{"id":995,"date":"2024-05-03T23:03:57","date_gmt":"2024-05-03T23:03:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cordwainer.co.uk\/?page_id=995"},"modified":"2026-01-29T15:53:25","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T15:53:25","slug":"cordwainer-ward-club-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cordwainer.co.uk\/?page_id=995","title":{"rendered":"Cordwainer Ward Club"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"book\"The Ward Clubs of the City of London were originally formed as Rate Payers Associations but have long since developed a new role.\u00a0 The Ward of Cordwainer Club was founded in 1902.\u00a0 Its centenary was marked with the publication of The Ward of Cordwainer Club 1902 \u2013 2002, obtainable from the secretary, and the commissioning of the Cordwainer Statue.<\/p>\n

The objects of the Club are to promote and encourage interest in the affairs of the City, to generate a friendly spirit and improve the quality of life mainly within the Ward.\u00a0 It is also intended to give support to the Alderman, his Deputy and Common Councillors in carrying out their considerable duties on behalf of the City of London and the Ward in particular.<\/p>\n

The Ward maintains a strong link with the Worshipful Company of Cordwainers<\/a>, founded over 700 years ago, and which today plays a strong role in nurturing young talent in the fashion and shoemaking industries.<\/p>\n

The Club is managed by a Committee consisting of President, Vice President, Chairman, Vice Chairman, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer, the two immediate Past Chairmen, together with other elected members of the Club and Common Councillors of the Ward. Former Presidents of the club include a number of Lord Mayors who have also served as Aldermen in the Ward \u2013 Sir Walter Vaughan Morgan, Sir Cuthbert Ackroyd, Sir Peter Venneck, Sir Brian Jenkins and Sir Roger Gifford.<\/p>\n

Other than the President, Vice President and the Common Councillors, the Committee is elected on a rotation basis and the Officers are elected annually.<\/p>\n

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Ward Club Committee 2025-2026<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

President:\u00a0 Alderman Alexander Barr <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Vice-President: Sir Michael Snyder<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Chairman: Nigel Heilpern<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Vice-Chair: Jamie Lester<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Hon. Secretary:\u00a0 Joyce Sarpong<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Assistant Hon. Secretary: Mirka Pike<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Hon. Treasurer: Juliet Sturridge<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Richard Clarke<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Lance Shaw<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Dominic Tayler<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Jamel Banda CC<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Amy Horscroft CC<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Henry Shaw<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Richard Robinson<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Tamara Hutton-Brown<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Marlon Wright<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Hon. Independent Examiner: Adrian Houston<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nThe Club currently has over 150 members (as at January 2025),<\/em> with membership open to individuals with an interest in, or association with, the Ward. Potential applicants are invited to contact the Secretary or complete and return the Ward of Cordwainer Application Form<\/a>. The annual membership subscription is \u00a370 for the first year , thereafter \u00a335 pa.<\/p>\n

The Club organises various functions and activities throughout the year for its members and their guests.\u00a0 Visits have included the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Guildhall Art Gallery and the Old Bailey.<\/p>\n

The Club also organises formal and informal luncheons to which members are welcome to bring guests.\u00a0 There is an annual \u2018members only\u2019 luncheon which provides an opportunity for members to meet each other and to welcome new members to the Club.<\/p>\n

The Club\u2019s major event is The Annual Lunch which is held in December at one of the Livery Halls in the City of London, and the Club is usually honoured to have the Lord Mayor and one of the Sheriffs as its guests.<\/p>\n

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Recent Ward News and Events<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tour of Temple Bar – 2nd May 2024<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"WoCCOver 30 Ward of Cordwainers club members of all ages where hosted by the the Architect\u2019s Company at their fantastic venue Temple Bar by St Paul\u2019s Cathedral.<\/p>\n

Grant Smith presented members with an informative and entertaining travel through time and the history of temple bar from Fleet Street to Hertfordshire before settling to the rebuild and relocation at its new home between St Paul\u2019s and Paternoster Square.<\/p>\n

The event was followed by drinks and nibbles in the Balfour Bow Wine Vaults to continue the conversation.<\/p>\n

There was a great sense of enjoyment and merriment at this event.<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>Tribute to Sir Roger Gifford, President Cordwainer Ward Club (1955-2021) from Carmen Hart, Chairman, Cordwainer Ward Club<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

“With the recent death of Sir Roger Gifford we have not only lost our President but also a wonderful man and friend whom we loved for his charisma and wit and for the genuine interest he took in the many aspects of our lives.<\/p>\n

Roger led the Club with great enthusiasm, skill and aplomb and we all felt affected and positively supported by his infectious personality and presence amongst us.<\/p>\n

We have been lucky to have had him as President of the Ward Club that he described as the best Ward Club and the envy of all others!<\/p>\n

How we will all miss him”.<\/p>\n

Carmen Hart,\u00a0Chairman<\/p>\n

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Tour of the Ward by The Ward of Cordwainer Club – 9th September 2021<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>On Thursday 9th September, our Chairman Carmen Hart, as part of her aim to support the Ward and it’s economy, arranged a walk around the Ward lead by the excellent Andy Catto a Blue Badge City guide for Ward Club Members.<\/p>\n

Cordwainer Ward is the smallest Ward in the City (albeit the most interesting!), \u00a0the journey was not too long, but was very inspiring starting with the history of our two historic and magnificent Churches; St Mary le Bow and St Mary Aldermary as we passed along Bow Lane which runs between them.<\/p>\n

We admired the Cordwainer Statue commissioned to celebrate the centenary of our Club on Watling Street, before walking around the St Pancras church garden and ended up at the impressive Bloomberg European Headquarters which has been recognised with landmark architectural and ergonomic awards. \u00a0We paused outside the London Mithraeum the UK’s most significant archaeological site housed beneath the Bloomberg building, which showcases the Ancient Temple of Mithras. \u00a0We then strolled along Cheapside to dine at the wonderful Place Below restaurant which is in the crypt of St Mary le Bow for a convivial supper enjoyed by some 25 of us.<\/p>\n

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Music in the Churchyard 29th<\/sup> June 2021<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>A message from the Chair Carmen Hart:<\/p>\n

“Sir Roger Gifford was a very early collaborator in the annual Live festival which started in 2014 and seven years later is still going strong.<\/em><\/p>\n

We were entertained by the Vaux Quintet which is a versatile Jazz band while being protected from the elements by large canopies and plenty of drinks while we listened and chatted.<\/em><\/p>\n

The event was followed by dinner for 25 Club members in Taverna Etrusca outside. The heaters and the wine kept us warm. There was a great sense of \u00a0enjoyment at the first live event for 18 months.”<\/em><\/p>\n

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Carmen Hart appointed Chair of Ward Club Committee<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
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Carmen Hart was appointed as Chair of the Ward Club Committee at the Ward Club AGM on 14th April 2021. \u00a0Congratulations to Carmen, we look forward to the many events she has planned over the next year, and thank her for her commitment to the Ward Club.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Chair of Cordwainer Club<\/p><\/div>\n

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Sam Walker Vice-Chair Cordwainer Ward Club<\/p><\/div>\n

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Elected as her Vice-Chairman was Sam Walker.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s programme of events has already started with a virtual meeting on May 20 with Roy Hay, guitarist and song writer mainly of Culture Club, and Nico Golfar his executive producer, with both joining from Los Angeles.\u00a0 As we emerge from the June targeted end of easing of national lockdown restrictions the club looks forward to hosting in-person events and with luck, on June 29, expects to have its first live event \u2018Music in the Churchyard\u2019 followed by dinner.<\/p>\n

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City Surveyor Talk – 23rd February 2021<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Ward Club were delighted to welcome Paul Wilkinson the City Surveyor to join us for a webconfeerence to share with the club the future of how the City of London Corporation is working to get ready for the ‘new normal’ in readiness for businesses to return to London, and to share with us the Corporation’s vision for ‘reimagining the City”!<\/p>\n

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Burkhard Keese – 14th December 2021<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Burkhard Keese, CFO of Lloyd’s of London joined the Club for a virtual talk via videoconference. \u00a0Burkhard talked about the surreal times we are living in and the impacts on the insurance industry and Lloyd’s. \u00a0He also spoke about his personal experience of flying his own twin engine prop plane to meetings around Europe during 2020 to avoid using commercial flights!<\/p>\n

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Virtual Quiz Night – 1st October 2020\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Ward of Cordwainer Club held it\u2019s first ever virtual quiz on the evening of the 1st<\/sup> October.<\/p>\n

We had multiple rounds of questions including some trivia on locations in the Ward kindly put together by our Chairman David Reynolds.<\/p>\n

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Cordwainer Club Annual Luncheon – December 2019<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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\n<\/a>The Cordwainer Ward Club Annual luncheon event was held on 13th December 2019. \u00a0The Luncheon, which was attended by more then 100 guests proved to be the highlight of the Ward Club’s calendar of events in 2019, presenting Cordwainer Club members an ideal opportunity to entertain guests, friends and business contacts in spectacular surroundings at a very special time of year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The event was held at Haberdashers’ Hall, a modern oasis of calm in the heart of central London, located opposite the King Henry Gate of St Bartholomew’s Hospital. which was opened by Queen Elizabeth in 2002. \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The guest speaker this year was The Honourable Tom Sackville. \u00a0Tom was born in London and educated at Oxford and Madrid University, before starting a career in financial services in New York. In 1983 he became a Member of Parliament, later serving in Margaret Thatcher\u2019s and subsequent administrations as Whip, Health Minister and as Lord Commissioner of the Treasury. He took up his present role as CEO of the International Federation of Health Plans (iFHP) in 1998. Tom was for some years President of FECRIS, a French based European federation of support organisations for families who have lost members to pseudo-religious cults. \u00a0Tom recounted his time as a Member of Parliament, and his interactions with fellow MP’s, sharing both interesting and amusing andedotes from his life and career.<\/p>\n

Sheriff Christopher Hayward gave a heartfelt speech on behalf of the Lord Mayor and City of London Corporation, followed by Sir Roger Gifford on behalf of the Ward team. \u00a0(Photo of Club Chairman Michael Bunn giving Welcome address to guests)<\/p>\n

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Fusilier Museum Tower of London \u2013 22nd October 2019<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Members of the Ward Club attended a tour of the Fusilier Museum at the Tower of London on 22nd October 2019, followed by a reception in the Officers Mess and the Ceremony of the Keys. \u00a0The event was kindly hosted by Colonel Nigel Easton QVRM, who provided a fascinating insight into the history of the Fusiliers and the Tower itself. \u00a0The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers was formed in 1685, when King James II issued a Royal Warrant to raise an infantry force from the existing Tower of London Garrison.\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n
During the evening there was an opportunity to explore the museum\u2019s significant collection, including 12 Victoria Cross Medals won by the Regiment, the uniform and bearskin of Kind George V, and an Eagle Standard of the 82nd Regiment of the French Line captured by the Royal Fusiliers during the Napoleonic Wars. \u00a0The museum is housed in a building originally built as officers quarters and still houses the Regimental Headquarters and the Officers Mess. \u00a0Cordwainer Ward Club Members gather outside the Tower of London<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Household Division\u2019s Beating Retreat on Thursday 6 June 2019.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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The Household Division\u2019s Beating Retreat is a spectacular evening pageant of music and military precision drill, including horses, cannon and fireworks. The annual concert is performed on Horse Guards parade in front of the beautiful backdrop of St James’s Park.<\/p>\n

24 members and their guests attended the event on 6 June. \u00a0In brilliant sunshine the party enjoyed the two hour festival of military bands led by the Household Division. \u00a0The party \u00a0had previously met for a very enjoyable supper in the restaurant at the National Portrait gallery.<\/p>\n

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Private Exhibition from the Mary Rose 28th May 2019<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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L-R Dr David Starkey, Nigel Easton, Helen Bonser-Wilton and Michael Bunn<\/p><\/div>\n

A large number of members attended a private exhibition on the Mary Rose in the East and West Crypts of the Guildhall on 28th May 2019. \u00a0Mary Rose was King Henry Vlll’s favourite ship. \u00a0She served him for 34 years before sinking in front of his very eyes in July 1545 while fighting off a French Invasion. \u00a0Raised from the depths of The Solent in 1982, the purpose built museum opening in 2013. \u00a0Members received a captivating presentation from Dr David Starkey, Tudor historian, TV Presenter and Trustee of the Mary Rose, and saw up close some stunning Mary Rose Tudor artefacts. \u00a0Following the presentation members enjoyed a buffet dinner in the beautiful East and West Crypts of the Guildhall.<\/p>\n

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St Mary Le Bow – Baroque Music concert 11th May 2019<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>On 11th May, the Academy of St Mary-Le- Bow, the church’s resident orchestra performed a concert of Baroque Music. The programme was entitled “Flavours of the Baroque”, drawing attention to the composers of the works and their different styles.<\/p>\n

The concert was guest directed from the harpsichord by the Director of Music and organist at St Mary-le-Bow, Thomas Allery and led by baroque violinist Magdalena Loth-Hill. The evening opened with music by the seventeenth century English composer, Henry Purcell’s and his ‘Chaconny’ for strings. The resident conductor of orchestra, Alex Fryer was joined by Zacharias Wolfe to perform the solo in Antonio Vivaldi’s concerto for two oboes.<\/div>\n
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Recorder player Mary-Jannet Leith and Alderman Sir Roger Gifford joined the stage for an energetic and vibrant performance of Bach’s Brandenburg concerto no. 4 in G, featuring Magdalena Loth-Hill as solo violinist. The ever evolving recorder parts were masterfully delivered by Mary-Jannet and Roger, and the lightness of Magdalena’s solo line dazzled the audience. \u00a0The concert closed with the charm of Handel’s concerto gross op. 6, no. 1 whose dance movements worked particularly well in the acoustic of the church. The orchestra used Baroque bows to perform, and worked on creating the phrasing and sounds which help the baroque music come to life.<\/div>\n
\u00a0Soloists Magdalena Loth-Hill, Mary-Jannet Leith, Zacharias Wolfe, Alex Fryer, and Sir Roger Gifford received a warm applause from the audience. \u00a0\u00a0This concert represented a musical coming together of church music, The Academy of St Mary-le-Bow, and the Cordwainer ward in which St Mary-le-Bow sits.<\/div>\n
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Ward of Cordwainer Club: Members Luncheon 8th May 2019<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Members of the Club attended a luncheon in the Members’ Private Dining Room at the Guildhall, London. \u00a0The was an opportunity for members to welcome the newly elected Chairman, and to discuss ideas and plans for upcoming Ward Club events for the remainder of 2019.<\/p>\n

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Tour of Bloomberg Building 9th April 2019<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Bloomberg\u2019s new European Headquarters is one of the most sustainable office buildings ever designed, named the winner of the 2018 Stirling Prize. \u00a0Members enjoyed an evening visit to the building with an introduction and tour led by one of the architects from Foster + Partners. It was a fascinating insight into the 1 million sq ft complex which is kitted out with vacuum-flush toilets, breathing \u2018gills\u2019 in the facade, a petal-studded ceiling that provides lighting, cooling and acoustic attenuation, and a host of other features that mean it uses 70% less water and 40% less energy than a typical corporate office. The building also features artwork from a number of esteemed international artists. The tour concluded in the London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE where Members were able to enjoy drinks and canap\u00e9s, and a visit to the City’s only Roman Temple.<\/p>\n

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Annual General Meeting and Lunch, 28 March 2019<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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David Tucker hands over the chairmanship to Michael Bunn<\/p><\/div>\n

The Ward Club’s Annual General Meeting was held at the Tallow Chandlers’ Hall on 28 March. \u00a0Michael Bunn\u00a0was elected Chairman and David Reynolds\u00a0Vice Chairman for the coming year. \u00a0Michael is the principal of MB Associates, an accountancy business operating from premises in Bow Lane. \u00a0Sue Hills joins the Committee. \u00a0The accounts show the Club to be in a healthy position, and membership increased during the year by six to 228. \u00a0The outgoing Chairman David Tucker\u00a0reported that highlights for him were the speech by Nigel Wray, owner of Saracens Rugby Club, at the AGM and the speech by Xavier Rolet, former CEO of the London Stock Exchange at the annual lunch.Following the AGM Simon Bishop, Deputy CEO of Plan International, the global children’s charity, was the guest speaker at the luncheon<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Launch of Cordwainer Water Fountain 20th March 2019<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Children of the Hugh Myddleton and Winton Schools, with (L to R) George Gilion, Sir Mark Boleat, Alex Barr and Tracey Graham<\/p><\/div>\n

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The first of 10 new City water refill points to be rolled out this year, has been installed in Bow Churchyard, as part of the City Corporation’s Plastic Free City campaign. \u00a0The water refill point, sponsored by the Cheapside Business Alliance (CBA), has been conveniently situated between St Mary Le Bow church and Aberdeen Standard Investments’ London offices. \u00a0At the unveiling ceremony led by the Lady Mayoress, Lindy Estin, were Alex Barr, Sir Mark Boleat, Tracey Graham and former Cordwainer Councilman, George Gilon.<\/p>\n

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International Women’s Day – Cordwainer Ward Women receive the Freedom of City of London – 8th March 2019<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Cordwainer recipients: L to R Sue Hills, Alison Perrott, and Mary Gilmore with the Rt Hon. the Lord Major, Alderman Peter Estin, Alex Barr and Sr Michael Snyder<\/p><\/div>\n

To commemorate the centenary of the Representation of\u00a0the People Act in 1918 (\u2018universal suffrage\u2019) the City\u2019s Court\u00a0of Common Council nominated c100 women to receive the\u00a0Freedom of the City of London. Your Ward team were proud\u00a0to nominate a number of leading women from Cordwainer\u00a0Ward to receive this award. A drinks reception was held at\u00a0the Guildhall Art Gallery on 8 March, International Women\u2019sDay, with speeches from The Lord Mayor, Peter Estlin and the\u00a0Chairman of Policy and Resources, Catherine McGuiness, with\u00a0a number of the Cordwainer recipients in attendance. Many of\u00a0the Freedom ceremonies have now been held, and Sir Michael\u00a0Snyder and Alex Barr were proud to be there for the Mansion\u00a0House Ceremony in April for Sue Hills (T Rowe Price), Allison Perrott\u00a0(Sweetings Restaurant) and Mary Gilmore (Beauty Essence), all as\u00a0the Lord Mayor\u2019s guests. Also nominated, but unable to attend\u00a0the ceremony was Jess Patel of the Bow Lane newsagents.<\/p>\n

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Annual General Meeting and Lunch, 22 March 2018<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Ward Club’s Annual General Meeting was held at the Tallow Chandlers’ Hall on 21 March 2018. \u00a0David Tucker was elected Chairman and Michael Bunn Vice Chairman for the coming year. \u00a0David is the Chief Executive Officer of Worldwide Currencies, and Michael is a chartered accountant. \u00a0Dominic Turner joins the committee and John Miller was appointed Assisted Honorary Secretary. \u00a0The accounts show the Club to be in a healthy position, and membership increased during the year by six to 222. \u00a0The outgoing Chairman Jon Norton reported that highlights for him were visits to the London Metropolitan Archives and Freemasons’ Hall, being a guest at a Worshipful Company of Cordwainers dinner and the Club’s participation in the City Beerfest.<\/p>\n

Following the AGM the owner of Saracens Rugby Club, Nigel Wray, was the guest speaker. \u00a0He spoke about the philosophy behind the Club, which has a family atmosphere, and also the work of the Saracens Foundation, which supports education and employability, inclusion, participation and health and wellbeing. \u00a0The new Chairman, David Tucker, outlined his programme for the year. \u00a0This includes a talk on Sir John Smith (whose statue is in Bow Churchyard), a tour of the new Bloomberg building, a presentation on the “Saracens Way” and the usual events at the Lord Mayor’s Show and the switching on of the Bow Lane lights. \u00a0The Chairman announced that the former head of the London Stock Exchange, Xavier Rolet, would be the guest speaker at the annual lunch in December.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Annual Lunch, Guildhall, 8 December 2017<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In December, the chairman welcomed the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress to the Old Library in the Guildhall. The guest speaker was Jane Platt, a non-executive director of the FCA and formerly CEO of National Savings. She spoke about the dawn of premium bonds and the cutting edge technology which was pioneered by the technologists formerly at Bletchley park and creators of Colossus. She compared this to bitcoin, which is concerning regulators and may be transient, and the technology underlying it, blockchain, which will endure.<\/p>\n

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Ward Club Chairman, Jon Norton, present a cheque to the Lord Mayor, Charles Bowman, for his\u00a0<\/em>charities.<\/i><\/p>\n

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Switching on of Bow Lane lights – 21\u00a0November 2017<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

On 21 November the Lady Mayoress, Samantha Bowman, in her first official engagement switched on the Christmas lights in Bow Lane and Watling Street. \u00a0Mrs Bowman was accompanied by the newly elected Lord Mayor, Alderman Charles Bowman, and the two sheriffs, Alderman Tim Hailes and Neil Redcliffe. \u00a0Following the switching on the official party visited a number of shops and bars in Bow Lane and Well Court, and members of the Ward Club enjoyed refreshments in Ye Olde Watling.<\/p>\n

The proceeding were enhanced by carol singers from the City of London Academy Islington.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"\"Cordwainer’s elected members, Alex Barr, \u00a0Sir Michael Snyder, <\/em>Sir Mark Boleat and Sir Roger Gifford with the Lady Mayoress, Samantha Bowman.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Visit to Freemasons Hall, October 2017<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In October, the Hon Sec Tom Moore and Sir Michael Snyder organised a trip to Freemasons Hall in Great Queen Street. This was followed by dinner at Tuttons.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Visit to John Lobb, shoemaker, September 2017<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In September, the Club visited the premises of John Lobb in St James\u2019s. Founded in 1866 by John Lobb, we met the fifth family owner, William Lobb, still maintaining the craft. The business has two Royal Warrants and has enjoyed many famous clients after being popularised by Edward, Prince of Wales (later Edward VII). In the St James shop, individual lasts are made for clients \u2013 the shoes are made by 25 craftsmen located globally. The basement is a labyrinth of shelves stuffed with pairs of lasts! In indication of the quality (and price) is that black shoe polish costs over \u00a350. Dinner was held at the Dukes Hotel.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Visit to Crossrail, June 2017<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In June, an intrepid band of Cordwainers descended into the bowels of the earth to view the construction site of the Crossrail works at Liverpool Street Station and Moorgate Station. We walked along a platform that is a quarter of a kilometre long! Andrew Wolstenholme OBE, CEO of Crossrail, explained that at the time, the project was 83% complete and on budget. Over 700 apprentices have been recruited for the project and train testing is due to commence at the end of 2017. We enjoyed a dinner afterwards at The Botanist in Broadgate.<\/p>\n

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Tour of the Charles Dickens Museum \u2013 23 February 2017<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Thirty-four members and their guests enjoyed a private viewing of the museum which is housed in 48 Doughty Street, the house that Charles Dickens, his wife Mary and their first three children lived in from 1837 to 1839. The four-storey Georgian terrace house is furnished as it was when Dickens lived there. After a glass of wine, members were split into two groups each accompanied by a knowledgeable guide. We learned why forks and spoons on the dining room table were laid with the backs showing. This was to show the silver hall mark to impress dinner guests.<\/p>\n

Following the tour, members adjourned to the Luce e Limoni Restaurant in the Gray\u2019s Inn Road for a three-course dinner with an excellent\u00a0Italian wine.<\/p>\n

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For information about the Ward Club contact \u2013<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Simon Burton – Honorary Secretary<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

simon.burton@cbresourcing.com<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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LINK TO APPLICATION FORM FOR JOINING THE WARD CLUB<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Ward of Cordwainer Application Form<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Club currently has over 150 members (as at January 2025), with membership open to individuals with an interest in, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":42,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cordwainer.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/995"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cordwainer.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cordwainer.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cordwainer.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cordwainer.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=995"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/cordwainer.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/995\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1014,"href":"https:\/\/cordwainer.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/995\/revisions\/1014"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cordwainer.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cordwainer.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=995"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}