Wines for Christmas 2022 9 Dec:  Virtual Food & Wine Pairing Fun
Christmas Lunch 12 Dec:  Ironmongers' Hall
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Click here for our rolling calendar or here for City events

A selection of City Events

 
Upcoming Events for your Diary (updated: *** 10th November 2022)

We highlight below a few events not listed in our calendar, which members of our Company may wish to support. These are events typically notified to us through the City Briefings or through the Clerks' Network. There are other events, such as Common Hall and United Guilds, which we include in our calendar, usually following them with a traditional lunch as an opportunity for members to get together.

We will endeavour to to keep this page up-to-date. If anyone knows of suitable events to include, please contact us via webadmin@wcomc.org or clerk@wcomc.org. Thank you.

Monday 7th November 2022 - ( 09:30 - 14:30 hours)

Garden of Remembrance Service - St Paul's Churchyard London, EC4M 8AD

The Opening of the Garden of Remembrance for the City & Liveries in the Garden of St Paul’s cathedral. Attended by civic party and dignitaries, City services,  Associations and Livery Companies.

Monday 21st and Tuesday 22nd November 2022 - (17:30 - 20:00 hours)

British Red Cross Christmas Market - Guildhall, Gresham Street, London, EC2V 7HH   

In some wonderful surroundings this is a great opportunity to do some early Christmas shopping whilst supporting a great organisation.

Friday 6th December 2022 - 19:30 hours ***
Scarlet & Gold at Christmas - Cadogan Hall, 5 Sloane Terrace, London, SW1X 9DQ

Join the musicians of the Household Division in a musical celebration of the festive season at the most wonderful time of the year!

Featuring an array of traditional and modern Christmas classics.

The concert features the outstanding talents of Britain’s very best military musicians as they bring the Bands of the Household Division from the parade square to the stage.

For more details and to book your tickets go to:  https://cadoganhall.com/whats-on/scarlet-and-gold-at-christmas-2022/

Tuesday 21st February 2023 - (11:30 - 15:00 hours)

Interlivery Pancake Race - Guilhall Yard, Gresham Street, London EC2V 7HH 

Now in its 19th year the race, which is always great fun to watch, will be taking place from 11.30am.  Teams, each of four competitors and wearing either fancy dress or full regalia or a combination of both, race around the Guildhall Yard tossing their pancakes. The victors receive, fittingly, frying pans as well as a trophy.

Each of the participating trades have their own appropriate role in the event, for example the Gunmakers start each race literally with a bang, Clockmakers time the heats and Fruiterers provide lemons to accompany the pancakes. All proceeds go to charitable causes.

Why not pop down to cheer on the various participants and help support a great City event and the charities that it supports?

Saturday 22nd July 2023 - (10:00 - 15:00 hours)
Cart Marking - Guilhall Yard, Gresham Street, London EC2V 7HH

Cart Marking showcases a truly unique collection of transport dating back from the horse and cart, to the latest, cleanest, greenest, and safest in use today.

The regulation and marking of carts in the City of London dates back over 500 years to the early days of the City with the ceremony of Cart Marking evolving over time. The history of this event, the first know system for licensing of vehicles, is brought back to life with a modern twist at this event.

You will see vehicles ranging from handcarts, horse and carts, and horses and carriages to steam engines, military vehicles and motorcycles. With historic, vintage and specialist vehicles – new and old – including the latest vehicles powered by electricity and hydrogen on display.

Everyone is welcome to this free to attend event in the Guildhall yard.

Why not bring your friends and family along for a Saturday morning with a difference?

For more information please go to: https://thecarmen.co.uk/history/cart-marking/ or https://www.cartmarking.org/

Saturday 11th November 2023 - (09:30 - 15:00 hours) ***
Lord Mayors show

The Lord Mayor's Show dates back to the early 13th century, when King John allowed the City of London to appoint its own Mayor. The King insisted that each newly-elected Mayor should come to Westminster and swear loyalty to the Crown, and the Mayor of London has been making that journey for over 800 years. 

2023 marks the 695th Lord Mayor of London, who will it be? That remains to be seen, but put the date in your diary and we look forward to seeing you for a great day.

17th and 18th June 2022 ***
The Becket Pageant for London (patron The Lord Mayor)

This will be a joyful and historic occasion marking the first known Community Pageant for 500 years. It will take place in the Guildhall Yard. The highlight of the event is the New Musical about Thomas Becket, numbering our own Kanan Barot in the cast and inspired by a 1519 City Pageant, with two shows each day.

Click on this link to visit their official site for details and to book tickets for the musical.

28th October 2021 (6pm)
First of a series of hybrid lectures at Gresham College

We have been alerted by Gresham College to their series of hybrid lectures, details of which can be found at by clicking here. They have highlighted four lectures in November:

Click on the lecture names above for more details.

2nd November 2021 (12noon)
Virtual Lunchtime Lecture - The Conflict between Climate Commitments and Trade Agreements

The Worshipful Company of World Traders invites members to join this virtual lecture. The speaker, Liveryman Bashir Siman, will talk to us on the theme of the unresolved coming conflict (and current vacuum) between climate commitments on the one hand made by states under the UN agreement, and the WTO commitments on the other. He believes it is timely also roughly coinciding with COP26 and he would like to also put the focus on the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to be introduced by the EU to attempt to deal with this vacuum. He thinks CBAM may well influence the course of trade negotiations between the U.K. and the EU if fully implemented (as it may be seen as a climate levy/tariff). The event will start at midday, and Bashir will speak for approximately 30 minutes followed by a 30 minute Q&A.

Please click here to register for the event. There is no charge to attend.

4th November 2021 (6.30pm-110.00pm)
Lord Mayor's Grand Finale Dinner 2021

The Rt Hon The Lord Mayor of the City of London Alderman William Russell and Lady Mayoress Hilary Russell will be hosting their Grand Finale Dinner on Thursday 4 November 2021 in aid of The Lord Mayor's Appeal. Held in the truly spectacular setting of the Guildhall, in London, this fun, prestigious, black tie event will be a memorable and fitting end to the Lord Mayor’s historic two-year mayoralty.

The event will include a Champagne and cocktail reception, a three course fine dining menu, electronic silent auction, live auction, a performance of some of the best loved songs from Les Miserables, sung by ex-West End cast members and a performance by John Helliwell of the legendary Supertramp along with a Music in Offices choir. We are also delighted to announce Alistair McGowan as our celebrity MC for the evening.

For more information please email pauliina.lyttinen@thelordmayorsappeal.org

13th November 2021 (11am)
The Lord Mayor's Show

The Show dates back to the early 13th century, when King John rashly allowed the City of London to appoint its own Mayor. He insisted that each newly-elected Mayor should come to Westminster and swear loyalty to the Crown, and the Lord Mayor of London has been making that journey for over 800 years. Around him (and her) grew up the noisy, colourful, joyous procession that over the centuries became known as the Lord Mayor’s Show.

This year Alderman Vincent Keaveny has been elected as the 693rd Lord Mayor of the City of London and will take the traditional seat at Mansion House to review the show parade which includes full-size model elephants, Japanese drummers, a horse-drawn bus, the tallest fire engine in Europe and of course members of the Armed Forces and their Cadets alongside Livery Company representatives, interspersed with numerous bands. He will then join the parade in the Mayor's State Coach, oldest ceremonial vehicle in the world still in regular use

For more information, please visit The Lord Mayor's Show Website

Butchers’ Carvery Lunch Re-launch
On Wednesdays each month from June

The Butchers’ Hall have reintroduced the very popular Roast Beef Carvery lunch. The lunches have been selling "like hot cakes" and the available Wednesday Carvery lunch dates for your 2021 diary are as follows:
25 August, 27 October and 24 November

Places can be booked now, open to all; please click on this link for more details and to book.

Thursday 24th June Common Hall Shrieval Election
This event was restricted owing to Covid-19 limitations - video recording now available  ***

At Common Hall on 24th June, Alderman Alison Gowman (Dowgate) and Alderman Nicholas Lyons (Tower) were formally elected to the office of Sheriff. Please click here for an edited recording of the event.

Prior to the election, the Livery Committee Chairman, Victoria Russell, took the opportunity to interview the two candidates. The video of the Shrieval candidates is now live; please click here. 
In the description of the video you can see links to the election addresses and general publications on the Livery Committee website.

Sunday 4th July (11am-4pm) Calling all cricket fans!
Twenty20 Cricket Match at HAC

The Lord Mayor's XI will take on Bobby Axelrod's XI, captained by the Lord Mayor's brother Damian Lewis, in this charity match in aid of the Lord Mayor's Appeal. Spectator tickets include a BBQ lunch.

Please click on this link for more information and to book a ticket. For more information contact events@thelordmayorsappeal.org.

Saturday 10th July (10:45 to 12:30) in Guildhall Yard
The Annual Cart Marking Ceremony

This is a  free spectator event and is the second largest event in the City of London after The Lord Mayor’s Show. Spectators will see a selection of some of the most interesting and finest vehicles throughout the ages.

The ceremony dates back over 500 years with vehicles ranging from handcarts, horse and carts, steam engines, steam powered vehicles, military vehicles, multicycles, historic and vintage vehicles, specialist vehicles new and old, and even the latest electric and fusion powered vehicles. Please click on this link for more details on this event, its history and a video of the 2017 event.

Monday 6th September (5pm for 5.30pm) in Drapers' Hall
The 39th Inter-Livery Bridge Tournament

This annual competition is organised by The Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards for the benefit of The Lord Mayor's Appeal Charities. There are two sessions with dinner at 7.20pm; prize giving at 10.00pm. Coffee, tea and biscuits will be served during the 5.00pm reception and, while awaiting the results and prize-giving, a stirrup cup will be served. 

Please click on this link for the online booking form. Closing date for entries is 16th August.

Monday 13th September (11am) at the Hurlingham Club
InterLivery Tennis Competition

The Feltmakers’ Inter-Livery Tennis Competition will be held on Monday 13th September 2021 at the Hurlingham Club. The competition is open to teams of two mixed pairs from each Company.  The competition is designed for Liverymen and their spouses/partners; one person in each pair should therefore, ideally, be a Liveryman. The competition will be run as an American tournament, with quarter-finals, semi-finals and a final.  The Feltmakers’ Trophy will be awarded to the winners.  There will be a knock-out Plate Competition for first round group losers.

The competition will be followed by dinner in the Hurlingham Club when the Master of the Feltmakers’ Company will present prizes to the winners and the runners-up. The evening normally ends shortly after 9.30pm.

More details will follow, shortly.

Sunday 26th September The Annual Sheep Drive and Livery Fair
On Southwark Bridge (now there's a first)
Update 2nd June: 'drive slots' look to be sold out - wait listing now

With the support of the City of London The Worshipful Company of Woolmen have been offered the use of Southwark Bridge. A fantastic “first” as the entire bridge will be closed to traffic for the day with designated public access. With the Sheep Drive and Fair situated together on the bridge (ideally located between St Paul’s Cathedral north side and Shakespeare’s Globe on the Southbank), this opens up endless opportunities for a wonderful day out for the whole family.

Please click on this link for more information.