The eagerly-anticipated Lord Mayor’s Show lived up to, and exceeded, expectations, after an immense crowd arrived to cheer on the countless volunteers, who were promoting organizations, guilds, and companies from around Britain, and indeed the world. Alan Yarrow- a financier specialising in investment banking, and a member of the Liveryman of the Wonderful Company of Fishmongers, as well as the International Bankers’, Glaziers’, and Launderers’ livery companies- was elected in as the Lord Mayor of the City of London (fittingly, the City acts as London’s main financial district). This is an entirely different role to that of Boris Johnson, who presides as Mayor over the whole of Greater London.
The ceremony dates back to the 16th century, and so is one of London’s longest-established annual events, as well as one of the best-known. Originally, some of the services consisted of the Lord Mayor and his entourage travelling across the Thames on a river barge, which gave rise to the term ‘float’. The parade today involves a multitude of floats, in which a number of representatives from each organization put on a show for the audience lining the roads the floats were travelling down. It was truly a wonderful sight to watch the men and women from the innumerable establishments, which included: the armed forces; numerous guilds and livery companies; cadet groups; bands; financial corporations; and even travel companies of foreign countries, such as Hong Kong, and Malaysia, showing off the delights of these exotic lands. Bringing up the rear were the coaches of various dignitaries, including the Lord Mayor himself, whose own coach has been painstakingly maintained since 1757, and was a sight to behold.
So, on Saturday the 8th of November, the parade set off from Mansion House, the Lord Mayor’s official residence, at 11:00. Once the Lord Mayor reached St Paul’s Cathedral, he received a blessing from its Dean, The Very Revd. Dr. David Ison, and the procession continued on until he arrived at the Royal Courts of Justice, where he stepped down to swear an oath of allegiance. Along the way, throngs of people cheered him on, and marvelled at the procession and its magnificent displays. This was followed by a breathtaking fireworks show. The Lord Mayor’s year-long term commenced on the 9th, and enjoys his work in the eminent role, taking great pleasure in promoting British financial services internationally. Good luck to him, and well done to all those who made the procession such an amazing experience for all those watching!
By: Christina Rajendram,
Newstead Wood School
