On 31st July, the Guild of Young Freemen hosted this year’s Summer Banquet — our annual ‘Meet the Guild’ celebration — at Girdlers’ Hall. This special evening is a cornerstone of our calendar, designed to introduce young Freemen to the wider Livery movement and foster meaningful connections across the City of London.
This year, we were especially delighted to collaborate with the Worshipful Company of International Bankers, a partnership that reflects the strong synergy and shared values between our two organisations in fostering young professional talent.
The event was titled ‘The Pillars of Tomorrow’, an idea originally conceived by Upper Warden Rafael Steinmetz Leffa and Court member Jago Toner, Chair of the Associates Committee of the Worshipful Company of International Bankers, both serving on the Courts of the Guild of Young Freemen and the International Bankers and endorsed by the Master Reuben Braden-Bell as the first event of his year as master.
This special evening brought together Young Freemen and members of the Financial Services Group of Livery Companies to celebrate the contribution of emerging talent in shaping the future leadership of the City of London.
We were honoured to welcome representatives of the Worshipful Company of International Bankers, including Master Nick Garnish, Middle Warden Ali Miraj, Past Masters Michael Llewelyn-Jones and Angela Knight CBE, and Clerk Carole Seawert.
The keynote address was delivered by Past Master Banker Robert Wigley OStJ, Chairman of UK Finance, who spoke compellingly on the enduring strength and adaptability of the City as a global financial centre — and why the next generation of professionals can be optimistic about London’s future leadership in finance and professional services.
We were also privileged to be joined by distinguished guests including Past Lord Mayors Sir David Wootton KStJ and Alderman Vincent Keaveny CBE KStJ, Sir Nicholas Lyons KStJ, and Chief Commoner Henry Pollard, Past Master of the Guild of Investment Managers. Also in attendance were Aldermen Robert Hughes-Penney and Tim Hailes FKC JP, and leaders from across the FSG including Master of the Chartered Accountants’ Livery Company Jonathan Grosvenor JP, Master of the Worshipful Company of Arbitrators Nicola Cohen, Master of the Worshipful Company of Communicators Jason Groves CC, and Upper Warden of the Worshipful Company of Tax Advisers Matthew Peppitt.
We also welcomed Past Master of the The Worshipful Company of Drapers William Charnley, Renter Warden of the Skinners’ Company Edward Goodchild, Masters’ consort of the Girdlers’ Company Helen Udal, Past Master Scrivener John Hammond, Master of the Worshipful Company of Paviors Charlie Laing, Renter Warden Pavior Sir Andrew McAlpine Bt, The Worshipful Company of Fuellers’ Elena Oderstone and Chair of the Livery Committee Julia Sibley MBE. We would like to thank the Worshipful Company of Girdlers for their hospitality and for welcoming us into their hall.
We are sincerely grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the Worshipful Company of International Bankers on this event — a true testament to the strength of intergenerational engagement in the Livery and industry.
