On Tuesday 17th December, the Court met at Information Technologists’ Hall for its Christmas meeting – at which the Master admitted one new Court Assistant (Liveryman Kevin Offer), two new Liverymen (Jeremy Coker and Craig Kay), and four new Freemen (Stephen Hasson, Michael Smith, Steven Martin, Craig Chatwin).  It was also confirmed that Paul Johnson, Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies (and soon to be provost of The Queen’s College, Oxford) had accepted the Master’s invitation to become an Honorary Freeman of the Company. 

The Church of Saint Bartholomew the Great then provided a wonderful setting in which members of the Company joined others, associated with the Parish (namely: Actuaries, Butchers, Communicators, Farmers, Fletchers, Founders, Hackney Carriage Drivers), for the annual Inter-Livery Carol Service.   

The Service was a delight, as ever, and the atmosphere magnificent.  The Church was absolutely full (and apologies to those who were unable to secure tickets this year) … you may wish to put a note in your diary for 2025: the Carol Service will be on Tuesday 16 December, and the flyer will go out in early October. 

From the Carol Service, a short walk to Supper at Butchers’ Hall, where a strong cohort from the Company – joined by other Companies again – filled the Great Hall to capacity, with festive cheer and bonhomie.  The evening finished with the Master’s well-chosen (few) closing remarks, and mutual good wishes for Christmas and the New Year.  

The Master has since circulated his Christmas Mailing (see the Master’s Mailing webpage). 

Pictures of the event can be found here:

Admissions court:  https://sharpphoto.co.uk/p307659252

Carol Service & Reception:  https://sharpphoto.co.uk/p417240541

 

It may have been raw and chilly outside, and indeed very wet underfoot as yet another storm passed overhead, dropping its contents in profusion, but on Wednesday, 27 November, nine members of the Company, accompanied by relatives and friends, made their way up Brixton Hill – to check in with the Clink charity,  Brixton prison.

As one would expect of a prison, security was tight, and into the lockers went all the contents of our pockets and many other things besides, especially gadgets such as mobile phones. Then through X-ray machines, body searches, and the like before heading in a larger group to the comfort and warmth of the restaurant.

We had pre-ordered our menu selections, and at a leisurely pace the majority preferences were for duck rillettes, roast turkey and pear & ginger pudding. No alcohol, obviously, but a wide selection of cocktails and other delights were on offer. Robust plastic cutlery was the order of the day, for security reasons. And even though it was not yet quite December, we pulled crackers, adorned our heads with paper hats and, yes, cracked silly jokes. Mine: “What do you call recently married spiders?”. Answer: “Newly webs”.

So to paying the bill. A very reasonable price, and it would be difficult to get a decent three-course meal elsewhere in London today at this level. We were able to leave a substantial donation to the Clink charity, which works to train prisoners in hospitality skills and provide them with a secure living upon release, whilst reducing the possibility of re-offending.

James Dixon

 

{Photo of exterior of Brixton Prison on a fine day}

As I made my way to Ironmongers’ Hall, it began to hit home just how big an event I was about to become a part of.  As marching bands practised around Smithfield Market, and floats lined Aldersgate Street and London Wall, the sheer size of the Lord Mayor’s Show became all too apparent.  What had I let myself in for?

When the invitation went out for Liverymen wishing to join the Master, Middle Warden, and Renter Warden on the parade, I did not hesitate to put my hand up.  Who knows when such an opportunity might come up again, and I am a firm believer in always saying yes when these things do appear.  And so, there I was at 9am on an overcast Saturday morning, meeting up at Ironmongers’ Hall for a quick bacon sandwich, putting on my Livery robe, and joining the world’s largest, unrehearsed procession to welcome the new Lord Mayor, Alastair King.

Having only previously watched the parade on television, it seemed much bigger, brighter, and louder, in reality.  The 1.5-mile route from Mansion House through Cheapside, passing St Paul’s and onto Fleet Street, was full of people cheering, waving, and clapping.  Shortly after 11am, we joined the procession, along with other modern livery companies. There was something rather surreal about walking around the familiar corner at Bank junction to see BBC TV cameras trained on us, broadcasting around the world to an audience of millions.  And I’m pleased to say we got some of our own airtime, with the Tax Advisers being specifically mentioned in the commentary.

Once at the Royal Courts, and as we waited for the parade to reset for the return leg, we enjoyed lunch and a drink aboard HMS Wellington, kindly arranged by The Worshipful Company of Firefighters. After not too many beverages, we made the returned along Embankment and Victoria Street, eventually to Mansion House.

Taking part in the Lord Mayor’s Show was an amazing experience.  I thoroughly recommend it to anyone who gets the opportunity to join in future … perhaps next year?

Tom Wallace

The events committee organised a tour and lunch at the Middle Temple for 4 October 2024. Although regrettably we have all had a poor summer weatherwise. The day was a perfect. It was warm and the sun shone all day. In the morning, we had a tour of the Middle Temple estate. A beautiful and unique place away from the bustle of London. The tour guide, who by coincidence was a retired accountant, showed us and explained the long history and architecture of the area. The land was owned by the Knights Templars and at their dissolution given to the legal profession as a base in London. We saw the much-filmed Temple Church. The guide explained how the Middle Temple prepared for the Second World War by placing the unreplaceable stained-glass windows and their art treasures into storage in Wales. She demonstrated the extent of the bombing damage to the estate and its rapid reconstruction post war replicating the original buildings. An amusing fact is that you can tell whether a building is in the Middle Temple or the Inner Temple, a sister Inn of Court with which it shares the estate, by two details; the Middle Temple buildings have a Lamb and Flag symbol and white window frames while the Inner Temple has a Pegasus badge and cream windows. Of course, as Tax Advisers we had to see and have photos taken at Pump Court Tax Chambers.

We also had a three-course lunch which was served in the Elizabethan Great Hall of the Middle Temple. A lovely building with an oak beamed roof and original Elizabethan stained-glass windows. The food was excellent. A delightful experience and everyone enjoyed their day.

Peter Allen

There is seldom an opportunity to be seated beneath the huge dome of St Paul’s Cathedral, to be surrounded by more than 130 Liverymen in their ceremonial and ordered finery, participating in a Choral Evensong in the traditional Anglican manner, and enjoying splendid music performed by the Royal College of Music String Orchestra.

But one such occasion was on Wednesday, 2nd October, when the Master, Richard Geldard, Honorary Assistant James Dixon, and Freeman James Carr attended the Annual Service of the Worshipful Company of Musicians.

Some time before the service began, those taking part assembled in the Crypt to change, with our own Company’s gold chain and Master’s badge being as always the object of much admiration. We were then marshalled, for want of a better word, into order of seniority, with the Drapers’ Company in the vanguard.

Processing upstairs, the cathedral was already full as members of the Musicians’ Company itself assembled on the south side of the arc facing the altar, whilst members of all the other Companies moved on to the north side.

This service was led by the choir, who sang responses, canticles, an anthem, and the psalms set for the day on our behalf, allowing us to experience the beauty of the music in this iconic setting. There were some readings from the Bible, and prayers were said for the Church, the World and ourselves. 

Of note, there was also a performance of Elgar’s Elegy for Strings, specially composed by the great man himself, once a member of the Musicians’ Company, for these annual occasions.

Overall, we could not but be struck by the acoustics of Wren’s masterpiece, with the echo effect of the dome lingering in the memory.

This was then followed by a reception back in the crypt, as we circulated amongst many of those who had attended the service.

James Dixon

 

On the evening of 12 September, the Master Mike Gibbons and Liveryman Adrian Stevens (with their respective partners) joined 101 Squadron RAF for their Dining-in Night, held at Aerospace Bristol under the wings of Concorde: a very special venue with an appropriate aviation heritage.

The Squadrons operational achievements over the last 12 months were highlighted during after-dinner speeches, when prizes were awarded for meritorious service and fines for misdemeanours!

Before dinner, the Master and Wing Commander Paul Summers, the Officer Commanding 101 Squadron RAF, co-signed the Armed Forces Covenant as a demonstration and confirmation of the Company’s continuing support for the Armed Forces community.

Those of you who contribute to the Tax Advisers’ Charitable Trust can be very proud of yourselves as your donations have directly contributed to the launch of London Air Ambulance’s two new helicopters. In addition to supporting the London Air Ambulance (LAA) on a regular basis, the Company, through TACT, supported its Up Against Time Appeal to replace two helicopters.  These were urgently needed as the lifespan of the previous helicopters was coming to an end and sourcing parts for repair and maintenance was becoming increasingly challenging.

On 1 October 2024 I had the pleasure of attending a London Air Ambulance reception, hosted by Fieldfisher, to thank the many charities, trusts, philanthropists and individuals for the money raised. The target had been £15 million in two years. Between us, we smashed that target and raised £16 million within the designated time frame. Unfortunately, the bad weather on the night meant that we could not witness a flypast of one of the helicopters. However, the hope is that the weather is good enough for them to take off on active service on 2 October.

Attached are photos of me with Jonathan Jenkins, CEO of London Air Ambulance, who led the thanks to donors. You can also see me with one of the many fantastic members of the medical crew with pictures, in the background, of the new helicopters as they were being built.

A video shown on the evening can be found here: https://youtu.be/HjzrmWgT0eo

Lorraine Parkin

On Monday 23rd September, Mike Gibbons MBE completed his highly successful year as Master Tax Adviser, and Wendy her equally accomplished year as Mistress Tax Adviser, during 2023/24. 

Richard Geldard was duly installed as the new Master, for the year 2024/25, at a meeting of Court held at Merchant Taylors’ Hall.  Company Wardens for the year were also installed: Matthew Peppitt as Upper Warden, Caroline Turnbull-Hall as Middle Warden, and Howard Ashmore as Renter Warden.  Mike Gibbons MBE accepted Richard’s invitation to serve as his Deputy Master. 

The new year also sees two Past Masters stepping down from Court (John Dewhurst and Bob Harland), and the admission of two new Court Assistants (Winnie Cao, and (from December) Kevin Offer).  Management of the Company will be bolstered by a particularly strong cohort of new Committee Members and Company Officers. 

The Court meeting also saw eight Freemen advancing to Livery, after gaining their Freedom of the City that morning, and the admission of three new Freemen, to a packed house of over 60 Company members and guests. 

Photographs from Court, and throughout the day, are available in the Members’ Area.  

From Merchant Taylor’s Hall, Court processed to St Michael’s Church Cornhill to join the Company’s St Matthew’s Tide Thanksgiving Service, officiated by the Honorary Chaplain, Rev’d Marcus Walker.  His thought-provoking sermon and the excellence of the choir were memorable attractions of a highly enjoyable Service, attended by 100 Company members and their guests. 

Returning to the Hall, and joined by the Rt Hon Baroness Hale of Richmond and other Company guests, the new Master hosted his Installation Dinner in the Great Hall.  In this wonderful setting, a splendid dinner was served, the Master took wine with new Liverymen and Freemen, Loving Cups were passed, and we were entertained to organ music from the gallery and swing from the Satin Dollz on the dining room stage.  The Renter Warden welcomed and toasted the guests, after which Lady Hale made a compelling case for equity – especially in public service, and heraldry in particular (as Patron of the Equality of Arms Campaign).  The Master closed the dinner by thanking all those involved in its delivery, and briefly outlined his aims for the year ahead.  Emphasizing his wish to engage with – and be engaged by – the membership of the Company, the Master indicated that results of the recent survey would be published in due course and presented Liveryman Derren Joseph with a bottle of champagne as winner of the survey’s prize draw! 

The evening concluded with a Stirrup Cup, and promises to meet again at the Christmas Carol Service at Great Saint Bartholomew’s’ Church and Supper afterwards at Butchers’ Hall, on Tuesday 17th December, if not before. 

A small, but enthusiastic, group of six met for lunch at The Knight of Nottinghill pub on Ladbroke Grove on a sunny Thursday in September, prior to walking no more than one minute round the corner to the Museum of Brands, a collection devoted to consumer history.  The museum is crammed with packaging and other items largely from the Victorian period to date (although some much earlier), often with contents intact, hitherto forgotten toys and faded chocolate foils glinting to take us back in a time machine, to ‘another country’.  And most of us had more than one regret of ‘why on earth did I throw that away!’ The museum’s roots are with Robert Opie’s collection first displayed at the V and A in 1975, which expanded to a permanent exhibition in Gloucester from 1984, moving to London in 2002.  The present site opened in 2015.  Younger visitors to the museum must have tired of overhearing all the WCoTA party saying ‘I remember that’, ‘I had one of those’ (with all but one of us taking advantage of the museum discount for over 60s!).

As with many WCoTA events and visits: something I would have been unlikely to do otherwise, and very much enjoyed.  Largely entertainment, and a little education, with a group of good companions.  A perfect afternoon in London.

For those interested, the museum’s founder, Robert Opie, wrote/collated many books on consumer history and packaging, easily found new and second hand.

Carrie de Silva

In September, Livery Companies that support the Livery Food Initiative were invited to the Old Bailey. This was partly a thank you to their supporters and also to hear an update on their impressive achievements.

The Company, along with sixty other Livery Companies has provided funds in support of a new lorry for City Harvest, a partner of the Livery Food Initiative.  City Harvest rescues food that is going to waste and delivers it to over 375 charities across London.

Howard Ashmore received a commemorative plaque on behalf of the company.

The link below is to a video highlighting the truck’s impact.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72At-ECe3-4

On Friday 23rd August, the Master, Consort and members of the Company visited London’s Air Ambulance centre at the Royal London Hospital (the view from the helipad was amazing). We were shown round one of their two helicopters and had a very good talk with one of their Senior Flight Paramedics who explained how extremely organised everything is from the placement of kit, order of seating and the team’s respective roles and responsibilities. The helicopter typically gets a patient to the landing pad at the hospital in between 6 to 11 minutes after departure from the accident scene but also often assists with a ground escort to hospital.

Each flight contains a pilot and co-pilot, a consultant, senior doctor and a paramedic. Each member of the medical team has around 12 years’ experience including A&E postings. Each incident might involve deciding whether a longer ambulance road trip of say 30 or 40 minutes (but where they can more easily work on the patient) is better than a quick air ambulance journey, despite the care that can still be provided in the confined space of the helicopter.

The London Air Ambulance Charity has now raised the needed £15m funds to replace both their ageing helicopters with around 30 of  the City of London livery companies (including the Worshipful Company of Tax Advisers) playing an important role in donating money for the new helicopters. The Charity continues to have to raise £15m a year for running costs so we will continue or support.

The  A big thank you to everyone who donates money to the WCOTA charities and who have indirectly helped fund these new helicopters….and for anyone that would like to donate a one off or monthly sum to the Tax Advisers Charitable Trust, here is the link – https://www.taxadvisers.org.uk/making-a-donation/.

 

A triumphant triumvirate of Tax Advisers secured the Company a richly deserved place amongst the ‘great XII’ (petanque-playing) livery companies … when they came joint 12th in the recent Inter-Livery Petanque Competition held at the London Petanque Club Ground at Battersea Pleasure Gardens.

A full entry of 32 teams from across the City Livery entered and, after beating the Cooks, the Tax Adviser’s team narrowly lost 6-5 to the Merchant Taylors.  A friendly finale resulted in a draw against the Needlemakers, with much friendly banter and camaraderie shown throughout the evening.

Will Hess and James Carr provided much needed skill to the team, which was lead by Marcus Fincham.

The monies raised by this charitable event are donated to the Lord Mayor’s Appeal.

 

Lorraine Parkin, Chair of the Charities Committee, briefed assembled members of the Company on the Tax Advisers’ Benevolent Fund and the Tax Advisers’ Charitable Trust.

These are the two charities through which the Company delivers its benevolence to those in need. The Tax Advisers’ Benevolent Fund focuses, in particular, on hardship cases and on tax education. The Tax Advisers’ Charitable Trust focuses on supporting TaxAid and Tax Help for Older People as well as supporting schools, higher education establishments and selected City organisations such as London’s Air Ambulance and City Harvest.

The charities  disburse the regular donations pledged by members when admitted as Freemen, and subsequently advanced to the Livery. These disbursements are combined with income from funds under management and grants received from other parties, bequests and legacies.

To listen to the presentation and see the slides please click on the link posted to the Members Area of our website.

A group of Tax Advisers recently joined the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress’ Bavarian Ball at Mansion House.  We enjoyed a wonderful, Bavarian inspired evening of dining and entertainment.  The evening raised over £55,000 for the following charities:

 

Photo credit: PaulinaRootsPhotography.

The Worshipful Company of Glovers hosted a number of liverymen, freemen and their guests for a delightful day of golf croquet at the immaculate Sussex County Croquet Club in Brighton on Saturday 15th June 2024.

Pairs from twenty-one different livery companies participated on a day that began with a downpour which mercifully(!) lifted to an afternoon of clear sunshine. Each pair played five scoring matches, after which the highest two teams emerged to contest the final for each of the two competitions.

The Glovers ran out victors in both the Glover’s Cup (primary competition) and the Inter-Livery Challenge (secondary competition), ran a close second in each by The Leathersellers. See the victors overwhelmed by the adoring crowds in the podium photo below!

The Tax Advisors – on what was a first golf croquet outing for the representatives – performed creditably, with two wins and three losses (three wins with an additional friendly at the end of the day!). A wonderful time of friendly competition and new connections was had by all, and we look forward to the next event next year.

James Carr.

 

The Company held its annual Civic and Charities Luncheon on Wed 12 Jun, at Founders’ Hall.  The Rt Hon the Lord Mayor Alderman Professor Michael Mainelli was the guest of honour, accompanied by the Lady Mayoress.  Alderman Simon Pryke, the Company’s newly assigned Alderman, also attended. 

The Company hosted representatives from a number of our well-established charitable beneficiaries: Mulberry University Technical College, London’s Air Ambulance, TaxAid and Tax Help for Older People, City Harvest, and the Hackney Carriage Drivers’ Children’s Magical Taxi Tour.

The Luncheon concluded with an address by the Lord Mayor – informative and entertaining in equal measure – and the presentation of donations from TACT to the Lord Mayor (for the Lord Mayor’s Appeal, the Mansion House Scholarship Scheme, and the Sheriffs’ and Recorder’s Fund) and to representatives of our other beneficiary organisations.

The Luncheon was preceded by a meeting of Court, at Information Technologists’ Hall, during which the Master admitted five new Freemen.

Images of both events are at: https://sharpphoto.co.uk/f112611449

I am a former resident of Kensington, having had the pleasure of living there, until very recently, for 8 years.  I had heard of the Leighton House Museum in Holland Park, and had always had it on my list of things to do and see, but somehow never got around to doing so.  I was therefore very enthusiastic about joining the Tax Advisers’ visit to Leighton House on 22 May.  We started off the meetup with lunch, coffee and cakes at the nearby Gail’s patisserie on Kensington High Street, and then joined our tour of the house, led by a highly knowledgeable guide.  Leighton House is honestly jaw-dropping in every respect.  Apart from the obvious beauty of the interiors (the Arab Hall, with its teal/turquoise tiles, gilded domed ceiling, and grand staircase is quite breath-taking), there are curiosities and inventive touches in almost every room: I had never seen a fireplace directly underneath a window before, yet there are two in view in the house.  The tour finished upstairs, in Lord Leighton’s gallery and studio, a large and beautiful space that seemed like a combination of the Wigmore Hall and a viewing room from the National Gallery, with its own architectural idiosyncrasies (an ante-chamber with a fireplace, for Lord Leighton’s models to warm-up, and a mezzanine that allowed him to paint huge canvases). The planned walk in Holland Park afterwards was called off due to rain, but it was very good to see familiar faces and meet some for the first time, and I think we all really enjoyed the excursionary feeling of this meetup. 

Dean Ryan

It had been quite a number of years since members of the Company had been flying in a Voyager of 101 Squadron based at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, but the invitation in late May was of an entirely different nature to previous occasions: it extended over two days, and came from all the Squadrons and units based there. No less than sixteen Livery Companies were invited, and it was an opportunity for us to meet members of those other Companies.

On Thursday, 30 May, the Master, Mike Gibbons and Honorary Assistant James Dixon attended what was billed as an ‘Exhibition of the RAF’s Air and Space Power roles and capabilities’, which comprised a fascinating series of presentations on topics as diverse as electronic jamming, search and rescue aircraft, Reaper and Protector unmanned airplanes, combat air control, Space command, and many more. The highlight was a display by the Lightning F-35B, including its ability to hover in a stationary position.

On the following day, eleven members of the Company went flying, eight in a Voyager and three in an A400M transport aircraft. The Voyager was airborne for about five hours, and headed to the North Sea where in a racetrack circuit it refuelled some dozen Typhoon aircraft, a few based in Estonia; it also rehearsed close formation flying in advance of the following weekend’s Trooping of the Colour ceremony.

Meanwhile the slower A400M turboprop plane, the successor to the long-serving Lockheed Hercules, met up with a Typhoon for various photographic opportunities; flew low over Lake Windermere with its rear doors open as if to indulge in paratroop dropping; and finally met up with the Voyager for some formation flying.

A memorable time was greatly enjoyed by all, and many thanks indeed to the friendly members of the RAF who entertained us so well.

 

I attended the Guildhall School of Music Voiceworks concert on Thursday 9 May, 2024 which was held to thank donors. The Tax Advisers’ Charitable Trust periodically  donates to this charity and has provided funds recently for the Guildhall’s young artists appeal. The concert covered the works of post -graduate composers, sung by post- graduate singers, supported by post- graduate musicians. The words to the music were composed by MA opera writing students. The programme was varied and the talent was awesome. The photo is of me with some of the amazing performers. I strongly encourage members to consider attending one of the many concerts put on by the Guildhall School of Music and Drama- gsmd.ac.uk/events.

Lorraine Parkin

Chair

Charities’ Committee WCTA

Aldgate East Underground station is something of an enigma: emerge from its depths, and you find yourself at a crossroads. Which way to turn? All the roads look the same. Yet all the dozen or so members of the Company, and their friends and relatives, managed (some perhaps with a little hesitation) to find their way south to a steak restaurant for lunch one Saturday in March. Yes, it was directly into sun, but all the very high rise buildings in the vicinity cast no shadows at all.

Then after a leisurely meal, we headed further south to the mysteries of Graces Alley, and Wilton’s Music Hall. Dating back to the mid-nineteenth century, some cheekily ask themselves today, whenever is it going to be finished?

It is a fun place, and we were going to see the penultimate performance of Rossini’s Barber of Seville, locally adapted to portray the original plot, but set against the backdrop of the Wild West, Stetson hats and all. No big cast, and the music emanated from a solitary piano, played most energetically. We enjoyed it, as had the reviewer in The Times a few days previously, who had rated it worthy of four stars:

“….this Barber is a reminder that arguably the most famous operatic comedy draws in many respects from the same well of goofy humour and virtuosic patter-song as the Savoy Operas (of Gilbert and Sullivan)”.

The Worshipful Company of Tax Advisers has not paid a visit to Wilton’s for quite a while, but for sure we will be returning again ere long, especially at its most reasonable prices, and in mid-afternoon when it is perfectly feasible to visit from far-flung parts of the country in a day.

 

The Master and Wardens represented the Company at the annual United Guilds Service held at St Paul’s Cathedral on Fri 15 Mar.  The Master was accompanied by his Consort, and they were joined by a number of other Liverymen, the Clerk, and the Administration and Events Officer.  Lunch was taken at Plaisterers’ Hall afterwards.

At the inaugural United Guilds’ Service, in 1943, all the City Livery Companies and Guilds gathered in St Paul’s Cathedral to worship, and lift their spirits after the Blitz. The Lord Mayor attended, along with the Sheriffs and the Court of Aldermen; the Lord Bishop preached the sermon. The Service continues, in a similar form, to this day and remains one of the few occasions when the City Livery Companies and Guilds gather as one.

The Company held its annual Budget Banquet on Tuesday 12th March in the wonderful Glaziers’ Hall.

After a drinks reception overlooking the Thames, some 150 members and their guests enjoyed a lavish dinner in the striking banquet hall.  The Company was delighted to welcome, as its guests, the Masters of other Financial Services Group (FSG) companies as well as senior representatives of the CIOT and ATT.

After dinner, Paul Johnson CBE (Director of the Institute of Fiscal Studies and our principal guest) provided an insightful commentary on the Spring budget, and what may (or may not) come of it.

Diners were also entertained by musicians from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, whose varied programme and wonderful musicality further added to the occasion.

Some fourteen new Freemen and Liverymen took wine with the Master, half of whom had been admitted at Court that afternoon, marking further progress along the the Company’s continuing path of growth and development.

Images of the Budget Banquet, and preceding admission ceremonies at Court, can be found here: Gerald Sharp Photography | Budget Banquet 12-3-24

The Master joined Freeman Ele Theochari and Freeman James Kean at the Guildhall, on Tuesday 12th March 2024, to witness them obtaining their Freedom of the City of London.

Freedom of the City is a precursor of advancement to the Livery, and it remains much sought after.  While some privileges associated with City Freedom have been overtaken by events, and the passage of time, participating in the annual sheep drive over London Bridge remains reassuringly extant!  

Both Freemen enjoyed the occasion – and James subsequently advanced to become a Liveryman of the Company at a Court Meeting that afternoon; both took wine with the Master at the Budget Banquet at Glaziers’ Hall in the evening.

The Master thanks Michael Ashdown (Chair of the Membership Committee) and Carolyn Finch (Administration and Events Officer) for arranging and supporting this Group Admission Ceremony, at the Guildhall. The next such Ceremony is planned for Monday 23rd September, prior to the Installation Court and Dinner on that day.

If you are interested in obtaining your Freedom of the City of London, please contact Carolyn: [email protected]

On 27 February the History of Tax enjoyed a fascinating presentation by Pat O’Brien who gave us a perspective on the creation of the Irish tax system 

Pat O’Brien is a PhD candidate and academic tutor in the School of History and Geography at Dublin City University, and before that had a long career in tax, both with the Irish Revenue and with advisory firms.

Pat seamlessly blended tax history with the wider history of the Irish War of Independence (1919 – 1921 and the Irish Civil War (1922 – 1923), covering the challenges of establishing a working tax system. Unlike the establishment of a new tax system in Japan in the post war peace (as covered by Professor Martin Daunton in February 2015), the Irish tax system was established during a tumultuous period. Whilst the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921 gave the Irish Free State fiscal autonomy, the Treaty was not accepted by some nationalists, and so the anticipated period of peace and stability was soon disrupted by civil war.

Against this backdrop, and the pressures of establishing a government and officials from scratch, the Irish tax system was effectively acquired as a going concern from Britain. All British tax legislation was carried forward and many British tax officials, who had been based in the Irish Free State before independence, were seconded to Ireland and remained in post. Having overcome the problems of establishing the tax system from scratch, further challenges remained, as the anti Treaty IRA mounted a campaign to try to seize control of the tax collection system from the Irish Provisional Government. As a result, tax offices and customs posts were occupied, and customs duties of £100,000 were seized in Cork. This campaign culminated in an attempt to burn the headquarters of the newly established Irish Revenue in February 1923. However, the Civil War faded away in spring 1923, and gave way to a period of stability.

Pat explained the importance of studying tax history to understand current developments in tax. It is this background to the Irish tax system that explains the number of similarities with the UK system, but notable that in establishing a consolidated Board for the Revenue and Customs and Excise, the Irish Free State was seventy years ahead of the formation of HMRC.

Pat’s talk was rich in detail, and we delighted to welcome him to speak, and very much hope that he will return at some point.

The next History of Tax session is on 29 October 2024, when David Goldberg KC will talk about the history of tax avoidance, with a focus on Rossminster.

 

I could report a wonderful success at the Pancake races with none of our entrants losing any race or I could report that the races were cancelled due to wet weather!  Unfortunately. it was the latter.

However, all our runners turned up, together with six members of the Company to cheer them on.  The runners were a good mixture of experienced and new members, with Barbara Abraham ready to run in the Master’s Race, Howard Ashmore in the Liveryman section, Karen McNicholls in the Ladies section and Colin Smith as Hector the Tax Inspector in the fancy dress section.

The slippery conditions outside made it impossible to run so we were all herded into the Guildhall Crypts and milled around for an hour or so eating pancakes and socialising.  Eventually the fancy dress entrants were paraded in front of the Sheriffs and the winner was Good Queen Bess worn by the Plaisterers’ Company.  However, Colin’s Tax Inspector did attract a little gaggle of attractive young ladies, so our Company did have a moment of fame!

Then the Masters lined up for a pancake tossing competition and the winner was the Master Tyler and Bricklayer who managed over 80 tosses in 30 seconds!

All this was followed by a very enjoyable lunch and drinks.

I enjoyed organising the event and thanks for all who took part from the Company in one way or another even if it turned not quite as expected.  Let’s have another go at winning next year.

Alison Lovejoy

 

Please find attached a Christmas Message from the Lord Mayor, Alderman Professor Michael Mainelli, to all members of the Livery:

Lord Mayors Christmas Bulletin 2023

The Worshipful Company of Tax Advisers, the Worshipful Company of Marketors and the Company of Watermen & Lightermen of the River Thames participated in the Lord Mayors Show on Saturday 11th November with a ‘Tri-Company Entry’ led by the Corps of Drums of St Dunstan’s College CCF. The entry also included a parade of 24 Army Cadets including members of our very own affiliated City of London Army Cadet Force, members of which also proudly displayed the 6 Tax placards that accompanied the two Bentleys allocated to the WCOTA. We loudly cheered at the appropriate moment the 695th Lord Mayor of London, Professor Michael Mainelli, who is a member of all three companies. The Master and Wendy, his Consort enjoyed travelling in a rare 1929 Bentley and accompanying nearby in a more recent 2008 Bentley was Alan McLintock. Around 90 members and family of the three companies (including around 25 from the WCOTA) viewed the show outside the Côte Brasserie St Paul’s before enjoying a leisurely lunch there. The weather was surprising sunny and bright and everyone we spoke to thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Please see the links below for the official photographs and a Youtube link to the show (see 1.05 onwards for our entry).

11283 – LMS 23 Worshipful Company of Marketors/Watermen & Lightermen/Tax Advisors

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okWZlxGqxpQ

Lord Mayor’s Show 2023
Worshipful Company of Marketors/Watermen & Lightermen/Tax Advisors

On a wet Thursday evening in November a group from the Company had a guided tour of Temple Church, by the Reader the Reverend Mark Hatcher.

Mark took us round the church explaining its history and the important role that it plays not only in the lives of Inner and Middle Temple but also in constitutional history. It was in the original part of Temple Church that the detail of Magna Carta was negotiated in 1215 between King John and the barons. Later it also had a connection to the American Declaration of Independence, as six members of Middle or Inner Temple were signatories to the Declaration in 1776.

The church is a beautiful and historic building and well worth a visit.

The evening concluded with supper in the Pegasus Bar and Restaurant in Inner Temple.

 

On Friday 10th November, the Master attended the Silent Ceremony at the Guildhall, during with Alderman Professor Michael Mainelli took up office as the 695th Lord Mayor of the City of London.  The Master was accompanied by Upper Warden Kevin Thomas, and Court Assistants Richard Geldard and Nicolas Kokkinos.

The Master subsequently attended the Presentation of Addresses, and presented to the new Lord Mayor a set of 12 engraved wine glasses bearing the Company’s coat of arms.  The Master was accompanied by his Consort, Wendy Gibbons, and Upper Warden Kevin Thomas, Past Masters Andrew Gillett and Morag Loader, and Court Assistants Richard Geldard and Nicolas Kokkinos.

The Lord Mayor has written a letter of thanks: LM Thank you