Aldermanic Life May 2023

A thread through my life is the drive to ensure we are doing all we can about the environment – in our own lives, in the businesses where we interact and in our wider community of interests and organisations.
As Founder and Chair of the Livery Climate Action Group https://liverycag.org.uk/ there is a real impetus of now 79 member Livery Companies who are stampeding towards their own net zero target and other sustainable behaviours. There are too many interactions to note them all, but we held a meeting of the Single Point of Contact for each Livery on 16th May who provided great updates on their work (see separate blog). It was uplifting to hear the many actions.  
It was therefore also a great opportunity to be part of a panel set up by the Company of Communicators to speak about the role of the City and Livery in climate alongside Chris Skidmore MP, Gihan Hyde and Jeff Scott. The event was live and a recording will hit the media very soon. What it majored on was the theme of Aspiration to Action and that is what is driving the work of the City and Livery as well as business at this time.   
The major City event on this topic has been the Net Zero Delivery Summit, held halfway between COP 27 and 28. A chance to review and push on to a greater commitment in November 2023.  The City released a report on the work of the UK businesses signed up to GFANZ showing the lead by British businesses in this work.  https://news.cityoflondon.gov.uk/uk-financial-institutions-leading-climate-action-charge-according-to-new-report-launched-at-net-zero-delivery-summit/
I have recently been appointed as the lead member on Bridge House Estates for sustainability and for the Museum of London. Both exciting challenges building on my expertise and connections.
This year is the 900th anniversary of the founding of St Bartholomew’s Hospital and Church and a great reason to celebrate.  An amazing service in St Paul’s was followed by a reception in Guildhall at which it was great to meet so many staff present and former who are so proud of their work and heritage and the recent exceptional devotion during the Covid pandemic.  The Great Hall will close soon for a major refurb thanks to the Heritage Lottery and fundraising by CEO Will Palin. https://bartsheritage.org.uk/
The First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (Princess Royal’s Volunteer Corps) transferred from the Royal Corps of Signallers to the London District and I was proud to be present. Their Commandant-in-Chief, the Princess Royal, presented their new colours at Wellington Barracks on 17th May. The FANY are an all-female voluntary organisation that deploys a multi-faceted rapid response team to support civil and military authorities at times of crises.  They are hugely valued and supported by many Livery companies who were all there to cheer them on.
With my mother Livery, the Glovers, I helped out at the early morning (report at 5.45) Whitechapel Mission breakfast duty.  I was assigned to the coffee, tea and cold drinks that included giving out an array of useful toiletries and goods. I would estimate that we served over 250 drinks and nearly as many breakfasts in the 5-hour stint!
I led the Dowgate team at a meeting with one of our newer occupiers, CCLA, and ensured that they were aware of all the offerings that exist to keep people connected to the City and its extensive work.  I also met with Laura Devine and Man Group during this month.
The crowning moment of the month of May was clearly the Coronation and how splendid did our Lord Mayor look in his Coronation Robe and carrying the crystal sceptre. 

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