Newsletter - December 2024
Welcome to the latest Loriners Newsletter. It has not been a particularly busy month for the Loriners but some important events took place. The first was the Garden of Remembrance Service at St Paul’s Cathedral on the 4th November in which I took part with all the other Livery Company Masters. A very moving occasion. The Lord Mayor’s Show was on 9th September when your Master, Wardens and Liveryman Gill Sainsbury carried our banner along the procession route.
Finally I attended a meeting of the Equine Fitters Council at Saddler’s Hall and in the afternoon we were invited for a private tour of the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace. A wonderful behind the scenes trip. This will probably be the last newsletter of the year as the next one will not appear until early January so may I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
George Anderson - Master 2024
Wormwood Scrubs Pony Centre - 30th anniversary of Challenge Anika
Excellent party at Wormwood Scrubs Pony Centre: honouring decades of dedication, determination and innovation by the amazing Sister Mary Joy Langdon. As she steps down as CEO, the pony centre is in safe hands with a new leadership team and forward thinking trustees.
Really good to meet up with fellow Loriners as the company continues to support the work of the centre. Great to see so many Pony Clubbers there too - an opportunity for me to thank Mary Joy for over 50 years of Pony Club volunteering.
Marcus Capel, Loriner
Master attends the Garden of Remembrance Service at St Paul’s Cathedral
On Monday 4th November, the Master attended the Garden of Remembrance Service at St Paul’s Cathedral. The service was conducted by The Reverend Paula Hollingsworth and was attended by The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, as well as representatives of the City, Armed Forces, Masters of the Livery Companies and other organisations within the City.
Hymns were sung accompanied by the band of the Scots Guards and a bugler sounded the Last Post and Reveille. The Exhortation was read and the Kohima Epitaph delivered:
“When you go home, tell them of us and say:
“For your tomorrow we gave our today.”
Each Master then placed a cross in the garden in token of the fallen in all wars. It was a very moving, solemn and beautiful ceremony.
Master, George Anderson
The Lord Mayor's Show
The Worshipful Company Of Loriners has traditionally been represented at the Lord Mayor’s Show, an iconic City of London Corporation event dating back to the 13th century. Alastair King is the 696th Lord Mayor and this annual pageant celebrates the inauguration of the new Rt. Hon. Lord Mayor of London and features floats, processions, and representations from various livery companies. Loriners, whose craft historically involved creating metal parts for horse harnesses such as bits, bridles, and stirrups, often showcase their heritage and craftsmanship during the parade.
At the Lord Mayor’s Show, the Loriners were represented by the Master George Anderson, the Master Elect Nick Bensted-Smith, Under Warden John Morton, Immediate Past Master Colin Gurley and Liveryman Gillian Sainsbury alongside other livery companies, embodying centuries of tradition, craft, and community service. Their involvement underscores the ongoing influence of their craft in London’s history and equestrian heritage.
Master Loriner attends meeting of the board of the Equine Fitting Council
On Wednesday 13th November the Master Loriner attended a meeting of the board of the Equine Fitting Council. A joint collaboration of the Loriners and Saddlers to produce an accreditation and registration list of qualified saddle and bit fitters. The Council is developing well with over 100 registered fitters.
In the afternoon the board were invited to a private tour of the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace. We were shown around all the departments necessary to maintain over 40 carriages and the associated horses. The Gold State Coach was a hit obviously.
Then a demonstration was given by some of the coachmen and stable staff of all the work needed to safely harness a single horse for a carriage and then how to harness a pair and put them to the coach.
Master, George Anderson
Master Loriner visits RMA Sandhurst
On Thursday 28th November the Master Loriner was invited to the Army Equitation Association Sports Awards Dinner. This was held at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. A rare chance to see inside the college. We gathered in the hall of the Old College for drinks before moving into the Indian Army Memorial Room for dinner.
At the end of the meal several awards and prizes for equine excellence were presented. I was delighted to be asked to present two of the awards. The Mounted Unit League to the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and the Inter-Corps League to the Royal Regiment of Artillery. After dinner praise was given to the Loriners for all their support to the Army’s equine sport. A most enjoyable occasion.
Master, George Anderson
Loriner Focus - Liveryman Christina Grieve
This month we are delight to introduce Christina Grieve.
"I have been involved with Riding for the Disabled for nearly 30 years having volunteered in Hong Kong and Malaysia as well as the UK. I am currently a Regional Coach and help to train RDA coaches in the East Region as well as nationally.
I was first introduced to the Loriners by a friend and fellow Freeman when she invited me to attend her admission to the Company at the Tallow Chandlers Hall which is tucked away inconspicuously next to Cannon Street Station. This brought back vivid memories of my earlier career in the City of London as an Investment manager and stockbroker when I had the opportunity to visit magnificent Company halls. The Loriners do not have the financial responsibility of their own hall so are able to use other Company halls. I was delighted to discover that I already knew some Loriners. Olivia, a new Freeman, had advised me on a bit for my Lusitano mare and I already knew Georgy, assistant to the Clerk of the Loriners, as she is a RDA Group Coach who has attended my online training. It was suggested that I join the Loriners and having had a number of interesting conversations with other Loriners and been very well fed and entertained I was interested to hear more about the process.
Several weeks later, I joined the Loriner’s visit to the Tower of London for the Ceremony of the Keys, which is not normally open to members of the public. This was fascinating, as the Tower of London has a pub, a vicar and many residents, though they are all now at liberty to come and go even when locked in for the night!
I was more than happy to continue the process to become a Freemen of the Loriners. I was already aware that they support RDA, which is a cause I have supported for many years as a volunteer, fund raiser, trustee and coach. They also fund research into the health and welfare of the horse. Now that social licence is increasingly important, we need to show greater understanding of human and horse interaction. I have coached RDA riders who have studied at Capel Manor College so was interested that the Loriners support a course in Lorinery there as well as one in Walsall.
After completing a CV and application forms I had a short online interview and was then invited to join, having first paid my fine (fee), quarterage and agreed to make modest regular donations to the Loriner’s Charitable Trust. I was admitted in a ceremony at the Saddlers Hall which I first visited when I worked in the City and then later to attend RDA AGMs. This time I participated in a ceremony which has probably remained unchanged for many centuries and was followed by a black-tie dinner. I have now applied for my Freedom of the City of London and if this is approved I hope to be invited to become a Liveryman of the Loriners.
If what I have described seems appealing I urge you to apply for admission to the Worshipful Company of Loriners as I can confirm you will be given a very warm welcome.
Messages from The Clerk
Dear Loriner,
General
Less Company news this month but a few wider parish notices from others which I urge you to read. As we head in to the Festive Season I hope that you can find the time to join the Master and Wardens at the Carol Service in December. We are also using the opportunity to present the annual awards to our Military Affiliations and to Capel Manor prize winners. There is currently a healthy turn out from the Military so do please book in, if you haven’t already.
I then wish you all a welcome break and look forward to seeing you at the Installation Dinner in January. If you are planning on attending, then I would strongly advise booking in before Christmas as we are running out of spaces fast.
Whilst there is a Spring Court, there is no Spring Lunch but there will not be any long gap between Company events given that the Lunch would have been held in early May and the Banquet is being held 2 weeks later – so there is still the opportunity to attend a Spring Company event.
I wish you all a welcome break and a Happy Christmas and New Year.
Wider Notices
Calling all Loriners who enjoy Clay Shooting!
If you are interested in joining the Loriner’s team at the annual Inter Livery Clay Shoot next year, please get in touch. The event will be held at West London Shooting School and we can enter a team on either Wednesday 14th or Thursday 15th May 2025.
If you are interested in entering a bridge competition then please see below:
Being held on Monday 3rd March 2025 at Drapers’ Hall, Throgmorton Street, London EC2N 2AN with the Reception at 5.00pm and first session 5:30pm with Carriages at 10:30pm latest.
This is a friendly competition and players of all standards are welcome. We particularly welcome ‘kitchen bridge’ players who would like to try their hand at duplicate bridge in a relaxing atmosphere. There will be various trophies, crystal glasses and unique WCMPC playing cards to be won too! The lead player needs to be a member of the Company but their partner does not.
The charge for entering the competition will be £210 per pair, which includes teas and coffees on arrival, entry into the tournament, a donation to the Lord Mayor's Appeal and a two course dinner with wines, coffee and chocolates. The closing date for entering the Tournament is Friday, 21 February 2025.
Entry can be made using the form at this link.
Finally
Please find here a farewell bulletin from the previous Lord Mayor.
Communications Committee - December 2024