Agenda item

To consider the terms of a resolution of condolence following the death of Sir Roger Gifford, lately Alderman for the Ward of Cordwainer.

Resolved unanimously – “That, upon his terribly sad and unexpected death, the Members of this Honourable Court wish to place on record their most sincere condolences, as well as their heartfelt thanks to:

Sir Roger Gifford

for the most distinguished service that he gave to the City Corporation, as Alderman for the Ward of Cordwainer from 2004, Sheriff in 2008/09 and as the 685th Lord Mayor of the City of London in 2012/13.

A highly respected and visible senior figure in international banking, Sir Roger’s entire professional life was spent in financial services – a far cry from reading chemistry at Trinity College, Oxford. He started out at SG Warburg in the 1970s before joining SEB, the Nordic banking group in 1982, where he would spend the remainder of his career. He served as SEB’s UK Country head from 2000 to 2017, following a six-year stint prior to that heading up their Tokyo operations. A great love and affinity for Japan was formed during his time there - during the COVID world of virtual meetings we have just experienced, colleagues were regularly treated to Roger sitting in front of a silk screen or other antiquities from Japan! -  and he was a great champion of UK-Japan relations in both business and culture, contributing to deepening the friendship and ties between the City of London and Tokyo.

I must also mention Roger’s selfless and unstinting commitment to his Ward during the 17 years we were privileged to have him as our close colleague and friend. Not only did he strive to make himself available whenever needed to local businesses, but he was also a constant source of support to me and to  Alex Barr, Tracey Graham, George Gillon and Sir Mark Boleat, the current and previous Common Councillors for Cordwainer during his term. Roger also showed his support for the Ward through his enthusiastic patronage of our many shops, restaurants, and bars – not least the Japanese restaurant in which he forever ‘waxed eloquent’ about the food he fell so in love with during his time in Japan – praise which was definitely justified!

Many people outside this Court will be most familiar with Roger from his energetic term as Lord Mayor. The theme of his Mayoral year was “The City in Society”, championing the role that business, and financial services in particular, can play in nurturing talent, supporting the wider economy, creating jobs and making a social contribution across society. He was a great advocate for the UK and the City’s positive global influence through its internationally respected institutions and traditions, including Common Law, and highlighted the significance of soft power at every opportunity.

Of course, his Mayoralty almost didn’t happen, as Roger often recounted the tale of the wheel of the Lord Mayor’s coach falling off during his Lord Mayor’s Show! However, with a swift recovery, our new Lord Mayor was able to get the Show back on the road, so to speak, and be ‘seen’ this time via the less fragile platform of the back of a military Land Rover. Roger’s successful mayoralty was marked by many events, but the words of his post-election speech “…service is, and must be, at the heart of the financial services industry of the UK…the City must serve society – and be seen to do so” summed up everything that was selfless about Roger.

After his Mayoralty, he fashioned a new role for himself as a persuasive and well-connected advocate for the embedding of financial services in the climate action agenda, as Chair of the Green Finance Institute, and the Government’s Green Finance Taskforce. Undoubtedly, Roger leaves a strong legacy in this rapidly growing area as the UK prepares to host the COP26 international climate summit in Glasgow later this year, where he played a key role for the City and the UK in shaping plans.

Master Musician in 2016, the arts - and music especially - were Roger’s abiding passion. He was a talented performer on the piano and, during his Mayoralty, he would often fill the short gaps between business meetings by playing the Mansion House grand piano. It was also not unknown for the Mayoral recorder to be produced for an impromptu recital on overseas visits! His was the guiding hand behind the City’s Diamond Jubilee gift to Her Majesty The Queen, a spectacular pipe organ now installed in the Lady Chapel of Westminster Abbey. He was Chairman of the English Chamber Orchestra and the Tenebrae Choir, Chair of the St Paul’s Cathedral Council and a Trustee of St Paul’s Cathedral Choir School, and his Lord Mayor’s Appeal supported the City Music Foundation, which he co-founded with  his wife Clare, to help young musicians into the world of professional performance. His charitable and philanthropic activities beyond that are too many to list, but covered areas as diverse as the creation of Gifford Wood and the Presidency of the Bank Workers Charity Trustees Board.

Sir Roger brought enthusiasm, energy and passion to all that he did.  Through his vision and stewardship in the area of Green Finance he leaves a permanent mark on the industry. For all Members of this Honourable Court and those across his many professional and personal networks, he will always be remembered with great fondness, and I am proud and honoured to have known Roger, my friend and colleague.

In expressing our most sincere condolences to Clare and the family, I am sure that all colleagues on the Court will join me in recording our heartfelt thanks for all that he did and mourn the passing of someone who made such an impact, had so much joi de vivre, and so much kindness.  Rest in peace Roger.”

On behalf of the Lord Mayor, the Town Clerk also relayed to the Court the sad news concerning the very recent death of Joyce Nash, long-standing Member for the Ward of Aldersgate. It was noted that a resolution of condolence would be presented to the next meeting.

The Court proceeded to pause for a moment’s silence and reflection.