Of Royalty, charity… three funerals and a wedding

The unquestioned highlight of May - having lost my Father, my beloved Aunt, and Marian her Mum all in the last few weeks - was our getting married at St Bride’s Church followed by a Wedding Lunch at The Old Bailey. Apparently becoming the first serving Sheriff to have been married in their year of office. Oh! And yes, there was a Coronation too.

Coronation celebrations aside, it’s been quite a Royal month generally -  attending the first Royal Garden Party of The King, The Royal Warrant Holders’ Reception, The City Food and Drink Lecture with HRH The Princess Royal, the colourful Little Ships’ Coronation Gathering at St Katherine’s Dock; and attending the impressive FANY’s Colours Parade at Wellington Barracks as these amazing volunteers transferred from the Royal Signals to London Division, under the watchful eye of their Commandant-in-Chief The Princess Royal -  demonstrated to all the national social cohesiveness and continuity provided by our non-political Royal Family.

There was also a distinct judicial air to the month which saw the Formal Opening of The Mayor’s and City of London Court – which combined the old Lord Mayor’s and the once independent Sheriff’s courts into one County Court for The City. It was also great to host The Admiralty Judge and Senior Members of Trinity House at The Old Bailey; and to exchange views with a visiting delegation of Senior US Sarasota County Court Judges.

It was similarly a privilege to speak at the Wincott Awards for outstanding Financial Journalism; to attend the Association of Foreign Banks Annual Luncheon, and the Financial and Professional Services Reception held by HE The Ambassador of Japan.

To promote The City regionally, I spoke in Sheffield at The Company of Cutlers of Hallamshire highlighting the key role The City plays for all the F&PSS throughout the UK; and indeed will be spending three days in York at the end of May discussing the different needs of SMEs, meeting with York’s major insurance companies, talking of innovation and growth and, alongside renewing relationships with York’s significant Guilds, attending York’s first ‘Big Curry Lunch’- a direct copy of our own.

Talking of The Big Curry Lunch, it was fantastic to be at the announcement of this year’s record breaking £435,000 raised for Services charities. Huge congratulations to all concerned!

The end of this month, to both the amusement and bemusement of workers and tourist alike, saw The Sheriff’s Ride in aid of The Sheriff’s and Recorders Fund. Sheriff King on a single horse… with me needing 24 horsepower to get me around the many venues visited. The event raised several thousand pounds for the charity.

A life-enhancing few weeks.

Andrew Marsden
Sheriff of the City of London