Gallery and then descend underground and walk out onto the sand of the arena, slipping back in history over two millennia, to stand where countless battles were fought and some of our City's historic foundations were cast. After the tour, you are free to head home, or you can join the Master for supper at The Trading House, a few yards away in Gresham Street, where everyone can choose what they wish to eat and then squabble over the bill!
THE CURRENT ECONOMIC OUTLOOK - The view from the Bank of England Speaker Rob Elder – Bank of England Agent Bank of England Agents are shadowy figures who each "farms their patch", talking constantly and discretely to businesses large and small, to see how the economy is doing from their perspective, what the pinch points are and also the threats and opportunities. The Agents then convert all this raw information into considered intelligence, which is fed back into the Bank's assessment process, for a whole range of policy decisions. Agents do not talk publicly about their work, but we have friends in low places, and so are delighted to welcome Rob Elder back to CAH once again, to speak to a small number of us, strictly under the Chatham House Rule, to give the Bank of England’s view on the economic year ahead. We are in a period of turmoil and fluctuation, with elections in both the UK and USA, coupled with the ongoing crises in the Middle East and the Ukraine war, which are all resulting in major trends and changes across Europe. There is thus much to hear about from the Bank of England, and shrewd questions to be asked of Bob. Especially if you haven't been before, this is not an event not be missed, and very much one for "the bucket list"! We meet in the Members Room at 1.15pm, and the meeting and meal will finishing at about 3.30pm. Date: Tuesday 22 October Time: 1.15pm - 3.30pm Tickets: £68.50 to include a two-course lunch and a glass of wine
Organised by The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists for the Financial Services Group Liveries Join other FSG Company members for a series of three inspiring and empowering practical workshops. Created specifically for ambitious women in technology. The series focuses on the essential skills and strategies needed to effectively manage and advance your career. Learn from industry leaders, and connect with like-minded professionals during break-out sessions and take control of your career path. Event 1: Career Planning Date: Tuesday 5 November 2024 Time: 18:00 – 20:30 Workshop Overview: Our speaker, Kerri Mansfield JP, WCIT Master 23/24 will talk about how to be in control of your own career and share her experiences. Setting the scene for you to think about your career and how you want it to develop in the future. Starting her career with a secretarial course Kerri found her way to working in IT. She has worked independent transformation consultant across projects as disparate as start-up companies and global banks. Her lockdown role was communications across 11 cloud based projects covering a staff of 140,000 across 36 countries. She is also a magistrate and is currently the Master of WCIT. Following this we will have a guided interactive session where you will have time to think about your own path, and where it might be headed in the short, medium and long term. Working in small groups we’ll use the Do, Be, Have, Give model to help you structure your thinking. You’ll also have the opportunity share honest insights and experiences with peers addressing the realities of the challenges faced by women in advancing in their careers. We’ll close the evening with a chance to network and build connections with fellow attendees. The Next Events In the remaining events we will look at Performance Enhancement and Leadership (Event 2: Tuesday 10...
This annual event is open to Members and former Members of Court and to the Trustees of our Charity, plus their Consorts. The evening provides an opportunity for everyone to socialise together and most importantly, to discuss issues surrounding our Company's and Charity's governance, fundraising and grant making. The speaker is usually someone who can add to such discussions. This year, the Dinner is being held at the Army and Navy Club at the western end of Pall Mall, and our guest speaker will be the CO of our newest military affiliate. After the meal, the Colonel will address us on the welfare challenges that he and his SLT face in relation to their soldiers, many of whom are quite young. Dress for the evening is black tie or livery uniform, and invitations will go out shortly to those eligible to attend. Places are priced up and invoiced after the event, once all the costs are known.
Walk in the Lord Mayor’s Show, with breakfast and lunch included This is the world’s largest unrehearsed annual parade and quite a sight to see. Tick one thing off your bucket list and join the Master to march on the Show, seeing everything from inside this iconic annual event – you might even appear on TV! (Only 3 places left) Tickets: £104 (the price may display as excl VAT, but this should be corrected at checkout) Please book below where possible. If you are unable to do so, then please contact Clare Ferrar on clareferrar@accountantslivery.org or 07828 554967
Help Musicians’ annual celebration of music The Festival of St. Cecilia has been the flagship event in Help Musicians’ calendar since 1946. It is a key moment for us to come together to celebrate what music brings to all of us, and to mark the contribution that musicians make to our lives. 2024’s service will see the combined choirs of Westminster Cathedral, St Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey unite to perform under the direction of Andrew Carwood MBE, Director of Music at St Paul’s Cathedral. This year’s service will feature the premiere of a specially created anthem by Heloise Werner, who has been supported by Help Musicians, and we are thrilled to present a highly anticipated performance by pianist and Help Musicians Ambassadors, Isata Kanneh-Mason. Date: Wednesday 20 November Service: 11am – 12noon Lunch: 12.30pm (Cote Brasserie)
When Duke William of Normandy won the Battle of Hastings in 1066 and marched north to London, he struck a deal with the Masters of the then Guilds to protect the City in return for their fealty. The first evidence of that protection was King William I's construction and manning of what became known as the White Tower, to guard London from Viking raiding parties coming up the Thames. Today, that Tower stands in the middle of the much larger Royal fortress and palace; the Tower of London. Every night, the Tower is locked up and made secure in what has become known as the Ceremony of the Keys. That ceremony is open to small parties to watch, by kind permission of the Governor of the Tower. We have been granted this privilege, and also a private tour of the Tower itself, led by a Yeoman Warder. For security reasons, our party is limited to 50 people and we will all need to be at the main entrance to the Tower on its west side by 7.15pm, so the Warders and soldiers can check the attendance list prior to our admission. Once inside, a Yeoman Warder will lead us on a private tour of the silent fortress for about an hour, answering our questions along the way, before taking us the "The Keys", the Warders' private pub. There, we can have a drink and join in a raffle for various Tower-related souvenirs. For historical reasons to do with transactions on military bases and inside Royal palaces (The Tower is both.), both the bar and the raffle operate on a cash-only basis, so remember to bring some notes with you. Then, we will all be led back out into the dark to visit the famous ravens, and to watch the Ceremony...
As well as very kindly granting the Company a private tour of the Tower on 20th November, and ringside seats at that evening's Ceremony of the Keys, the Governor has also given us permission to hold this year's Carol Service in their Chapel Royal. The Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula stands in the north-east corner of the fortress and dates from the reign of King Henry VIII, but it is merely the latest church on the site, which has been holy ground since the Dark Ages. For those who wish to take a general tour beforehand and see the Crown Jewels, it has been agreed that we can buy tickets for entry between 3pm and 4pm, at a cost of £32 each. Then, once the Tower closes, rather than being asked to wait outside for the service, we are going to be allowed to have a drink in the Yeoman Warders' private pub, The Keys, until 6pm. (Note: this is a cash-only bar.) Members and their guests who do not wish to visit the Tower of London before the Carol Service need to come to the main entrance on the western side of the fortress at 6pm. At 6pm, everyone will led up to the Chapel Royal and given a talk on its history and present day role. The service itself will begin at 6.30pm and should last about an hour. The cost of attending the service (which goes towards the choir etc) is £28. After the service, Members and their guests can either leave for home, or walk to Watermen's Hall, seven minutes away, for canapés and drinks, with a Christmas theme, the cost of which is £49 per person. Tower of London, Crown Jewels, The Keys pub 3pm-6pm £32 (plus...
Anyone can just join in! Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89056373502?pwd=a8E1P6sIQaSjcP2ZweQbYNsk6wpciE.1 Meeting ID: 890 5637 3502 Passcode: 164549 As our members are scattered far and wide, the events committee have set up an online quiz for the festive season! A lovely opportunity to come together with some fellow members for a bit of Christmas competition, so put your teams together, get the mulled wine on, and get your quiz brains ready! This will be run with the usual style and skill by our Almoner, Beverley Turner. Each household/zomm connection cost £5 (to go towards prizes!) No need to book, just turn up using the link above. If youhave any questions or problems, please contact Clare Ferrar on clareferrar@accountantslivery.org or 07828 554967
The general public has no idea that behind the quiet façade of Gunmakers' Hall, just north-east of the City, hides the nation’s secret testing labs for all illegal and counterfeit firearms, which are seized in the UK. Unsurprisingly, this fascinating facility is never open to them, but the Gunmakers' Company, which owns and manages it on behalf of the nation, is discretely allowing up to ten of us to tour it, on condition nothing is said thereafter, and no photos are taken. We will meet outside their Hall at 10.45am, ready to go through security, at 11am. The tour itself will include not only the labs and a briefing from one of the staff, but also, oddly, a visit to see their pet snail, which is the world's largest - goodness knows how it ended up living (and apparently thriving!) at Gunmakers! Once the tour is over, we will all jump into a couple of cabs and go to our Hall, where the staff have laid on a full Christmas Lunch for us, down in the Club, with all the trimmings. For security reasons, and because the labs are a working environment in which space is limited, our numbers for this event are restricted to just 10, so Members are asked not to bring more than one guest.
Please note, this date has moved from 20 February to 7 January. The London Silver Vaults is one of those hidden gems, which came about entirely by chance, but now serves a pivotal role in its area, and if it hadn't existed, would probably have had to be invented! Many years ago a property developer acquired a plot in Chancery Lane, and due to the unstable nature of that bit of ground, was told by the planners that he had to use foundations two floors deep. Noting “the site’s proximity to the offices of all those wealthy lawyers, who infest the area” he decided to make a virtue of necessity and rather than using normal foundations, actually build in two levels of basements, and fill the lower one with a series of bank-grade vaults, which he would rent out to said lawyers. The scheme worked for a while, but slowly word spread and, little by little, leading London silver-smiths and jewellers began to rent vaults as a store for their stock. Their numbers grew, and inevitably, they began trading items, first between themselves, and then with the wider silver retail community. Today, the LSV are the nation’s leading silver wholesale market and quite a sight to see. Happily, one of the Master’s friends is Simon Surtees, son of the famous racing driver of yesteryear, John. After retiring from the track, John went into the silver business and Simon now runs the family firm, based primarily in the LSV. Simon has offered to give a dozen members and guests a private tour of the vaults, after which, our fine Clerk says that she knows a fantastic pub to which our party can repair for lunch. The Vaults building can be found at 53-64 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1QS. (The entrance to...
There is no need to book: Log on at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84603288656?pwd=p3Pcw59mTRlYZfasQuiZdeJnwHYrzH.1 Meeting ID: 846 0328 8656 Passcode: 747627 Do come along for what we are sure will be a compelling evening C O N T A C T : c l a r e f e r r a r @ a c c o u n t a n t s l i v e r y . o r g o r 0 7 8 2 8 5 5 4 9 6 7
Over the years, a number of very successful Inter-Livery social events have emerged, such as Croquet and Pétanque, but to date there has been no Inter-Livery Carpet Bowls. Our Company recently lost yet another much-loved Member to Prostate Cancer (He was our fourth in just three years.), and this dreadful condition is a similar scourge across the entire City Civic. As a result, the Master has decided that our Company will organise this event in aid of Prostate Cancer Research, and in memory of him and all the other Livery/Guild victims on Saturday, 25th January. We are all greatly indebted to our friends at The Plaisterers, for so kindly agreeing to sponsor this fundraiser at their fabulous Hall. The format of the day will be very simple: entries cost £49/person and guest players over 11yo are very welcome. Dress is casual (Jeans are fine, but string vests are discouraged!) Our fellow Liveries and Guilds have all been invited to enter one or two teams of four. As organiser, we can field up to four. There will be teas and coffees served throughout the day, plus a (reasonably priced!) cash bar over lunch, offering red and white wine by the glass, plus orange and apple juice. Lunch will be a shared picnic and everyone must bring a contribution of cold food to be shared with others - ideally enough for several servings. (Quiche, pates, flans, salads, cold meats, sandwiches etc, and easy puddings). If you are truly useless at picnics, tell Clare privately and we will buy your contribution for you, for an extra £10 per entrant. (Your shameful secret will be safe with us!) Full joining instructions will be issued in the New Year, but in essence, the doors to Plaisterers will open at 10am, with teas/coffees served. Then after...
We have never dined in the House of Commons and owe this great opportunity to our friend and fellow Member, Howard Leigh, who currently serves in the House of Lords, as Lord Leigh of Hurley. The Commons is a fascinating place to visit, never mind its rich history, amazing architecture and pivotal role in our nation's governance. We are lucky enough to be holding our drinks reception in the Strangers Bar, before moving next door to the lovely Members Dining Room for our meal. Next, in another first for the Company, there will be a public clothing ceremony for some new Liverymen - something which has hitherto always taken place in the privacy of a Court Meeting. After we have dined, we will be entertained by three fabulous sopranos from the justly-famous "Ida Girls", who will delight us with a medley of famous arias and West End show-stoppers. Then we shall move on to the presentation of the new Sword of Honour to our own Special Forced Support Group, who will be represented by the CO and RSM. I'm afraid that the identity of the principal guest and speaker for the evening must remain unsaid for the present. There are three lined up for the next three Dinners, but two of them come with security details, so I hope you will bear with me whilst they all haggle amongst themselves and with their opposite numbers at the three venues! Last, as regards price, it has been possible to reduce the cost of places yet again. You will recall that at the Installation Dinner, by dint of much juggling (and no little pleading by the Master!) we cut £10 off what has emerged as the standard City price of £149, reducing it to £139. This time, it has proved possible to...
The Coliseum is one of this country's most famous theatres, with a huge internal space, and amazing architecture, very much in the grand style. What could be a better venue for one of Gilbert & Sullivan's most over-the-top and outrageous operettas!? So batten down the hatches and strike the colours! The pirates are back. The English National Opera’s smash-hit production of this world-famous swashbuckling farce is packing them out. With its splendidly silly storyline, wild wordplay and well-loved songs, this Mike Leigh production of The Pirates is irresistibly feel-good. And we're going to be there! For those unfamiliar with the story, a rather too honourable apprentice pirate (with a very unusual birthday) woos the lovely daughter of a rather dozy Major General, while his bungling buccaneer-shipmates try to frustrate the match, which involves trying to outwit an equally inept party of policemen. With friends like these, what could possibly go wrong? So come along to enjoy this amazing show at 7pm. We have also booked a pre-theatre supper at nearby Clermont Hotel at 5.15pm, for those who'd like a meal first. Tickets: £111 Ticket including pre-theatre supper: £170 Pre-theatre: 5.15pm Show: 7pm Please book below where possible. If unable to, then please contact Clare Ferrar on clareferrar@accountantslivery.org
In an event prepared especially for our company, City wine merchants Corney & Barrow have kindly agreed to host a small wine-tasting at their beautiful head office situated in the converted Customs House at St Katherine’s Dock. A Corney & Barrow wine expert will introduce us to six classic wines while their in-house chef will match each wine with a specially chosen canape. Time: 6.30pm-8.30pm Please meet at 6.15pm for a prompt start at 6.30pm Location: Corney & Barrow, 1 Thomas More St, London, EW1 1YZ. Location Date: Thursday 27 February 2025 Tickets: £100 per person (maximum of four tickets per member)
London boasts about twenty rather smart private members clubs, several of which have a military focus, and by general agreement the RAF Club, at the western end of Piccadilly, up by Hyde Park Corner, is one of the most attractive and intimate. (The wall art's pretty amazing too!) We are lucky to have close links with the service, both through our relationship with 47 Squadron, and also because Court Assistant Neeraj Kapur used to fly Tornados for a living, and today still flies fast jets! (He never mentions any of this, unless pressed!) As a result, Neeraj has kindly agreed to host 26 of us for a private Dinner at the Club, with a drinks reception and tour beforehand, and a senior speaker from the RAF to talk to us after the meal. The RAF Club is always popular and heavily booked, but we have managed to secure the lovely Cowdrey Lounge for our drinks reception and then the equally splendid Hodges Room for the Dinner. Tickets: £109 (the price below may show as excl VAT but should update at checkout) Guest are welcome, but there are only 26 places available so booking early is advisable Dress code: Lounge suits for men and the equivalent for ladies Drinks: 6.30pm Dinner: 7pm
The United Guilds' Service (UGS) was first held in February 1943 as a coordinated response to the challenges faced by the City of London following the Blitz of 1940-41. It was also a reminder of the religious origins of the Guilds. The first service to be conducted was held on Lady Day – 25th March 1943 - the first day of the year by the old calendar. This annual service is held at St Pauls Cathedral is one of the few occasions in the Livery calendar at which all the Livery Companies and Guilds of the City can gather together as a whole – it is always a spectacular occasion, and one not to be missed if you haven’t attended before. More details and booking information to follow
The world-famous Highgate Cemetery, with its iconic tombs (Karl Marx etc) was originally opened in 1839, as part of a commercial venture to provide seven large, modern cemeteries, round the edge of central London. The inner-city cemeteries, mostly graveyards attached to churches, had long been unable to cope with the number of burials and "The Magnificent Seven" were intended to solve this problem, and to turn a profit at the same time. Highgate occupies a spectacular south-facing hillside site on Highgate Hill. Like the other six, it soon became a fashionable place for burials and the Victorian attitude to death and its presentation led to the creation of a wealth of Gothic tombs, buildings and catacombs. Sadly, the cemetery was not well run and fell into such dire financial straits in the Mid-20th Century that most of the staff, including the gardeners were laid off, and it was left unguarded and so was much vandalised. Over decades, the grounds became increasingly overgrown and today they are full of trees, shrubbery, and wildflowers, as well as being a haven for birds and small animals, such as foxes. In 1975, Friends of Highgate Cemetery Trust bought the freehold, and order is steadily being restored to what has, despite its troubled history, remained a working cemetery throughout. With its sinuous paths winding up a steep wooded hill and ivy-clad monuments, Highgate Cemetery is a secluded, funerary landscape at its most evocative. We will have a hour's private tour of the Western Cemetery (considered by those who have visited both, to be much the more interesting), after the gates have shut to the public for the day. We will be shown all the key sites there, before slipping across the road to visit Karl Marx's tomb and a few other items on the Eastern...
The 370th Festival will be held on Tuesday 13 May 2025 The Festival is a unique and extraordinary event. It celebrates the work of the Trust and the clergy families we serve, with our generous supporters. The Service at St Paul's Cathedral is the oldest choral festival in the world. It is free and open to everyone and brings together three of the UK’s finest cathedral choirs every year. Details of the choir and preacher for next year will be released in due course. Tickets will be available in early 2025. Read More
The SS Great Britain is the world’s first great ocean liner and when launched in 1843 she was called ‘the greatest experiment since the creation’. After 40 years as a passenger ship and then a cargo ship, she was severely damaged off Cape Horn and left to rot in the Falkland Islands until 1970, when she was re-floated and bought back to Bristol, where a charity refurbished her and cares for the ship and Brunel’s collections. Brunel’s ship is now Bristol’s number one tourist attraction and has been lovingly restored to her original glory, exactly as she would have been ready for her maiden voyage. She sits in a dry dock on a glass ‘sea’ and dominates Bristol’s historic waterfront. This is a very rare opportunity to dine on the this world-famous ship, as London's Liveries, (led by the Engineers, naturally!), have her for our exclusive use that evening. A welcome drink which will be served on the Weather Deck from 6pm, with spectacular views over Bristol harbour. If the weather is less kind, we will use the Promenade Deck, where the first-class passengers would take their afternoon stroll on rainy days. This is flooded with natural light and has a number of exhibits that we can explore. At 7:30 we will assemble for Dinner in the First Class Dining Saloon, which has been completely refurbished in the original style. With marbled pillars and rococo mirrors it makes a grand setting. A three-course meal will be served, with wine. There will be entertainment after the meal and further drinks will be available to purchase. We have exclusive use of the Great Britain from 6pm to midnight and are invited to explore it, making the most of this unique venue. Dress code is dinner suits for gentlemen and cocktail/summer dresses for...
This year Grange Festival welcomes one of Europe’s top big bands, the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw. Together with Dutch jazz superstar Fay Claassen they will perform hits from the Great American Songbook. This golden age of music (1920–1950) was shaped by composers like Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Cole Porter and Jerome Kern and their impressive collection of classics which have truly stood the test of time. Guaranteed to get your toes tapping and your hearts singing. Artists: Fay Claassen The Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw More details and bookings to follow soon
Twice a year, the City of London Corporation’s Common Hall is transformed from a standard local authority meeting on civic issues, into a day of great ceremony. Click here for more history and information. Each autumn, Liverymen elect the next year’s Lord Mayor and every summer, it’s the turn of the two Sheriffs. After Common Hall, many Liveries go home, but the Master Chartered Accountant hosts a private Reception and Lunch in the Aldermen's Dining Room. We go up to Guildhall’s roof terrace on the fourth floor for the Reception and then into the Dining Room for lunch. This summer, we will all be delighted to welcome former Sheriff, Past Master Marketor and former FSG Chairman, Andrew Marsden, as our Principal Guest. Andrew will talk to us after the meal about what happens to you, if lucky enough to be elected Sheriff, between that election and when you actually emerge, blinking into the light, as a shiny new Sheriff in September. Happily, Andrew has promised to be highly indiscrete! Partners and guests are very welcome and will be able to have coffee and explore the Guildhall Gallery, while Liverymen are attending the Election Ceremony. 11.30am - Coffee 11.45am - All attending the Election Ceremony must be seated 12noon - Shrieval Election Ceremony 12.45pm - Drinks in the Aldermen's Dining Room 1.15pm - Lunch in the Aldermen's Dining Room Dress: lounge suit or smart day wear Tickets: £98, for Drinks Reception and Lunch
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is one of those great Victorian foundations, the merits of which are as starkly obvious today as they when it was founded. Now a massive national charity, the RNLI today protects seafarers and beach users of all the beaches and waters around the UK, and also those of the Republic of Ireland. It does this through 238 lifeboat stations and 242 lifeguard units. The former deploy a fleet of 432 rescue craft, which they launch about 10,000 times each year, while the latter goes to the aid of some 20,000 people on and around the beaches annually. These services are provided by nearly 10,000 lifeboat volunteers and about 2,500 paid staff, including lifeguards. The RNLI HQ is down in Poole Harbour, where it also recently built a unique and rather smart training college (with extremely comfortable, boat-themed, ensuite bedrooms), which has some rather unusual training facilities. Next door it has constructed an equally specialist factory, in which it builds its iconic and extremely capable lifeboats. For obvious reasons, the public have access to scarcely any of the site, which is entirely focussed on the RNLI volunteers and employees, who go there for its myriad of specialist training courses. However, the Master has persuaded the Principal to allow a party from our Company to stay at the College during the last weekend in June, to see what they do there, how a busy lifeboat station operates, and how the lifeboats are built and maintained. The Royal Marines are one of our nation's two premier light infantry units, and with their amphibious focus, they have bases in various coastal locations around the UK. By chance, one such base is in Poole, located just across the harbour from the RNLI College. We have long affiliated to the key...
Hosted by The Worshipful Company of Woolmen, one special day – two unique events, ensuring that everyone can enjoy the atmosphere and spirit of this wonderful occasion. A long-established charity event, celebrating a Freeman’s ancient “right” to bring sheep to market over the Thames, toll free; all in aid of raising funds for The Woolmen Charity and The Lord Mayor’s Appeal. This year’s Sheep Drive took place on Southwark Bridge. Access is restricted to registered and pre-booked Freemen of the City of London and their guests, to enable the remainder of the bridge to be open to vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Located on Queen Street and Queen Street Place, the magnificent Livery Fair offers visitors the opportunity to learn all about the Sheep Drive and the wonderful causes it supports and - where livery and specialist wool companies celebrate their trades with interactive displays and sales of their wares. Other fun activities include expert blade shearing displays and some wonderful rare breed sheep! The Sheep Drive & Livery Fair showcases the important enduring contribution of London’s livery companies, from the formation of the City of London in years gone by through to modern times, both in respect of the continuous evolution of sustainable trades and the important charitable endeavours in support of the various challenges we face today. Bookings are not open yet
After the historic ceremony of the Mayoral Election during the morning, the Master invites Company Members and their guests to join him upstairs in the Guildhall Club for a private Drinks Reception and Lunch. Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy drinks on the roof terrace before moving into the Aldermen’s Dining Room for lunch. After lunch, guests are welcome to move back out onto the roof terrace to view the events going on in the square below. 11.30am - Coffee 11.45am - All attending the Election Ceremony must be seated 12noon - Mayoral Election Ceremony 12.45pm - Drinks in the Aldermen's Dining Room 1.30pm - Lunch in the Aldermen's Dining Room Tickets: tbc Dress code: Lounge suit, Smart day wear
Help Musicians’ annual celebration of music The Festival of St. Cecilia has been the flagship event in Help Musicians’ calendar since 1946. It is a key moment for us to come together to celebrate what music brings to all of us, and to mark the contribution that musicians make to our lives. 2025’s service will see the combined choirs of Westminster Cathedral, St Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey unite to perform in Westminster Abbey. Date: Wednesday 19 November 2025 Service: 11am – 12noon Lunch: 12.30pm (location tbc)