The Lord Mayor’s Show
Childhood memories of the Lord Mayor's Show are that it was always a colourful, military, musical and spectacular event but invariably cold and wet, which dampened a younger one's enthusiasm when being told 'we're going to the Lord Mayor's Show'. Saturday 11 November 2023 meteorologically was the exact opposite. Dawn brought the most extraordinarily clear blue sky over the City with sunshine and associated warmth all day. I was in the Senior Liveries Float (SLF) which was not a vehicle but a gathering of Masters, Prime Wardens, Wardens, Clerks and guests of the senior companies who walked the slightly over 3 mile route. The SLF only featured for the first time in 2022 and this year numbers doubled to some 150. Having taken our place (No.17) in the formation in London Wall, we found that our Marshall was another Founder, Lt. Robert Butterworth RNR, who the Pageant Master had kindly allocated to us, so he could tell his father what to do (for once!).
The procession commenced after two minutes' silence at 11:02 towards Mansion House where in passing our group was greeted by the most almighty cheer from the 695th Lord Mayor, Alderman Professor Michael Mainelli, Sheriffs, past Lord Mayors and many others. We proceeded along Cheapside past St Paul's to Fleet Street and on to the Royal Courts of Justice, ever mindful that immediately behind our walking party was a traction engine with brakes of uncertain certainty! Our float stopped for a brief lunch at Carmen's Hall from where we gathered on the pavement to provide three cheers to the Lord Mayor as he passed in the magnificent 250 year old gold state coach and from where he greeted us by saying what an amazing welcome we had given him. Under orders from the Marshalls, the procession re-grouped at 13:00 on the Embankment for our walk back to Mansion House, and then on to Ironmongers' Hall to de-gown and bid each other farewell.
The event is the world's greatest unrehearsed civic procession and this year there were more entries than ever with 133 floats and the atmosphere was constantly happy, friendly and welcoming to spectators and participants alike. Our involvement in the Show perhaps removed a little of the mystery about Livery Companies and demonstrated how active the Livery movement is in charitable giving and educational support nationally, a point highlighted by the BBC commentator when mentioning the SLF. The cheers, flag and hand waving by the crowds was constant throughout the procession and one of many lasting memories for me will be the smiles on the faces of children who stuck their hands out to be 'low fived' by a number of Masters, demonstrating that we might have looked as if we were from medieval times but know how to relate in a modern way.
A tremendous experience.
- Nicholas Butterworth, The Master Founder
November 2023