“I’ve had an incredible year as Lord Mayor – here’s to the next 695” – City AM
Continue readingLife As We Live It
Vietnam International Awards – Lifetime Achievement Award
I could start to get a bit cranky about achievement awards, but not about this one from Vietnam International Awards. While I related this true story in my speech to the judges this week:
Continue readingPaganini Fit For A King
What a fantastic evening at the Guildhall! Tonight, in our special gala for LSO Discovery, the legendary Il Cannone – Niccolò Paganini’s 18th-century Guarneri del Gesù violin – was brought to life by violinist Simon Zhu, with Sir Antonio Pappano conducting. 🎻✨
We were also honoured to welcome His Majesty The King, Patron of the LSO, to share in this extraordinary moment. My opening remarks:
Article: The latest UK data to concern economists? The butterfly count
Sheep Drive, Romney Sheep Drive
Romney Tweed, a Community Interest Company, was born out of a wish to promote both the Romney breed of sheep and the Romney Marsh area. I had the pleasure of driving Romneys over London Bridge in 2008 in the very first sheep drive event, organized by the Worshipful Company of World Traders.
Continue readingBermuda’s Beautiful People
After an enormously long and enjoyable day of meetings, we went to a great restaurant, Wahoo, in St George’s (St George is a recurring theme this year). What does our chauffeur, Nigel Richardson, show us when we emerge to make us feel at home? Vandalism! Graffitti!!
Continue readingPepys Day – Numero Uno!
We were delighted to celebrate our very first City of London “Pepys Day”.
225 people participated in a series of wonderful walks led by City of London Guides, leading from the Monument at 10:00 and ending at Mansion House at noon, whereupon we had a glass of champagne in celebration, and many decamped to The Hydrant for lunch.
Continue readingEurozone Views On “Financing Our Future” By Paschal Donohoe
It was a privilege to host Eurogroup President, Irish Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery & Reform, and former Irish Finance Minister, Paschal Donohoe at Guildhall and Mansion House for an important talk in London on liberalism and the capital markets union.
Continue readingRinging The Bell At Lords
Regular readers know that I try to avoid having more than one post a day, but this was special, the very first Lord Mayor of London ringing the 5 minute bell at Lords Cricket Ground to reopen England versus Sri Lanka. Chris Hayward in shot, but masterminded so kindly by Mark Berman.
Continue readingFratercula – A Whisky Like No Brother
A highlight of the mayoral year arrived at Mansion House today, the 695th Lord Mayor’s Whisky (or whiskey to us Irish). With the immense help and support of the magnificent Braeburn Whisky (Scottish) team, we have a very very limited edition for charity fundraising purposes.
And doesn’t it look spectacular:
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