The new Lord Mayor on show!
After a very blustery week it was a considerable blessing to
have a day that was both dry and not too cold. It was
Saturday, 13th November, and the Lord Mayor’s Show was
about to start. A special day indeed, not least as this year our
very own Alderman and Pavior Michael Bear was the 683rd
Lord Mayor, having been installed in office the previous day at
the Silent Ceremony in the Guildhall.
Yet more firsts were the new float (replacing the one that
had started life in 2000) and the new team of Phillip Hyde, Pat
Churchard who organised the delivery of the float and two
steamrollers from Amberley Working Museum and other far
flung origins. Many may not appreciate that the steamrollers
need to be “fired up” at 5 o’clock in the morning. Even after
several years, I can say that seeing everything in place and
operational gives some degree of relief to all those involved.
Nearly 100 strong, raising a cheer
This year some 100 participants gathered around Jacqui
Davies, who had made detailed arrangements for the day. We
were by far the largest and longest “float” in the parade, and
elevated this year to No. 5 position in the parade as the Lord
Mayor’s Founder Company.
2010 saw an even longer procession than in previous
year’s with a total length more than twice as long as the route.
Our float, with the two 10 ton steam rollers, brings challenges
for the organisers, who work increasingly hard to
accommodate the various health and safety and security
issues that we present.
The Paviors Float, Jazz Band and Sponsors
At 10:45, the procession started and by the time we
reached the Guildhall, The Master (complete with St
Anthony’s pig), Upper Warden and Renter Warden joined the
float, we were ready for the procession. Our walkers had
donned safety helmets and hi-visibility vests, and complete
with the tools of the trade the Paviors were under way. So we
went on our walk through time past the Guildhall, Mansion
House, where we doffed our hats and gave three cheers (well
actually five) to the new Lord Mayor, St Pauls Cathedral and
the Royal Courts of Justice to our lunch stop at Aldwych. After
our hot soup and snacks we took a well earned rest.
The weather was dull but remained dry throughout but the
crowds were surprisingly large on the return journey, along
the Embankment and up Queen Elizabeth Street then along
the phalanx of Old People’s Homes buses and finally finishing
back where we started, at around 2.00 pm.
PS Elizabeth on way to Pier!
As usual we provided a welcome sight for the crowd who
are clearly used to seeing us and have taken to signalling the
steam roller for a whistle which invariably raises a good cheer.
The jazz band on the back of the float also added to the
carnival atmosphere with excellent jazz renditions.
We are as ever entirely indebted to our sponsors for their
financial support of this year’s entry and consequently the Lord
Mayor’s charity. Those who made our entry possible are shown
in the box on the right.
Jolly good company!
On our return to St Martins le Grand the float was reloaded
on its transport and a happy pride of Paviors made their way to
Blackfriars Pier to board the PS Elizabethan for a buffet meal,
and refreshments, to watch the river pageant and finally the
fireworks. We were 205 Paviors and family members onboard
(with around 50 Members from The worshipful Companies of
Engineers and Chartered Surveyors – the Lord Mayor’s other
Companies) and very privileged this year to be able to moor
within close proximity of the actual fireworks. An excellent
afternoon and evening was had by all! The food and libations
were very welcome and the sounds and sights of the fireworks
display were the best seen for some time.
All things considered another very successful day, enjoyed
by all, which hopefully provided effective promotion for the
Company and sponsors alike, not to mention providing support
for the Lord Mayor and a useful boost to the Lord Mayor’s
Charity.
Fireworks 'galorious'!
Billy McCoubrey
Sponsors:
Sir Robert McAlpine (Tom Barton)
BAM Nuttall (Malcolm Stephen)
Saint-Gobain (Peter King)
F M Conway (Michael Conway)
URS/Scott Wilson (John Nutt)
Vinci (Tim Fitch)