Sheep Drive on London Bridge

Members of the Company had the opportunity to exercise their right as Freemen of the City of London to drive sheep across London Bridge.

The Lord Mayor and the Corporation were to be there and lots of stalls in which the various Livery Companies could put on exhibitions or show off their trades.

The Master and Senior Warden and other members of the Company decided that this was too good an opportunity to miss.

Before arrival one had the vision of a large flock of sheep being let loose at one end of the Bridge and an equally large flock of mostly middle aged men and women in fancy dress chasing after them.

It was however not like that at all. This is of course the City and its establishment was there to enjoy not make a fool of itself. The Lord Mayor was present. Dignity and decorum had to be preserved!

Timing was absolute one was allocated a time slot and a sheep. The “drive” was forty yards at most. Woe betide the handler who got his lead rope round another or even worse around his own legs! There were a few of those and the shepherds who had brought the sheep down from Cumbria the day before had many an entanglement to sort out. Another thing to beware of was getting your sheep separated from the others, they are quite strong and when one has decided that it wants to get back with the others, the leader becomes the led!

The Master and Senior Warden were fortunate that the rain kept off until after they had finished, the pristine condition of the new robes was maintained. Others walking later were not so lucky.

All in all a splendid event and fully supportive of a wonderful old tradition.

Chris Dancaster
Senior Warden