Agenda item

Report of the Executive Director, Private Secretary to the Lord Mayor.

The Committee received a report of the Executive Director, Private Secretary to the Lord Mayor providing a summary of the history, background and current practice associated with the ceremonial custom of ‘knocking in’ at the Old Bailey.

The Chairman reported that this practice was currently optional for those Aldermen attending lunch. Where Sheriffs were hosting lunches, they did ‘Knock In’ wherever possible on that day.

An Alderman queried gowns for this purpose, where they were kept and laundered, when each gown should be worn and their relevance/what they represented. The Chairman commented that he had recently been informed that gowns were no longer worn for this purpose. The Town Clerk undertook to seek further clarification on this point and report back.

An Alderman stated that it was one of the civic duties of an Alderman to attend the Old Bailey on a regular basis and that this was not therefore optional.

The Chairman therefore also took this opportunity to remind all to respond to requests for Old Bailey lunch rota allocations.

RESOLVED: – That Members note the report.