Silent Ceremony and Lord Mayor's Show 2009

All incoming Lord Mayors of London are admitted on the “Friday next preceding the second Saturday in November in every year” according to the City of London (Various Powers) Act 1959. On the morning of the Admission the Lord Mayor and the Lord Mayor Elect meet for luncheon at Mansion House with members of their Livery Companies, the Aldermen, Sheriffs and other civic dignitaries. Afterwards there is a meeting of the Court of Aldermen at Guildhall at which the Lord Mayor takes leave of the Court. The Admission of the incoming Lord Mayor then takes place.

The Admission takes place at the Silent Ceremony, so called because, apart from the making of the Declaration by the Lord Mayor Elect, nothing is said and on Friday 13th November 2009 Alderman Nick Anstee was admitted as the 682nd Lord Mayor of London.

The Guildhall was full and once the general chatter had died down and all the dignitaries had taken their place, the entire ceremony, apart from the click of the official cameraman’s shutter, which was unfortunately rather loud, took place in a really rather eerie silence.

Afterwards the new Lord Mayor was greeted by a trumpet fanfare as he exited into Guildhall Yard and returned to what is to be his home for the coming year.

It was the first time I had attended this ceremony and, whilst it was a long way to travel for something that was over in half an hour, I am very pleased that I did make the effort and was present at an integral part of City tradition.

The second Saturday in November is, of course, the day of the Lord Mayor’s Show. It has been the custom for many years that the Modern Livery Companies have a float in the procession. This float comprised a horse drawn steamer fire engine of mid-Nineteenth Century vintage, an open top bus complete with jazz band and an enormous pea harvester tractor, the latter being organised by the Farmers Company. Each Modern Livery Company provides four walkers who walk alongside the vehicles.

I was pleased to be supported in the walk by the Senior Warden, Assistant Christopher Gardner and Liveryman Christopher Miers. The Senior Warden gamely carried the Company flag and the two Christophers managed the Company placard even more gamely, being almost blown over on a couple of occasions.

We commenced with a good breakfast at Painters Hall which set us up for the day and were lined up on London Wall waiting for the procession to start by 10.15. It is a bit “hurry up and wait” but once things got moving, being close to the front of the parade we moved along very steadily, perhaps a little too fast on some occasions.

After the experience of last year we had been watching the weather forecast closely as the auguries were not good so an executive decision was taken that the Senior Warden and I would wear what are now the “wet weather” gowns. However whilst the day did not dawn dry and bright, it did remain relatively dry for much of the morning, although extremely windy. We were in fact rather luckier than the members of the Company and their guests who got absolutely soaked in a major downpour, as by that time we were taking our lunch break on HQS Wellington. Our flag and placard survived intact although at least one other Company’s placard ended up in two pieces as a result of the windy conditions.

In addition to thanking my supporters I must also express my thanks to Liveryman Simon Underwood who organised the stand tickets and the lunch afterwards at Balls Brothers’ Wine Bar on Ludgate Hill which was still going strong when the Senior Warden and I arrived there after completing the afternoon part of the parade.

It was unfortunate that the firework display which rounds off the day had to be cancelled due to the adverse weather conditions but all in all I think everyone had a great time.

Chris Dancaster