What an honour – today I took over as President of the Club di Londra from Sir Rocco Forte, at Brown’s Hotel, a Rocco Forte Hotel, 33 Albemarle St, London W1S 4BP.
Club di Londra is a non-profit organization that acts as a cultural, entrepreneurial, and social hub to strengthen ties between Italy and the United Kingdom. It serves as a place for debate, business, and networking, hosting events like dinners and conferences with prominent figures in economics, politics, and culture. It was founded in 1986 by members of the Italian Chamber of Commerce & Industry for the UK and the wider Italian community. The Club is grateful for enormous support from Ambasciata d’Italia a Londra.
Membership is open to anyone with strong cultural or business UK-Italian interests. Follow the Club di Londra on LinkedIn.
Here’s a picture of the happy team this evening, with Sir Rocco to my right. While the photo may be a bit strained, the evening wasn’t – lots of wonderful, warm people, and yes, ladies too, just not in this shot.
Remarks to:
Buona sera signore e signori; Good evening ladies and gentlemen,
Elisabeth and I are delighted to join you again this evening. My thanks to Rocco and Stefano for suggesting this new role. As always, our thanks to Rhuna Barduagni for doing all the hard work.
With geopolitics changing as never before, creating new relationships and challenging old ones, it is all the more important to enhance the historic friendships between Italy and the UK. Europe was a theme of my year as Lord Mayor, a pivot to Europe visiting more European countries than any Lord Mayor before, and a pivot to Italy, as the first Lord Mayor to visit for 19 years.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Rocco, Aliai, and the Club for making the Paganini concert with His Majesty in October such a success. When Marco Bucci and I conceived the idea in Genoa two years ago, thanks to the Domenic Pini and the St George Club, we had no idea what a success the London Symphony Orchestra would make of being lent Il Cannone.
Since our Club was founded nearly four decades ago in 1986, many people have contributed to its success – William Middleton, Giorgio Cefis, Paolo Filo Della Torre, Carlo Colombotti, Massimo Coen, Leonardo Simonelli, Lord Charles Forte, and, of course, Rocco Forte.
Illustrious speakers have given this Club value – Gianni Agnelli, Sergio Marchionne, Enrico Letta, Boris Johnson, Eddie George, Massimo d’Alema, Romano Prodi, Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, and many others.
I am honoured that you have chosen me to become President of Club di Londra. Being made President triggers a tiny feeling of inadequacy that you are undeserving of such august company. I started school in Italy, but you’ll gather I haven’t really used my Italian for a quarter of a century. You can easily guess what my 2025 New Year’s resolution is – a long bout on DuoLingo to regain the language of my father.
A special word is needed about our dapper, outgoing President, Rocco. The Forte family has been in hospitality for four generations with a distinctive and successful approach to the business, but more importantly with a certain and important sense of Italian style. Rocco has led this Club, and supported this Club, unstintingly. He has made this entire Club his special guests. Rocco, we thank you most sincerely.
Rocco, it’s so difficult to buy a man who has everything something meaningful. But as a small token, you said you “come from the land of the ‘still’”, i.e. still here. So here’s a small gift combining Latin with my Celtic heritage, and from a still. We all hope you enjoy it.
And to you, the Committee and members. Thank you for your confidence in letting me support and guide this wonderful Club for a term ahead. I look forward to learning much from you. I hope to honour your trust.
With all best wishes of the Season to you and yours. Buon Natale e felice anno nuovo!