November 2021 Speaker
Once again our meeting was a combination of actual members attending and those who preferred to link in on Zoom. The new word for these types of meetings is a Hybrid Meeting and these will probably become more likely as we can then have speakers from around the country without needing to travel.
This month we were pleased to welcome David Williams to enlighten us on ‘The City of London Livery Companies’. The Livery Companies were established nearly 1000 years ago when the original tradesmen decided to link with other workers to expand their trades.
The Mercer Livery Company was founded in 1394 and followed by General Merchants, Drapers, Fishmongers, Salters, Haberdashers, Ironmongers, Skinners and Vintners. They all have their own Halls in the City which are open to the public on the London Open Days (which hopefully will be in operation again in 2022).
David showed us some of the beautiful ornate decorations in these halls, many of which are linked to their local medieval churches, of which there are 38 in the city.
In the late of the 1800’s Commerce and Law Companies became involved and Guilds were set up with an Alderman at the head and Beadles as their escorts. Wonderful uniforms were manufactured and modern versions are still worn today on Ceremonial Occasions. There are now 110 Livery Companies and there have been two Lady Lord Mayors in recent years.
Livery Plaques can be found all around the city. The Founder’s Hall was built in 1531 but burnt down in The Great Fire in 1666. It was rebuilt again in the mid 1800’s.
Many famous people have been made members of the various guilds including Lord Nelson, Winston Churchill, Steven Hawking, JK Rowling and many others. Modern Livery Companies include Information Technology, Water Conservation, Architects and Tax Advisors. Nowadays the Livery Companies are active in supporting National and International Charities and caring for vulnerable people in local communities.
David finished with the origin of a couple of phrases which many of us remembered. ‘All at sixes and sevens’ which came from the early 16th Century when groups couldn’t decide who should be next in line for a duty, so the middle people of the group took it in turn alternate years. ‘If the cap fits, wear it’ came from Willian Cockayne who made Cock hats and Caps for the Skinners Company. Each hat would only fit one of the members and hence the phrase.
Hopefully members felt enlightened and amused by all the history David showed us in his power point presentation. Finally our thanks go once again to Sue Wells for providing us with welcome refreshments at the end of the meeting.