Agenda item

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY –

That in taking their leave of Sir David Howard Bt, upon his retirement as Alderman for the Ward of Cornhill, this Court desires to place on record its most sincere appreciation of the service he has given to the City Corporation and, in particular, to the Court of Aldermen, over the past thirty years.

The 3^rd Howard baronet of Great Rissington, Sir David was elected to the Court of Common Council for the Ward of Cornhill in 1972. Subsequently, in 1986, he was admitted to this Court as Alderman for the Ward of Cornhill.  In 1997, Sir David was elected to the Office of Sheriff of the City of London and, in 2000, as the City’s 673rd Lord Mayor.  It is particularly notable that his is the first family where three successive generations have served in this high Office. 

A City Stockbroker for over forty years, during his Mayoralty Sir David was well equipped to promote the Square Mile and the Financial City widely and with great success. He became a Knight of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in 2000; and also received the Grand Cordon of the Order of Independence of Jordan in 2001.

Sir David has enjoyed an active and high-profile civic career, both here at the City Corporation but also in wider local government, as highlighted by his term of office as a councillor at the London Borough of Sutton between 1974 and 1978. He has served on the majority of the City Corporation’s committees and, as Senior Alderman, has actively promoted the role of the Mayoralty and sought to strengthen the Court of Aldermen. Sir David is a font of all knowledge about the heritage and the long, rich history that the Court of Aldermen and the City Corporation continues to share with numerous bodies and organisations, as well as the Livery, and has also served on numerous outside bodies including the United Westminster School’s Foundation Board of which he is very passionate.  

Sir David, his father and his grandfather have given more than 70 years of unbroken service on the Common Council and the Court of Aldermen and we are delighted to see that his son Robert has succeeded him as Alderman for the Ward of Cornhill and hopefully will continue the Howard dynasty. On the occasion of Sir David’s retirement, his colleagues would like to express their most sincere thanks for the invaluable contribution he has made.

Together we hope that he enjoys a happy and healthy retirement at home and in Portugal with Val and that they will long retain many happy memories of his civic life and all he has achieved for the City, the City Corporation and this Court.

FURTHER RESOLVED – That the Vote of Thanks be fairly transcribed, signed by the Town Clerk and presented to Sir David Howard.