Agenda item

Vote of Thanks to the Late Lord Mayor

To pass the Vote of Thanks, read informally at the last meeting of the Court, to the

late Lord Mayor.

Minutes:

Resolved unanimously - That the Members of this Honourable Court take great pleasure in expressing to

 

WILLIAM ANTHONY BOWATER RUSSELL

 

their sincere gratitude and appreciation for the distinguished manner in which he has carried out the role of Lord Mayor of the City of London during the past two years: the first Lord Mayor to serve a second term since 1861.

 

We are especially grateful to William for placing the recovery of the City at the heart of his Mayoral Theme, as the City strives to respond to the challenges arising from COVID-19. William has worked tirelessly, leading a dedicated “Re-opening campaign” to encourage people back to the Square Mile. He visited several hundred businesses, from banks and barbers, to pubs and sandwich shops, culminating in the festival of church bells. This saw William ringing the Great Paul bell at St Paul’s Cathedral, which at 16½ long tons is the second largest bell in the UK and had not been rung for the past 20 years.

 

As a Haberdasher, it comes as no surprise that William threaded together numerous strands of work in his Mayoral Theme, Global UK - The New Future, interweaving the importance of growing global trade, strengthening innovation and promoting a rich cultural and creative economy. As part of this theme, he convened the Culture and Commerce taskforce, putting our world-leading cultural sector at the heart of London’s recovery, and he has been an ardent advocate for UK business and trade. Green Finance has been a significant theme within this, with the hugely successful Green Horizons Summit a particular success.

 

Conducting business and fulfilling the demands of being Lord Mayor necessitated innovation to deal with the challenges posed by COVID-19, with quick adaptation to virtual visits as international travel became untenable. From virtual visits to the Far East and South America, to physical visits to the Middle East and North America, the Lord Mayor has retained his enthusiasm and good humour throughout the many hours spent both travelling and while sitting in front of a screen meeting people across the world. That good humour at virtual meetings also includes his leadership of this Court, as the first Lord Mayor to preside over virtual meetings of the Common Council.

 

Throughout these two hectic and unusual years, in all his work, the Lord Mayor has received magnificent support from Hilary, the Lady Mayoress, and, as we move to the close of what we hope has been a memorable and special period for them both, this Honourable Court thanks William for all that he has done as Lord Mayor. In taking their leave of William, their 692nd Lord Mayor, Honourable Members send to him and Hilary – as well as Edward, Nicholas, Alistair, and Helena - our very best wishes for their future good health and happiness.

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