“Bright Lights, Open Minds, Robust Community”
As part of this year’s experiments, here’s one we did at Mansion Home.
A long-term concern of mine has been the old building infrastructure of northern Europe. Our buildings are not made for cooling in summer. I’ve had a few ideas over the years, but had a chance this year to try one out, thermochromic paint. We could paint rooftops white, but that then leads to loss of heat when needed in winter. Why not have paint with a high albedo when hot and a low albedo when cool?
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Remarks to: World Traders Installation Dinner, Egyptian Hall, Mansion House, Wednesday, 23 October 2024 by The Rt Hon The Lord Mayor of London, Alderman Professor Michael Mainelli
Master, Wardens, Aldermen, Your Excellency, Sheriff, Fellow World Traders, Ladies and Gentlemen.
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Well, tonight’s event was an honour. We say that a lot, but this evening it truly was as I was given the rank of Commendatore in the Italian Republic’s Order of Merit.
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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:
Ah, how childhood musical infatuations return again and again. I was so excited to receive via email earlier this year a new march for the bagpipe composed by Malcolm McCaig:
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[Sam Woods, CEO, Prudential Regulation Authority (remarks); Lord Mayor (remarks below); Nikhil Rathi, CEO, Financial Conduct Authority (remarks)]
City Dinner, Egyptian Hall, Mansion House, Thursday, 17 October 2024
The Rt Hon The Lord Mayor of London Alderman Professor Michael Mainelli
Your Excellencies, My Lords, Fellow Aldermen, Mr Recorder, Sheriffs, Chief Commoner, Ladies and Gentlemen,
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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:
Remarks to: the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) annual lunch, Tuesday, 15 October 2024, at the Royal Institute of British Architects, by
The Rt Hon The Lord Mayor of London, Alderman Professor Michael Mainelli
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The HAC Light Cavalry are the bodyguards for the Lady Mayoress, while I am solidly defended by the HAC Company of Pikemen & Musketeers. The HAC Light Cavalry was originally formed in 1861, then later absorbed into the Horse Artillery element of the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) in 1891. Today the Light Cavalry operate as a non-profit organisation offering hacks and lessons on our forward going military parade horses. You can join and support too, going riding with them or undertaking dismounted duties.
In 2021 I had the fortune of riding with the Light Cavalry round the City. But that was as Sheriff. Elisabeth has been inordinately kind to let me ride with her mounted defenders twice this year. Once with my Sheriff Bronek Masojada in May to raise money for charity, but also to inspect the unit today down at their Windsor HQ at Flemish Farm. Elisabeth and I attended the inspection in October 2021, but today I was inspecting on horseback. Small aside, Her Majesty had also done so on horseback two decades ago. And on a tearful note, perhaps my last opportunity to be astride my trusty steed, Leo.
For me it was hacking, but our City’s riding elite cut an enormously fine sight at the annual inspection. They are the only mounted unit in the world to conduct their inspection in full battle dress at a canter. True horsemen and soldiers. And excellent hosts as we dined afterwards in the marquis and swapped tales.
