Dear Members of The Worshipful Company of Farriers
I am delighted to invite you, your family and your associates to the London Symphony Orchestra’s 20th Anniversary City Livery Concert and Reception on Thursday 29 October 2026.
Celebrating two decades, the Annual City Livery Concert has become a much-loved fixture in the City of London calendar; both a vibrant showcase of the wealth of art and culture in the Square Mile, and an opportunity for the LSO to express gratitude to the companies, clubs, and guilds of the City whose continued support enables world-leading music-making on their doorstep. I am especially grateful to Graham Barker, Past Master of The Worshipful Company of Arts Scholars, and his wife Joanna, for their longstanding commitment to this special occasion and am delighted to welcome John Harte in his first season as Managing Director of the London Symphony Orchestra.
Conducted by LSO Chief Conductor Sir Antonio Pappano, this year’s programme opens with Anatoly Liadov’s The Enchanted Lake. Bursting with orchestral colour and atmosphere, this miniature masterpiece of Russian Romanticism conjures a magical, dreamlike world that feels both mysterious and utterly transporting. Mezzo-soprano Fleur Barron then joins the Orchestra for the world premiere of Hannah Kendall’s I have discovered the secret of death. One of today’s most exciting compositional voices, Kendall brings a powerful contemporary perspective to this eagerly anticipated new work, commissioned by the LSO.
The evening concludes with Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No 5, one of the great orchestral masterpieces: a thrilling journey from darkness to triumph, filled with unforgettable melodies and sweeping emotion. By turns tragic, passionate and heroic, it remains one of the most moving works in the symphonic repertoire. We invite you to bring family to share in this celebratory evening, and there are a wide range of restaurants and dining options in the Barbican and surrounding area should you wish to make a full evening of your visit.
The concert will begin at 7pm. Ahead of the performance, you are warmly invited to a pre-concert reception from 6.15pm. The reception will continue in the interval.
Tickets cost £68 per person, or £58 per person for a group booking of ten or more guests. Please book your tickets via https://www.lso.co.uk/Livery2026. For group bookings of ten or more, please contact the LSO directly at rsvp@lso.co.uk. Circulation of this invitation within your Company would be greatly appreciated.
Following booking, you will receive confirmation of your places. Please note that concert tickets will be available for collection on the evening at the Barbican Centre, with seating allocated in the Centre Circle of the Barbican Hall. Full details regarding the reception, ticket collection and timings will be sent to you closer to the date.
The LSO and I very much hope you will join us for this special 20th anniversary celebration, which promises to be a memorable evening of music and conviviality.
If you have any queries or access requirements, please contact the LSO Development Team at development@lso.co.uk or on +44 20 7382 2572.
Kind Regards
Sir Andrew Parmley
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Pepys Day 2026 – guided tours
In September 1666 the Great Fire of London swept through the City. Man-about-town Samuel Pepys witnessed and recorded the events of that extraordinary week. The fire started at 1.00am on September 2nd and by mid-morning Pepys was writing about it in his diary. The fire was put out on September 6th and we are marking this as Pepys Day.
There is so much more to Samuel Pepys and his Diary than that one fateful week in September. His diary covers just over nine years and the tours, with an official City of London Guide, will include much about him, his life and exploits and the times in which he lived as well as key moments from the Great Fire.
There are ten walks across two different itineraries. They start at 12.00, one walk heads east from the City Information Centre, the other heads west.
Tickets cost £15.00 plus booking fee, and the event supports the Lady Mayors Appeal
Book your tickets here:
With very many thanks and best wishes
Mario Beneventi
Chair - City of London Guides Association (CLGLA)
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Presentation of Chain of Office & Badge
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Clerk's Noticeboard
At the election Court meeting on Wednesday 24 June 2026 at Drapers' Hall the following were elected for the forthcoming year 2026/27:
Canon Dr. Lydia Brown-Master Elect
Paul Watts-Upper Walden Elect
Robin May-Middle Warden Elect
Christopher Wynterbee-Robey-Renter Warden Elect
Anthony Pilkington-Treasurer & Hon. Treasurer
Fr. Aidan Bartlett-Company Chaplain
Admission as a Court Assistant:
Dr. Jocelyn Habershon-Butcher
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Clerk's Noticeboard
Please see the details of events on behalf of the Lord Mayors Appeal: https://www.thelordmayorsappeal.org/events.
Message from Keith Baker – Fan Maker & PM Scrivener
SMiGS Coordinator
Most of you will be aware of or have participated in sundry inter-livery events of which golf is one and includes the long-standing and prestigious annual golf competition called The Prince Arthur Cup open to all Liveries. The Company is being told nevertheless that interest in livery golf is struggling largely because of work and family priorities. The Company probably has some golfers but they are not known to the Clerk. A recent initiative called Square Mile Golf Society (“SMiGS”) has been formed by livery golfers to address this point. SMiGS has been seeking a subscription of £30 per Livery to support its efforts to provide access to flexible and low-cost golf at a great variety of prestigious courses but we are told that for the rest of this year it is funded to the point where the money is not critical for the survival of the initiative. SMiGS would therefore waive a subscription for 2026. The initiative has so far attracted some 70 Liveries and over 160 individual golfers.
Whilst the Company is broadly in favour of initiatives to enhance the fellowship of the Livery it nevertheless feels that there needs to be genuine interest in golf, and especially inter-livery golf, to justify participation at Company level. The full explanation of the scheme can be found at https://squaremilegolf.co.uk/fellowship-golf/ , which also has a link to an individual registration form. Therefore, at this point we are suggesting that interested liverymen and freemen make themselves known directly to SMiGS either at s.mile@squaremilegolf.co.uk or squaremilegolf@cityliveryclub.com and the project coordinators will report back to the Company on take-up.
Square Mile Golf is a pan-livery initiative administered by the Golf Section of the City Livery Club. Our Patron is Alderman Sir William Russell.
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CITY BEERFEST 2026 THURSDAY 2 JULY
Returning for its 12th year, the hugely popular City Beerfest will be held in the City of London’s historic Guildhall Yard on Thursday 2 July from 12.30pm to 9pm.
The festival will feature 13 brewers, food stalls offering hot food, and live music and games. Over 55 beers will be available to be savoured from the commemorative City Beerfest glasses handed out with customers’ beer tokens.
Delivered by the City of London Corporation, in partnership with the Worshipful Company of Brewers, this year’s City Beerfest is sponsored by Hempsons and Culture Mile BID, with support from City A.M., Central London Alliance, and Cask Marque.
City Beerfest has become one of the most popular events in the Square Mile’s calendar, bringing together beer enthusiasts, workers, residents, and visitors, with all profits donated to The Lord Mayor’s Appeal. We hope that you and your Liverymen and Freemen will be able to join us!
Visit www.thecityofldn.com/city-beerfest to book your tickets now and receive a 10% advance discount (on bookings made before 1 July).
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The 11th Reflections of The Lord Mayor Gala Evening will take place on Tuesday, 14 July 2026 at Butchers’ Hall, London.
This year’s evening will celebrate the reflections of Alderman Alastair King DL, the 696th Lord Mayor of London, following his year of office. The Gala will also mark 10 years of Reflections in Stained Glass, bringing together civic reflection, stained-glass storytelling, youth creativity and shared stewardship.
Tickets are now available, with prices held at the 2025 level.
Booking link:
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/reflectionsofthelordmayor/2093092
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Please see the Election Addresses for the candidates that are in nomination for election as Sheriffs of this City:
Prem Babu Goyal CBE, Alderman and Plumber, and
The Hon. Timothy Charles Levene, Alderman and Carman.
For the purposes of the election that shall take place at the assembly of the Liverymen in Common Hall at Guildhall on Wednesday 24th June 2026.
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Palace to Palace: The Brompton Bridges Inter Livery Charity Ride 2026
Organised by: The Architect’s Livery WCCA in association with the Surveyors Livery WCCS
ONE RIVER. TWO PALACES.
Windsor Castle → Hampton Court Palace
Sunday 5 July 2026
From the Gothic splendour of Windsor to the grandeur of Hampton Court, this ride traces a unique architectural and landscape journey along the Thames.
A relaxed, sociable ride on Brompton’s in support of The Lady Mayor’s Charity.
THE RIDE
Distance: ~25 miles / 40 km
Terrain: Flat, mixed surface
Pace: Social (all abilities welcome)
Route: Thames Path & quiet riverside lanes
PROGRAMME
08:30 — Service in St Georges Chapel, Windsor Castle (optional)
09:30 — Assemble for Coffee, briefing & photos at Cinnamon Café, The Old Booking Hall, Windsor Royal Station, SL4 1PJ
10:00 — Depart from Windsor Castle
11:15 — Regroup - Staines-upon-Thames
12:30 — Coffee stop – Walton-on-Thames
13:30–14:00 — Finish - Hampton Court Palace
DETAILS
Brompton bicycles only – possible to hire at most central London stations for £5
Ride in small groups
Please bring water, helmet & spares
Mixed surfaces—steady riding throughout
RETURN
Trains from Hampton Court to London Waterloo (~35 minutes)
Ideal with folding bikes
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The 2026 Brigantes Breakfast - the annual Northern luncheon open to all City of London Liverymen, which this year will be held on Thursday 16 July 2026 at The Royal Armouries in Leeds, one of the finest museums of its kind in the world.
The Brigantes Breakfast provides the perfect opportunity for Liverymen from all City of London Companies, and their guests, to meet together in the North.
Full details of the Brigantes Breakfast including a booking form are attached.
Dress code is lounge suits. Badges of Office may be worn. Livery Masters will process into lunch.
The Reception commences at 11.30. For those able to arrive early, at 10.15 we shall be in the Bury Theatre, Royal Armouries for our ever-popular Brigantes Lecture. This year’s speaker will be Mr Nat Edwards, Director General and Master of the Royal Armouries.
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The Clerk has received the following letter from HMS Prince of Wales:
16/11/2025
Good morning Valerie
I hope this email finds you well. The Ship is slowly making our way back to the UK after transiting the Red Sea a number of weeks ago, with the crew enjoying a few days off Ship in Naples. We are all very much looking forward to seeing family and freinds upon our return to Portsmouth and getting a few weeks off. The Ship remains as the UK's high readiness carrier ready to respond to any events that may require activation at 5 days notice to sail. We have had a change in Commanding Officer - our new Captain is Capt Ben Power RN who has taken over from Capt Will Blackett.
We would like to wish the Master, and all the members of the Farriers a happy Christmas and a heartfelt thanks for all their support that they continue to give HMS Prince of Wales and her crew.
Best wishes
Mike
Surg Lt Cdr (D) Michael Jones BDS (QUB), Dip PCD (RCSI)Surg Lt Cdr (D) Michael Jones RN
Upcoming Inter-Livery and Livery Committee Events
If you are interested in taking part in any of the following upcoming inter-Livery events, please email phil.wadey@talktalk.net to express your interest. Full details will be circulated in due course, but early indications of interest will greatly assist with planning and coordination.
Inter-Livery Events – 2026
Key Worshipful Company of Farriers Livery Committee Events
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