02 May
2024

On a sparkling 30th April evening at magnificent Fishmongers’ Hall, a star-studded audience including the Ambassador of Uzbekistan HE Mr. Ravshan Usmanov, the following officers were announced as serving from October:

Master: Lars Andersen

Senior Warden: Richard Burge

Junior Warden: Andrew Marsden

In addition, the following were announced as having been admitted to the Company:

Honorary Liveryman: The Venerable Katherine Hedderly

Liveryman: Cristina Cortes

Freemen: Antony Pinn

Keith Rodgers

Grahame Woods

Jeremy Walker

Later in the evening, Immediate Past Master Michael Shapiro presented to the Company a beautiful new badge to be worn by Immediate Past Masters, which he designed together with a member of the Goldsmiths’ Company. Master Michael Larsen thanked IPM Shapiro for the generous gift, asking him to wear the badge for the remaining period of his year.

Guests were then treated to a dazzling performance of songs sung by star Baritone Michael Temporal-Darell, accompanied by one of the UK’s leading classical pianists, Bobby Chen, their repertoire including music by Sergei Rachmaninoff, Franz Liszt, Vaughan Williams and Erich Korngold.

Which then brought us to our Guest Speaker for the evening, Mr. Mark Boggett, CEO and Managing Partner at Seraphim Capital, a Spacetech investment firm. Joined by his wife Tara Mark provided a timely, succinct and most impressive talk on the subject of “Why Space, Why Space Now”, reviewing not just what has been achieved but opportunities going forward.

Master Michael Larsen then finished tour de force by reporting on what we’ve achieved thus far during his year and the many events already scheduled or planned between now and October including the Master’s Trip to Cornwall, Ward Walks, No Going Back/Brixton Prison, regional Trade Updates, a Trade and Religion lecture and finally, Master at Home on 8 October 2024 at the Caledonian Club. Huge thanks to all who contributed to a fabulous evening!

Lala Cooper