Our final Livery Dinner of this Mastership Year was held last week and what a night it was. The evening focused on welcoming new Liverymen as well as reflecting over the past 12 months of the Company’s work across education and philanthropy. Blending ceremony and tradition with looking ahead to the future and our upcoming 700th year, attendees heard updates on its support for schools and educational programmes, and celebrated the foundation’s long-term partnerships and community-focused initiatives that continue to tailor brighter futures across London and the UK.

It was a little warm last week, but thankfully cool at the Hall for the annual Billesden Dinner, where the Company hosted Skinners, guests from Mansion House and livery companies for an evening celebrating (and poking fun) at one of the country’s longest-running laws. The 1484 law by the City of London Lord Mayor Billesden set the annual change of @theskinnerscompany and Merchant Taylors’ Company to positions 6 and 7 in the order of precedence. As remarked on by the Master, what began as a punishment is now a strong bond of friendship (except in sports!)

Did you know? This large, convex mirror (which hangs in the Parlour), was restored in 2019 by specialist restorer Jane Hall, the Company’s first female Master. Dating from 1880, Jane and her team discovered dirt, damage and decades of haphazard repairs to the mirror alongside former renovations where chemicals were damaging the frame. Through care and using modern and ancient techniques like water gilding, the mirror’s lustre returned, better than ever. Read more from Jane on the portal now