Agenda item

Vote of thanks to Sir Robert Gerard Finch:

Resolved unanimously – That upon his retirement as Alderman for the Ward of Coleman Street, this Court desires to place on record its most sincere appreciation of the service that he has given to the City Corporation and, in particular, to this Court, over the past 21 years.

Sir Robert was elected as Alderman for the Ward of Coleman Street in 1992 and subsequently elected to the Office of Sheriff in 1999.  In 2003, as the City’s 676^th Lord Mayor, he carried out the demanding role with real commitment and undertook a full programme of City and foreign events, including delegations to over 33 countries and the re-opening of Wren’s Temple Bar at its new location in Paternoster Square on 10^th November 2004. 

Following his apprenticeship in the City of London as an Articled Clerk in 1963, Sir Robert went on to qualify as a solicitor in 1968 and subsequently became a partner in Linklaters’ real estate practice in 1974.  He enjoyed an impressive career spanning 36 years and was heavily involved in a variety of national and international schemes and transactions for City institutions.  Sir Robert’s legal and business acumen ensured that he was ably equipped to promote the Square Mile and the Financial City widely and with great success during his Mayoral year and he was subsequently awarded a knighthood in 2004 for his services to the City of London.

Property and planning have been areas of particular interest to Sir Robert throughout both his professional career and his service on this Court, as demonstrated by his membership of the Planning and Transportation (formerly Planning and Communications) Committee for eight years; his membership of the City Lands and Bridge House Estates Committee and, in more recent years, the Property Investment Board.  However, Sir Robert has served on many of the Corporation’s Committees including the Board of Governors of the City of London School for Girls, the Finance and Policy and Resources Committees; Epping Forest, Barbican Residential and Gresham (City Side) Committees.

As a passionate supporter of the arts, during his Mayoral year Sir Robert selected the London Symphony Orchestra's "Music and the Arts for Everyone" as his chosen charity, helping to bring music to more than 400 schools in the south-east.   This passion for education, music and the arts led him to undertake an array of wider appointments throughout his civic career including his membership of King Edwards School, Witley and Christ’s Hospital School, West Sussex; St Luke’s Foundation; St Paul’s School and Chairman of the London Symphony Orchestra’s Sponsored Education Trust. 

As a past Master of the Solicitor’s Company, a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Innholders – where he was Master Innholder between 2009 and 2010- and an Honorary Liveryman of the Leathersellers, Sir Robert has maintained strong links to the Livery throughout his service on this Court.

On taking their leave, his colleagues would like to express to Sir Robert Gerard Finch their very best wishes for his future health and happiness with the hope that he and his wife Patricia will long retain many happy memories of their civic life and all that they have achieved for the wider City, for the City Corporation and for this Court.