On Monday 7 November, the Clerk and I attended the Garden of Remembrance service at St Paul’s Cathedral. This special service of remembrance took place outside the cathedral in the churchyard gardens where members of the Livery Companies placed 140 wooden crosses to commemorate lost comrades. A very moving service, led by the new Dean of St Paul’s, the Very Reverend Andrew Tremlett, in the presence of the Right Honourable The Lord Mayor Alderman Vincent Keaveny and the Lady Mayoress, Mrs Amanda Keaveny.

We were supported by cadets from the City of London Academy Islington (Honourable Artillery Company) Combined Cadet Force. After the Last Post, two minutes silence and Reveille, the epitaph was delivered by Lieutenant General James Bushell, National President of the Royal Legion. The Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress placed the first crosses, followed by the Sheriffs and representatives of the City, HM forces and other service organisations.

The service was followed by The service was followed by luncheon at Plaisterers’ Hall, and walking past Guildhall we were able to view the Lord Mayor’s carriage fully restored and ready to be used later in the week.

That afternoon, I attended the service of thanksgiving for the Lord Mayor at his “local” church, St Stephen Walbrook. It was conducted by the Priest-in Charge, The Reverend Stephen Baxter together with the Chaplain to the Lord Mayor, Reverend Monsignor James Curry. Together, today’s events represent some of the last official duties of the Lord Mayor prior to the silent ceremony to admit the new Lord Mayor.