The Lady Masters Association exists to maintain and promote fellowship and the support of charity among ladies who hold or have held the office of: Master, Prime Warden or Upper Bailiff of Livery Companies of the City of London, or of Guilds or Companies without Livery formed under the auspices of the Court of Aldermen; President of the City Livery Club; Master of the Guild of Freemen; Ladies who hold or have held the offices of Sheriff or Lord Mayor.  The joining fee is £25 and the annual subscription from the following November also £25. We contact prospective members shortly after they are installed in office to invite them to join. If you believe you qualify, but have not been approached, or have been approached previously and now wish to join, or for any other information, please contact the Chairman on  chairman@ladymasters.org.uk


Our future events are set out under tab Future Events


Historical details, including lists of all women masters to end 2021, and Erica Stary's Research Paper on Women in the Livery and High Civic Office are downloadable from tab Historical  Records.



Message from The Chairman, Pamela Taylor 


News:   2022-2023                                                                                             April 2023


The LMA year started in April with the well-attended Annual General Meeting being held by Zoom, when the Chairmanship was handed to me by Chairman Ann Buxton, who was thanked warmly for all she did during the pandemic to keep contact going and to organise an online programme. The Lady Masters Association members have felt huge pleasure at being able to return to a full programme of face-to-face events after the privations of lockdown. Numbers of Lady Masters increase annually, with over 210 Lady Masters since the first Lady Master and 6 Aldermen, including one Lord Mayor – 40 years ago this Autumn. This is a milestone which we intend to celebrate in style with a formal lunch in October 2023, hopefully at Trinity House.

 

Having all become so familiar with meeting by Zoom, we shall not be abandoning this technology completely, so valuable for avoiding the need to travel into London. But we certainly lost no time in arranging a number of live events, including periodic lunches at Ironmongers’ Hall after Committee meetings, and open to all members. In May 2022 we had a fascinating City Slavery Walk with tea afterwards at The City of London Club in Old Broad Street. Our guide, Mark King, was a real mine of exceptionally interesting nuggets of information, which illuminated the walk brilliantly. The same month saw our annual Wardens’ Event, held on 23 May 23 2022 on Zoom, offering advice and support to women on the progression ladder. It was a most successful event, with many emails from up-and coming Masters, who appreciated the advice and contacts made. This year, we are delighted to be able to return on 22 May to the Members’ Dining Room at Guildhall for a face-to-face session, rather than one on Zoom.

 

Our pre-Christmas Dinner in December 2022 was held at Wax Chandlers’ Hall, where our guest speaker, Laura Winningham, OBE, the Co-founder and former CEO of City Harvest London entertained us by informing us of the challenging work of this organisation during the pandemic and beyond. It was a splendid occasion. Then, no fewer than 50 gathered in the Old Bailey to hear the current Master Pewterer, Her Honour Wendy Joseph KC, address us inspiringly and intriguingly on her career and recent much-acclaimed book ‘Unlawful Killings (Tales from the Old Bailey)’, now in The Times Best Seller List. All in all, it has been great that so many of us have been able to meet in person, to enjoy camaraderie and to make new contacts.

 

We also have other events to look forward to: the 2023 AGM n 24 April in the Members' Dining Room in Guildhall, a garden-inspired summer meeting and a session on Zoom in September on climate issues, by Alderman Alison Gowman and Past Master Gardener Heather Barrett-Mold. The 40th Anniversary should be a highlight in the Autumn, at which we hope to see many Present and Past Masters.


My thanks to all of the Committee who work tirelessly to create a varied programme and to the members who support the LMA.

 

Pamela Taylor, Chairman






Covid Year Recollections
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