Agenda item

Resolution of Condolence:

Resolved unanimously: That the Members of this Honourable Court having learned of the recent death of Sir Brian Jenkin, an Alderman for the Ward of Cordwainer from 1980 to 2004, an incredible 24 years of service; as Sheriff of the City in 1987-88; and as the 664^th Lord Mayor of the City of London in 1991.

Sir Brian enjoyed a high-flying career as a Chartered Accountant, as a partner in Coopers & Lybrand. He became a pioneer in computer auditing, both in his firm and in the accounting profession generally. He wrote a standard book and called it “Approach to Computers” – first published in 1978 and translated into five languages. In the profession, Sir Brian served as Chairman of the London Society of Chartered Accountants, and President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. He was elected the President of the British Computer Society for its 40^th Anniversary year, 1997-98.

On retirement from Coopers & Lybrand, Sir Brian joined the Board of the Woolwich Building Society, becoming its Chairman in 1995. In 1997, the Woolwich Building Society demutualised and joined the FTSE 100 as Woolwich PLC. In 2000, the Woolwich PLC shareholders accepted an offer from Barclays, and Sir Brian spent his last years in business as the Deputy Chairman of Barclays, retiring in 2004.

In addition to his business industry special interest, Sir Brian’s City civic CV was equally impressive. His Mayoral theme was “The City Serving Europe” and spent much of his time and energy emphasising the City’s businesses across Europe. His Mayoralty was also particularly concerned to the response to the IRA bombing in front of the Baltic Exchange building at St Mary Axe. Due to the repairs at Mansion House, he was the only Lord Mayor in the modern mayoralty to spend non-peace time living there.

As well as Chairman of both the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen and the Privileges Committee, he was also active in the Livery, as Master of three companies: Chartered Accountants, Merchant Taylors and Information Technologists (which received the livery during his Mayoralty).

Sir Brian was a non-executive director of many companies, but probably his main contribution was in charity work. He was Chairman, later President, of the Charities Aid Foundation, and during his chairmanship the Charity Bank was formed. Later, he became Prior of the Order of St John and Chairman of St John Ambulance. He was also a long-standing Trustee of Community Service Volunteers.

As a result of his extensive professional work and public service, Sir Brian received the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) in 1991 and was also appointed a Knight of Justice of the Order of St John by Her Majesty the Queen in the same year. In addition, he received a number of Honorary Doctorates from Oxford and City Universities.

Members of this Honourable Court wish to take the opportunity the offer Sir Brian’s family their most sincere and heartfelt sympathy at this sad time.