Election as Sheriff of the City of London

On June 24th 2021 at the meeting of the Livery in Common Hall in Guildhall in the City of London I was elected as one of the two Sheriffs of the City of London to serve for one year commencing on September 28th 2021. At the election I was permitted to make a short speech of acceptance in which I agreed to serve in this office and spoke of my intentions. I also thanked my Livery Companies for their support. The text of my speech is here:

I am honoured and delighted to have been elected today to serve as one of the two sheriffs of the City of London in this ancient legal role. I have great pleasure in accepting the office of Sheriff. I pledge to serve this City my Lord Mayor and you the Livery during my year’s tenure  and thereafter. And thank you for your support and the confidence you place in me.

I am equally pleased to have this opportunity to work alongside the Recorder Common Serjeant  and Judges at the Old Bailey and assist them in every way that I can in the delivery of the finest judicial system in the world, upholding the values of this City and this nation of integrity, independence and fairness exemplified in the rule of law.
Surveying this fine assembly ( albeit reduced in size – I like to think that  there is nothing wrong in being small) you indeed fuel my imagination with the many aspects of the City’s life in which I am determined to engage and champion. The Livery Companies have shown their resilience and sustainability over the centuries and just to pick one area of my expertise - the challenge of climate change is now the opportunity for the City and Livery once again to raise their game and repurpose their aims and I solicit your assistance in this.
I look forward to working hand in glove with my good friend and colleague Alderman Nick Lyons and know we will work together with vigour and with much fun. I thank my Livery Companies whom I have each - bar one- referenced obliquely in this speech – did you catch their names as used in common parlance? But I struggled to casually mention The Plaisterers and I certainly hope I do not end up too often…… plas..
Subject thereto I set forth now with determination to serve.
My Lord Mayor