Since I last saw you all at the 2025 AGM, a lot has been happening.
Firstly, we have had 13 new members: and our membership now stands at 179. We welcome
Hilary Andrews – Nurses
Virgina Cannon – Solicitors
Deborah Charles – Arts Scholars
Shirley Creed – Chartered Secretaries
Lucia di Stazio – Builders Merchants
Sara Fardon – Insurers
Jane Fishwick – Scientific Instrument Makers
Debbie Johnson – Furniture Makers
Susan Jones – Security Professionals
Emma McWilliams – Actuaries,
Carolyn Roberts – Water Conservators
Penny Taylor – Engineers
Annaliese Edgcumbe – Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers
I must say that I think our new website is very impressive; so simple and easy to navigate with all the information one would need. Judith Millidge, Audrey Canning and Maria Chanmugam have sold their souls to the devil to get it looking so inviting.
Events 2025-2026
Our Wardens evenings get better every year and the feedback is most encouraging. It is one of our major events and gives us all an opportunity to share our experiences with those progressing in the Livery. We are planning something slightly different for next year and will keep you informed. My thanks to Hilary Lindsay for bringing the evening together.
The 10th anniversary lunch at the Innholders was such a lovely occasion and I am so grateful to Erica Stary for her splendid and informative talk about developments within the City these past 40 years or so. Thank you too to Virginia Bond for making the Hall look so pretty with plants on the tables.
Audrey Canning invited her friend Professor Dame Athene Donald to enlighten us with her excellent talk following the publication of her book Not Just for the Boys which looked back on how women were excluded from the scientific sphere and how more work is needed in these areas.
On a warmish day in early November, we celebrated the installation of the Lady Mayor, Dame Sue Langley, by walking the City route from and back to the Mansion House. What a great and fun day it was (no rain!) and our contribution was so well organised by Virginia Bond and Maria Chanmugam. My sincere thanks to all those who took part.
Whilst the storms raged outside, we watched on zoom, Clive Stewart-Lockhart’s engaging talk in January about his great aunt, Betty Joel, furniture, textile and interior designer of the 20s and 30s. We will continue to provide a Zoom talk each year.
Charity
We will be discussing a new charity to support during the AGM evening’s proceedings but we are delighted to have been associated with the Magpie Project these past three years and clearly our small contribution has been a great help to them. Felicity Harding has been liaising with them on our behalf – thankyou.
The City celebrated International Women’s Day on March 9th (the day itself was the day before) with a beautiful service at St Mary le Bow. All the music was by women composers and afterwards, at the invitation of Father Simon Cuff, I said a few words about the Association and its links. I hope this becomes an annual fixture.
Committee
Sadly, we are saying goodbye to one of our longest serving members of the Committee, Maureen Marden our Treasurer. Maureen has been marvellous, keeping an eye on our finances and ensuring that our “I”s are dotted and “t”s crossed. We will miss her and wish her well.
My sincere thanks too to Lis Goodwin who is just a star.
I am very proud of all my committee who are very committed on your behalf and as I pass on the reins, I would like to thank you all for making me feel so welcome but you ain’t seen the back of me yet as I will staying on for a further year!
Georgie Gough
Chairman LMA 2024-2026