Master’s blog, stardate 2013.275

Monday found me and the Fleet Warden involved in the election of the Lord Mayor for the ‘ensuing year’.  This year we have elected Fiona Woolf, only the second woman to be elected as Lord Mayor.  Our day began in Carpenters’ Hall for breakfast courtesy of Mark Grove and the Cook and Butler.  This was a great start to the day; as well as having an excellent breakfast it was good to be able to meet Masters, Wardens and Clerks of many Companies.  After gowning up in the Guildhall crypt, which was an event in itself, all hustle and bustle, the Masters processed in order of seniority, juniors first, to attend a service in St Lawrence Jury (in which the singing of the choir was magnificent) and then back to the Guildhall for the election.  The whole ceremony is managed in the greatest detail and was all over by 1.00pm.

Tuesday I was back in London with my bailiff to attend the Autumn Dinner of the Plaisterers’ company as the guests of the Master, De Bradshaw; this was another magnificent Livery evening.  Gosh it’s hard.