Save the date for the 2025 Christmas Market raising funds for the Red Cross.

It will take place on 8 and 9 December 2025 at Guildhall.  Opening hours:

Monday 5.15 p.m. - 9.p.m.

Tuesday 10.30 a.m. - 7 p.m.

If you are interested in getting involved with this year's Red Cross Market please contact Caroline Haines to let her know via Caroline.Haines@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Click anywhere in this article to buy your tickets.

A message sent on behalf of Lady Mayor, Alderwoman Dame Susan Langley, Alderman Tim Hailes and Alderman Bronek Masojada.

We are delighted to introduce The Mansion House Collection, an exclusive new range of refined merchandise inspired by the grandeur of Mansion House.

This initiative, developed as part of the Modern Mayoralty strategy, represents an innovative step forward in the City’s ongoing commitment to celebrating its heritage while exploring new commercial and cultural opportunities. 

The Mansion House Collection demonstrates how we can connect with the wider general public, including almost 700,000 City workers.

The Mansion House Collection marks the beginning of a new commercial venture for the CoL. While still in its infancy, the project embodies the spirit of enterprise, partnership, and creativity that has always characterised the Square Mile.

The initiative seeks to:

· Generate new income streams.

· Explore opportunities for us to showcase the craftsmanship and artistry that the City is so proud to champion.

· Develop partnerships with heritage craft Livery companies to develop a distinctive and expanding collection that reflects the excellence of London’s maker community.

Our ambition is for the Mansion House Collection to grow year on year, with each addition celebrating a different facet of the City’s cultural and architectural legacy.

Drawing inspiration from the elegance of Mansion House - its world-renowned portico, the splendour of the Egyptian Hall, and the artistry of its interiors - each piece has been designed to capture the timeless beauty, dignity, and tradition of one of the nation’s great civic landmarks.

Curated with care and produced to the highest standards, The Mansion House Collection offers visitors, supporters, and members a chance to own a lasting memento that embodies the heritage of the Mayoralty and the City itself.

I would like to invite you to experience an early preview of the website by clicking anywhere in this article, mansionhousecollection.com, ahead of the public launch later this year. This preview period provides valuable feedback as the initiative takes shape. During the Lady Mayor’s Show, we will have a pop-up shop in the Walbrook Entrance to Mansion House and at the Visitor Centre outside St. Pauls, please stop by and view the Collection if you get a chance.

Once formally launched, the Collection will be available online and we hope at select retail locations across the Square Mile. We are currently in discussion with The Four Seasons Hotel, Trinity Square, the members’ shop at Wentworth Golf Club, and The Ned.

The Mansion House Collection represents a small but significant step towards a more sustainable and enterprising future for the Corporation, one that honours our history while embracing the opportunities of the modern age.

We look forward to your feedback, and expanding our partnerships to create new opportunities.

Lady Mayor, Alderwoman Dame Susan Langley

Alderman Tim Hailes

Alderman Bronek Masojada

If you happen to be contemplating an end of year celebration you might like to consider a bargain offer: for 20 years I have provided a song and supper Victorian Music party in the Sovereigns’ room at the RAF cub, with music hall artistes provided from the Players’ Theatre.

The RAF club chef cooks his traditional Steak & Kidney pudding, followed by his Sherrytrifle. 

Many of my guests are Liverymen, who welcome an event that costs a modest £85 - though you have to buy your own wine.

Essential details:

• Date: Tuesday December 30th.

• Timing: assemble Churchill Bar: 6.30, 1st part of show 7.00, supper 8.00, second part 9.30, coaches 10.30.

• Venue: Royal Air Force Club, 128 Piccadilly, W1J 7PY .

• Menu: RAF Club chef’s special Steak & Kidney Pudding followed by Sherry Trifle (or Vegetable/Vegan option).

• Tickets: £85.

• Paypal, Credit or Debit Card at https://www.halson.com/family/eve-of-the eve-2025, or

• Cheque payable to Bill Halson, 12 Bentinck Mansions, W1U 2ER, marked “Players” on back of cheque.

• Enquiries to me,  Bill Halson 020 7935 6408 or email Bill@halson.com.

Are you a keen choral singer who enjoys making music with fellow enthusiasts in beautiful venues but doesn’t have the time to commit to weekly rehearsals? If so, there is a proposal to establish an occasion choir for members of all livery companies.

The first opportunity is being planned for next April/May when the hope is to perform Fauré’s Requiem and Vivaldi’s Gloria, both popular choral works, in a City church on a weekday evening, after a couple of rehearsals in the preceding weeks. The event will be directed by David Swinson, Director Emeritus of Trinity Boys Choir and a Woolman.

There will be a nominal fee of around £20 to cover costs and any profits will be diverted to a City charity.

In order to gauge interest and to help the organisers consider venues, please can you complete the linked form? 

Prostate cancer is routinely the most common cancer in men in the UK (55,000 diagnoses p/a) and the second biggest cause of male deaths (12,000p/a).

Two key charities in this field are Prostate Cancer Research (which does as its name suggests) and Prostate Cancer UK (which has more of an emphasis on public awareness, 

detection, support and care).

The City of London’s 120 Livery Companies and Guilds share some 40,000 male members and the City authorities (kindly led by Paul Wright, the Remembrancer, and Chris Hayward, the Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee) have authorised a fundraising tie, bearing the City shield, to help fight this persistent killer.

The navy blue silk ties, which are made in the UK, cost £29.90 each and £10 from each one sold is divided equally between these two pivotal charities.

As well as the City Shield in colour and in shadow, each tie bears the initials “CLG”, for “City Liveries and Guilds”, and the number of years the wearer has been a Livery Apprentice, Freeman or Liveryman, or a Guild Member, in decades. (So, the “XX” one is for those who joined 20-29 years ago.)

Please buy one, wear it with pride and tell your friends in the City Civic.

This is a classic case of: “Together we can make a difference”.

Jonathan Grosvenor, Master Chartered Accountant, 2024-25

https://www.cityprostatecancerties.com/buy-your-tie

Programme: 

• The Lady Mayor (subject to election), Dame Susan Langley DBE, will open the day

• Is the City prepared for reporting and responding to the financial risks that will result from climate change?

Speakers to be confirmed

• Keynote speaker - Challenges for Climate Change Adaptation

Baroness Brown of Cambridge (Professor Dame Julia King) DBE FREng FRS

• Risks to Life ?

Tim Munday, MEng ACGI MCIWEM, Chief Environmental Resilience Officer, City of London Corporation

Dr Pierre Masselot, Assistant Professor, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

• Are our buildings prepared for climate change? 

Philippa Simpson, Director for Buildings and Renewal at the Barbican Centre

• How fragile is our food supply chain?

Speakers to be confirmed

• Closing remarks

Sheriff-elect Keith Bottomley and Alderman Alison Gowman, CBE

Several schools will have their climate action display boards on show during the conference

Enjoy coffee on arrival, a light lunch at 12.00, afternoon tea, and champagne and canapes to conclude.

Ticket price £95 (early bird price £80 available until 19th December 2025)  Click anywhere to book your place.

Organised by the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards, the 43rd Inter-Livery Bridge Tournament takes place on Monday, 2nd March 2026 at Drapers' Hall, Throgmorton Street, EC2N 2AN  

This is a friendly competition and players of all standards are welcome.  We particularly welcome ‘kitchen bridge’ players who would like to try their hand at duplicate bridge in a relaxing atmosphere.  There will be various trophies, crystal glasses and unique WCMPC playing cards to be won too! Participants have teas and coffees on arrival and there is a two course supper, with wines at the mid point. 

The Lead Contact must be one of the following: a current member of a Livery or Guild, the partner of a current member, or a widow/widower of a past member, or the officer of a Livery or Guild Company.  

THEIR PARTNER DOES NOT NEED TO HAVE ANY LIVERY CONNECTION    

The charge for entering the competition will be £230 per pair.

The closing date for entering the Tournament is Friday, 20 February 2026.   

The Worshipful Company of Coopers will once again host the annual Coopers' Cask Race in 2026 - a lively and good-natured competition that brings together Livery Companies, Guilds and City organisations for an unforgettable day of fun, fitness and fellowship. 

For more information contact the Worshipful Company of Coopers by clicking anywhere in this article

The Apollo 19 Past Masters Tie will be available to purchase at the next event of the Association.

Ties will cost £20 each.  Payment in cash or a cheque payable to Apollo 19 Past Masters Association.  

 The Innholders' Friday Dining Club takes place at The Innholders' Hall

 30 College Street, City of London EC4R 2RH

Arrival 12.30-1.00 PM

For bookings Party of Maximum of 8 Guests

Five Course Taster Menu with

Exciting Matching Wines

£88.00 per Guest inclusive of  Vat 

Dates 2025

Friday 28th March,  Friday 25th April, Friday 23th May, Friday 27th June, Friday 25th July, Friday 26th September, Friday 24th October, Friday 28th November. December no Luncheon

With the exception of bank holidays Ironmongers Hall hold weekly luncheons on a Monday.

The cost per person is from £64.  Click anywhere in this item to contact the Hall to book your table.

Nigel Pullman reports that the Archive of past masters of the 110 livery companies is now "complete".  lt provides information to historians, genealogists and archivists, and those with a more contemporary interest. The Excel spreadsheet can be downloaded by following the link below.

www.liverycompanies.info/a-z-list-of-companies/past-masters-archive.html

INformation about the City of London Livery Companies, including the diary of events, can be found at The City Livery Committee website.

Click anywhere in this article to reach the CLC website.