Agenda item

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

Alderman Roger Gifford

their most sincere thanks for the distinguished way in which he has carried out the varied demands of the Office of Lord Mayor of the City of London over the past year.

Whether at home or abroad, he has been an exemplary ambassador for both the City of London and the United Kingdom. He has made great efforts to strengthen the City’s engagement with the European Union and to raise its profile in the continuing debate over the future of the UK in the Union. In particular, he engaged with all the other twenty seven member states of the EU, through visits or hosting events at Mansion House, and initiated a day of events including debates and a major dinner in late May attended by the Governor of the European Central Bank. Closer to home, he has highlighted the City’s contribution to the arts, culture and creative industries and has demonstrated how the City’s investment in the arts has generated business returns together with significant social benefits to London as a whole.

The theme of ‘the City in Society’ has placed philanthropy and legacy at the core of Roger’s year in office. His love of music, shared by the Lady Mayoress, has led to him to establish a new charity, the City Music Foundation, which has been the primary beneficiary of his Appeal. This foundation aims to give musical apprenticeships to young talented people from around the country who are seeking their first professional opportunities in life. He has also led the donation by the City of London Corporation of a chamber organ to Her Majesty The Queen to be placed in Westminster Abbey to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Her Coronation. This organ was the centrepiece of a series of signature concerts, held at Mansion House, including one which appropriately celebrated coronation music. His Appeal also supports a number of other charities but perhaps the most noteworthy for its legacy, is an appeal to fund the planting of 4,500 mainly native oak and hornbeam trees on a thirty acre site, to be known as Gifford’s Wood. The project also provides an opportunity to plant some pioneer species more tolerant of projected changes in climate and potentially to create a seed bank to secure these species for the future.

The Lord Mayor has promoted the interests of the City of London and of the nation around the World, visiting over 25 different countries; places as diverse as Latin America, the Gulf region, Russia, Japan and Africa and more recently China, Malaysia and Kuwait. He also strengthened and highlighted links between the City and the wider UK economy, visiting regional business centres where he has promoted his overseas visits programme and gathered messages to deploy abroad, ensuring that he is representing the views of the entirety of UK based financial and business services. In a sometimes hostile environment, he has defended the importance of the City and financial services while stressing the true role of finance as a means to achieving Britain’s prosperity rather than just an end in itself.

The Lord Mayor has acted as host at many special occasions in Guildhall and Mansion House in the past year, including two magnificent State Banquets, the reception following the funeral of Baroness Thatcher and a visit of the Prime Minister of Japan during which he gave a keynote address in Guildhall

Such a diverse programme has placed huge demands on the Lord Mayor and he has risen to the challenge with aplomb. His never waning enthusiasm and utmost sincerity has made him an excellent communicator and much sought after speaker. Through his good humour and impeccable conduct, he has upheld the dignity of his office while never succumbing to the self importance of the Mikado’s Poobah.

His colleagues on this Honourable Court also wish to pay tribute to the Lady Mayoress. Clare’s highly successful career as a consultant physician and her keen interest in music and history, demonstrated by her writing a children’s book on Dick Whittington and co-writing a book on the Samuel Collection, have stood her in good stead when taking upon herself a packed and varied programme. Thanks are due to Clare for her unstinting support and her many contributions are warmly acknowledged.   Perhaps one of the most notable personal events during the year was the celebration by the Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress of their 5^th Wedding Anniversary in the Church of St. Bartholomew the Great, in this City.

In taking their leave of this, their 685^th Lord Mayor, Honourable Members trust that, after a well-earned rest, the family will look back on their unique year with the greatest pleasure, a justifiable pride and immense satisfaction.