We, Chris Hayward and I, have just completed a rare two-year term as Sheriffs, the first two consecutive terms since 1228 AD. We, and our spouses, Elisabeth and Alex, are still adjusting to having left our Clerkenwell Cottages at Old Bailey, with 18 courts, 400,000 square feet of offices, 74 jail cells, two cabinets of medieval torture equipment, and no television, and have moved back to our homes. It’s nice to have television, and to be able to call our former ‘consorts’ ‘spouses’.
Remarks to: Pollinating London Together, Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers & others, 16 September 2021, Mansion House, by Alderman & Sheriff Professor Michael Mainelli.
Lady Mayoress, Masters, Aldermen, Ladies
& Gentlemen:
As a teenager, I worked in a family bee
business with some 300 hives at one point.
I was delighted as I rode by Drapers’ Hall yesterday, on my Ride Round
The Range with seven of the HAC Light Cavalry and two police horses to go
through my ward of Broad Street. One of
the most entrepreneurial wards where, earlier this year, one of our cannabis
businesses was shut down, otherwise the two hives on the roof of Mansion House
might be famous for some infused products.
Remarks to: Worshipful Company of Bakers Livery Lunch, Wednesday, 1 September 2021, Bakers’ Hall, London, by Alderman & Sheriff Professor Michael Mainelli.
Well, we are back at a
physical event at last and no longer have to utter those immortal words ‘you
are on mute’! As someone suggested to me
last week at the Central Criminal Court, it feels a bit like ‘being let out of
prison’.
The Real Time Club, a group of
computer geeks I once had the privilege of chairing, has met at the NLC regularly
since 1967. I may have spoken at this
venue many times, but I have never had the honour of addressing NLC members.
Alderman Tim McNally asked me to
speak on the future of industry in the City of London, so I am doubly pleased to
begin by addressing livery members of the Club who start with a solid grounding
of the City.
What a week! The Lord Mayor and the Civic Team had the privilege of continuing to ‘open’ the City. During the week of 12 April we participated in a significant number of events showing that shops were open. During this week of 17 May we participated in a significant number of events showing that hospitality locations and clinics were open. Just on Monday we ‘opened’ a hormonal replacement therapy clinic, an especially ‘green’ dental practice at the edge of recycling everything possible, Tower Bridge’s visitor centre, the Barbican, two pubs, a drinking club, and a hotel reception overlooking the Tower for the Central London Alliance.
Of all these, perhaps the most telegenic was Shepherd Neame brewery bringing up a dray and horses to go from Mansion House to one of my favourite pubs, a haunt for 40 years, and one of the oldest pubs in the City (1610, present premises 1666). The Lord Mayor and our host, Chief Executive of Shepherd Neame, Jonathan Neame, led the dray through the City streets, ‘guarded’ by two panting Sheriffs straggling behind, for there was no room at the ‘inn’.
And here you can see the amazing things that emerge from behind horses’ backsides from time to time…
As previously reported, it is truly an honour, the first time since 1228, to be Sheriffs again for another year. Common Hall was held today to (re)elect the Lord Mayor. Unlike the normal 90 minutes or so of ceremony, speeches, and election, this one began at 11:45 and had about 80 physically-distanced livery company Masters, Officers, and Aldermen in the cavernous Guildhall. It took just under 15 minutes.
Sponsored by the Financial Services
Livery Companies (FSG) and administered by the Worshipful Company of Educators
The Sheriffs’ Challenge is an inspiring initiative begun by our predecessors, a transformational experience for Year 12 students from 12 London schools to compete on delivering presentations with the final at the Old Bailey in Court Number One. Aldermen Peter Estlin and William Russell started this in their shrieval year of 2016/2017. Brother Sheriff Chris Hayward and I set a two-part question and judged the fourth, Sheriff’s Challenge 2020.
Livery Education Conference – Preparing Young People For The Future
Alderman & Sheriff Professor Michael Mainelli MStJ FCCA FCSI(Hon) FBCS, Tuesday, 3 March 2020, Merchant Taylors’ Hall, London
“The Frontiers Of Education – Some Musings”
Masters, Wardens, Headteachers, ladies and
gentlemen:
I have been asked to talk about education of the future, so I’ll start from the past. Exodus 2:22, King James’s Version, says: “And she bare him [Moses] a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, ‘I have been a stranger in a strange land’.”
