The City Livery Club is strongly supported by the Upholders with two Past Presidents being Upholders and probably more in the near future. The Club was originally formed in June 1914 for Liverymen of the City of London but has since expanded its membership to include Liverymen and Freemen of all the City Livery Companies and the two companies without Livery, namely Parish Clerks and Watermen and Lightermen. Additionally, Associate Membership is now available to Members of the Guild of Freemen, Freemen of the City of London, the Society of Young Freemen, Ward Clubs, the United Ward Club and City Branches of the Royal Society of St. George and the Institute of Directors.The objective of the Club was to afford the Members means of friendly association and to generally promote the interests of the City Livery Companies, to uphold and strengthen the traditions of the City Civic; encourage the Livery to exercise its right to elect the Sheriffs and nominate Aldermen for the office of Lord Mayor and to promote active participation in the City’s governance. The Club is now happily located at Bell Wharf Lane on the River Thames. The Club shares facilities with the Little Ship Club.During each Presidential year, which runs from October, an exciting programme of official and other events are usually organised. The main or official events are the Installation Dinner, held immediately following the Annual General Meeting, the President’s Reception, a Christmas Lunch, Burns Night and a Civic Lunch or Dinner to meet the Lord Mayor. The Club also has a number of Sections which members can join according to their interests, and we hope there is something to interest everyone.The Club's Patron is the Lord Mayor. Four past Lord Mayors have been President of the Club and the current Council includes three Aldermen and two Common Councillors.Over the years the Club has developed reciprocal arrangements with other Clubs throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. It is hoped to extend this to include many other clubs in various countries, especially as so many of the members travel overseas.Upholding the City of LondonOne of the most important duties of Liverymen is to particpate in the Shrieval and Mayoral elections.Common HallCommon Hall is summoned by the Lord Mayor, by formal notice to the Masters and Wardens of the livery companies that they should give notice to their liverymen to attend at Guildhall on a certain day. The Sheriffs and other officers are elected on Midsummer Day, and the Lord Mayor on Michaelmas Day (or the next weekday). Voting is by a show of hands but if a poll is demanded, one is held a fortnight later.The Lord Mayor is elected from the Aldermen. There are 27 Aldermen in the City of London each elected to represent one of the electoral Wards.The Liveries Wood GroupAlderman David Wootton is the 684th Lord Mayor of the City of London.Photo: Clive TotmanThe Worshipful Company of Upholders maintains close links with the Ward of Castle Baynard within which was the site of our Hall 1646 - 1666. Past Master Michael Gilham is the current Chairman of Castle Baynard Ward Club.In 2009 the Upholders’ Livery was honoured to join the Ward Club at Mansion House for a Banquet to mark its centenary year during the Mayorality of its President Alderman Ian Luder.Working with the Construction Liveries Group, the Livery Craft Skills Council and The Livery Companies Wood Group, the Upholders have started developing a series of awards at Apprentice, Journeyman and Master levels to recognise and bring to public notice the many fine craftsmen working in the traditional upholstery, bespoke upholstery and soft furnishing sections of the industry. Earlier this year the Lord Mayor presented certificates to the latest cohort of successful candidates presented by other Liveries.The Upholders were one of the founding members of the Liveries Wood Group which is an informal association of the five Livery Companiesof the City of London connected to the wood using industries. Since its formation in 2000 the group has promoted our trades through joint projects and exhibitions. It has also used our combined resources working towards a common approach for Master Craftsman awards with the Construction Liveries Group and the Livery Craft Skills Council and also to enhance skills and training.The current chairman of the Liveries Wood Group is Past Master Upholder Michael Gilham.Livery Events & ContactsInformation about Upholders events can be found by clicking this link. The latest information about other livery events is published on the LiveryLive online site and up to date contact details for all the City of London Livery Companies is maintained on the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers website. Livery Craft Skills Council - New Romney Skills FestivalOn 6-7 May 2011 Liveryman Roy Theobald participated in the New Romney Skills Festival on behalf of the Upholders. 22 Livery companies supported the LCSC and Kent County Council to put on this festival, which introduced the opportunities of careers based on craft skills to over 400 secondary school students and their families.Many students were amazed by Roy’s unusual way of storing tacks and almost all commented that they had learnt more in a few minutes of seeing the demonstrations than through hours of classroom discussion.Following the success of this event KCC is hoping to arrange further Skills festivals with the LCSC, introducing the idea of careers in crafts to students in orther parts of Kent.The Lord Mayor’s Show This is the biggest event in the City as each year the new Lord Mayor makes his way to the Royal Courts of Justice to swear his or her allegiance to the Queen. Each year the event is different with organisations associated with the incoming Lord Mayor invited to particpate. The event is also one of the biggest fund raising events for the Lord Mayor’s Charities with Liveries and other organisations donating many thousands of pounds to particpate.The Master Prof. James Kelly was part of the guard of honour formed by Livery Masters as the new Lord Mayor left Mansion House in the 2011 show.back to top of pageback to top of pageback to top of pageback to top of pageOne of the Upholders’ 5 objectives is to Uphold our links with the City of London. We do this in many different ways: We are proud that Past Master, William Hunter was Lord Mayor 1851-1852, Sir William Rawlings was Sheriff 1801 and more recently Past Master Jonathan Charkham was Sheriff 1994/95 and Chief Commoner 2002. A sense of civic duty is close to the heart of many of our Court and Livery so Upholders have strong representation on many City organisations including these shown below.We have also built close links with the Court of Aldermen and the Common Council many of whom have joined us for our Livery Events.As an ancient Livery our Liveryman hold posts in many financial, commercial and manufacturing businesses as well as in our trades and this brings into our Livery a breadth of experience and knowledge of the working life of the City of London and elsewhere that few other Liveries can match.The Worshipful Company of UpholdersofThe City of London
The City Livery Club is strongly supported by the Upholders with two Past Presidents being Upholders and probably more in the near future. The
Club was originally formed in June 1914 for Liverymen of the City of London but has since expanded its membership to include Liverymen and
Freemen of all the City Livery Companies and the two companies without Livery, namely Parish Clerks and Watermen and Lightermen. Additionally,
Associate Membership is now available to Members of the Guild of Freemen, Freemen of the City of London, the Society of Young Freemen, Ward
Clubs, the United Ward Club and City Branches of the Royal Society of St. George and the Institute of Directors.
The objective of the Club was to afford the Members means of friendly association and to generally promote the interests of the City Livery
Companies, to uphold and strengthen the traditions of the City Civic; encourage the Livery to exercise its right to elect the Sheriffs and nominate
Aldermen for the office of Lord Mayor and to promote active participation in the City’s governance.
The Club is now happily located at Bell Wharf Lane on the River Thames. The Club shares facilities with the Little Ship Club.
During each Presidential year, which runs from October, an exciting programme of official and other events are usually organised. The main or
official events are the Installation Dinner, held immediately following the Annual General Meeting, the President’s Reception, a Christmas Lunch,
Burns Night and a Civic Lunch or Dinner to meet the Lord Mayor. The Club also has a number of Sections which members can join according to
their interests, and we hope there is something to interest everyone.
The Club's Patron is the Lord Mayor. Four past Lord Mayors have been President of the Club and the current Council includes three Aldermen and
two Common Councillors.
Over the years the Club has developed reciprocal arrangements with other Clubs throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. It is hoped to
extend this to include many other clubs in various countries, especially as so many of the members travel overseas.
Upholding the City of London
One of the most important duties
of Liverymen is to particpate in the
Shrieval and Mayoral elections.
Common Hall
Common Hall is summoned by the
Lord Mayor, by formal notice to
the Masters and Wardens of the
livery companies that they should
give notice to their liverymen to
attend at Guildhall on a certain
day. The Sheriffs and other
officers are elected on Midsummer
Day, and the Lord Mayor on
Michaelmas Day (or the next
weekday). Voting is by a show of
hands but if a poll is demanded,
one is held a fortnight later.
The Lord Mayor is elected from
the Aldermen. There are 27
Aldermen in the City of London
each elected to represent one of
the electoral Wards.
The Liveries Wood Group
Alderman David Wootton is the 684th Lord Mayor of
the City of London.
Photo: Clive Totman
The Worshipful Company of Upholders maintains close links
with the Ward of Castle Baynard within which was the site of our
Hall 1646 - 1666. Past Master Michael Gilham is the current
Chairman of Castle Baynard Ward Club.
In 2009 the Upholders’ Livery was honoured to join the Ward
Club at Mansion House for a Banquet to mark its centenary year
during the Mayorality of its President Alderman Ian Luder.
Working with the Construction Liveries Group, the Livery Craft Skills Council and The Livery Companies Wood
Group, the Upholders have started developing a series of awards at Apprentice, Journeyman and Master
levels to recognise and bring to public notice the many fine craftsmen working in the traditional upholstery,
bespoke upholstery and soft furnishing sections of the industry. Earlier this year the Lord Mayor presented
certificates to the latest cohort of successful candidates presented by other Liveries.
The Upholders were one of the founding members of the Liveries Wood Group which is an informal association of the five Livery Companies
of the City of London connected to the wood using industries.
Since its formation in 2000 the group has promoted our trades through joint projects and exhibitions. It has also used our combined resources
working towards a common approach for Master Craftsman awards with the Construction Liveries Group and the Livery Craft Skills Council
and also to enhance skills and training.
The current chairman of the Liveries Wood Group is Past Master Upholder Michael Gilham.
Livery Events & Contacts
Information about Upholders events can be found by
clicking this link. The latest information about other
livery events is published on the LiveryLive online site
and up to date contact details for all the City of London
Livery Companies is maintained on the Worshipful
Company of Fishmongers website.
Livery Craft Skills Council - New Romney Skills Festival
On 6-7 May 2011 Liveryman Roy Theobald participated in the New Romney Skills Festival on behalf of the
Upholders. 22 Livery companies supported the LCSC and Kent County Council to put on this festival, which
introduced the opportunities of careers based on craft skills to over 400 secondary school students and their
families.
Many students were amazed by Roy’s unusual way of storing tacks and almost all commented that they had
learnt more in a few minutes of seeing the demonstrations than through hours of classroom discussion.
Following the success of this event KCC is hoping to arrange further Skills festivals with the LCSC, introducing
the idea of careers in crafts to students in orther parts of Kent.
The Lord Mayor’s Show
This is the biggest event in the City as each year the new Lord Mayor makes his way to the Royal
Courts of Justice to swear his or her allegiance to the Queen. Each year the event is different with
organisations associated with the incoming Lord Mayor invited to particpate. The event is also
one of the biggest fund raising events for the Lord Mayor’s Charities with Liveries and other
organisations donating many thousands of pounds to particpate.
The Master Prof. James Kelly was part of the guard of honour formed by Livery Masters as the
new Lord Mayor left Mansion House in the 2011 show.
back to top of page
back to top of page
back to top of page
back to top of page
One of the Upholders’ 5 objectives is to Uphold our links with the City of London.
We do this in many different ways: We are proud that Past Master, William Hunter was Lord Mayor 1851-1852, Sir William Rawlings was
Sheriff 1801 and more recently Past Master Jonathan Charkham was Sheriff 1994/95 and Chief Commoner 2002. A sense of civic duty is
close to the heart of many of our Court and Livery so Upholders have strong representation on many City organisations including these
shown below.
We have also built close links with the Court of Aldermen and the Common Council many of whom have joined us for our Livery Events.
As an ancient Livery our Liveryman hold posts in many financial, commercial and manufacturing businesses as well as in our trades and this
brings into our Livery a breadth of experience and knowledge of the working life of the City of London and elsewhere that few other Liveries
can match.
The Worshipful Company of Upholders
of
The City of London
