A pretty place setting
En route to Painters' Hall

WCO Chartered Secretaries & Administrators' Installation Dinner

7th October 2026

Painters' Hall

Several Masters (myself, Barbers, Architects, Management Consultants, Tax Advisers, Girdlers, Young Freemen amongst others) made a dash across the City from the Musicians’ Evensong in St Paul’s Cathedral to Painters’ Hall in Little Trinity Lane. We arrived in good time for the reception prior to the Dinner of the Worshipful Company of Chartered Secretaries & Administrators, following Lorraine Young's installation as the new Master in this, their 50th anniversary year.

I was delighted to find myself seated next to Alderman Alison Gowman of Dowgate Ward, a great champion of sustainability and founder of the Livery Climate Action Group. Alison is always fascinating company, generous with her experience and insights into civic life.

The guest speaker was Rob Woodward CBE, Chair of Vistry Group plc and former Chair of the Met Office. Rob has worked with Lorraine in her professional capacity as a Company Secretary, and spoke with a high regard for her career and achievements.

Several awards were presented during the evening, while the musical entertainment before dinner was provided by five talented young singers from Mulberry Academy, Shoreditch, with which the WC of Chartered Secretaries & Administrators maintains a strong association. Their performance was a lovely reminder of the way Livery Companies build positive and meaningful relationships with schools and young people.

It is always sad to say goodbye to a previous Master, and Shirley Creed has been brilliant in her year. But that's the nature of Livery life: Masters come and go, and each Installation marks the passing of the baton to someone new, but there is something reassuring about the continuity. The faces change, the robes and badges are handed on and new Masters take their turn, but the Livery movement has endured for more than 800 years - and will continue for many centuries to come.

I was kindly accompanied on my walk "home" by the Master Actuary, who made sure I didn't go the wrong way as I'm quite capable of doing ...