52. Armistice Sunday, 11 November 2018

This year marks the 100^th anniversary of the end of the First World War and so a series of special events and church services were held across the City. The Company were represented at two; the first by the Thames Warden, Mark Lane at the Tower Hill Garden of Remembrance and the second by the Mistress and I at St Pauls Cathedral and afterwards at the Royal Exchange. It was with great pride that the Company took part in both important acts of respect and thanksgiving.

Before joining the congregation at St Pauls, I took the opportunity to re-visit the Garden of Remembrance set out in St Pauls Churchyard (see Blog No 43) and noted that the rows of crosses laid by the Livery were still in good order. The Company’s cross can be seen at the forefront of the picture.

After robing, the Mistress and I took our places beneath the Great Dome. I joined with many other Livery Masters as we awaited the arrival of the Lord Mayor and other dignitaries. The organ was swelling and the enormity of the occasion was very much in our minds as we thought about all those who had fallen in our name over the years. Most humbling.

The Lord Mayor – on one of his first official duties – together with the Aldermen, members of Common Hall and the clergy processed into the Cathedral. But a special place was kept for the standards of the Royal British Legion who formed a guard of honour in front of the quire. Very impressive.

The service was led by the Dean of St Pauls, the very Reverend Dr David Ison. The Lord Mayor read a lesson and the Address was given by the Canon in Residence, the Reverend Canon Jonathan Brewster who focused on the sacrifice and duty displayed by those in the First World War and others since then. And then the Last Post sounded and the great cathedral fell silent just as the hour of eleven tolled from the bell high above the congregation. A truly inspiring moment and not lost on anyone present.

At the close of the service the Livery Masters made their way down Cheapside to the Royal Exchange where we formed up by the War Memorial. Awaiting us were several hundred spectators wedged on to the pavements and again, we awaited the Lord Mayor. Music was provided by the Band of the Coldstream Guards and during the wreath laying, a lone piper played. Amongst many others a wreath was laid on behalf of the whole Livery by the Master Fruiterer; evidently this is the first time the Livery have been represented in this way and it was very pleasing to be allowed to take part. This may become a permanent feature of subsequent remembrance events.

After the wreath laying, we filed back across to Mansion House to watch and applaud as a parade of veterans proudly marched by. They got a great reception.

And then it was all over – 100 years since the guns fell silent and we were all there to remember them. A privilege to have taken part. We then made our way to the Guildhall for a most pleasant lunch courtesy of the Master Cook.

Other pictures show the War Memorial at the Royal Exchange and the Coldstream Guards forming up next to the Bank of England.