Agenda item

Resolved Unanimously:- That in taking their leave of Alderman Ian David Luder, CBE

upon his retirement as Alderman for the Ward of Castle Baynard, 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 twenty-five years.

Ian has been the elected member of a local authority since he was 25 years old. His service with the Corporation began when he was first elected to the Court of Common Council for the Ward of Farrington Without in 1998. Subsequently, in 2005, he was admitted to this Court as Alderman for the Ward of Castle Baynard. In 2007, Ian was elected to the Office of Sheriff of the City of London and, in 2008, as the City’s 681st Lord Mayor. During his Mayoralty, Ian worked tirelessly, with the support of his wife Lin, as an ambassador for London, promoting the City as a top-tier global financial centre.  Ian has been re-elected to this Court twice, first in 2011 and again most recently in 2017. During his time as Senior Aldermen of this Court, Ian has taken part in once-in-a-lifetime events such as her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee and the recent coronation of our new monarch, King Charles III.

Ian has served on over 20 different committees during his time with the Corporation, including as Chairman or Deputy Chairman of at least nine of those, including, most notably, the Finance Committee, the Audit & Risk Management Committee and the Local Government Pensions Board.

Born at Mile End Hospital and educated at Haberdashers’ Aske’s School, Ian went on to study Economics and Economic History at University College London. As a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Adviser, he was a partner first at Arthur Andersen for over 13 years and then with Grant Thornton UK LLP, specialising in global partnerships, professional institutions and charities.

Ian has also been extensively involved in Health and has held the role of non-executive directorship at Homerton University Hospital as well as that of Deputy Chairman. He was also Chairman of the Basildon & Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust from 2012-2015, during which time he oversaw the hospital’s move from being in Special Measures to having one of the lowest mortality rates of a District General Hospital.

A practicing City Magistrate, Ian is on the Court of his mother Livery, the Worshipful Company of Coopers. He is a founder member and Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Tax Advisers and he was the Sponsoring Alderman of the Worshipful Company of Arts Scholars, who were until earlier this year the newest Livery Company, and he served as its Master in its Livery Year 2014-15.

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