Lightmongers were delighted to welcome members and guests to our 2026 Summer Banquet at the magnificent Barbers’ Hall on 2nd July. It was a real pleasure to enjoy pre-dinner drinks on the terrace and take full advantage of the warm summer sunshine.

At dinner, Junior Warden Fr Peter Harris warmly welcomed our distinguished guests, including Alderman Michael Mainelli, the 695th Lord Mayor of the City of London, accompanied by his Consort, Mrs Elizabeth Mainelli, representing the current Lady Mayor. We were also pleased to welcome Kevin Meighan, Master of the Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners, together with his Clerk, Samuel Rogers.

In his after dinner speech the Master, Graham Smith, thanked everyone for supporting the event and gave a brief update on recent activities, highlighting his recent visit, with other Lightmonger members, to the New College Worcester (NCW) Celebration Day. NCW is one of our affiliated schools that the Lightmongers Charitable Trust support, providing education and life skills development to students who are blind or visually impaired. The achievements of the students and the staff for the academic year were hugely impressive and rightly celebrated – Lightmongers are proud to be supporters of NCW and also our other affiliated School, Mary Hare, for deaf and hearing impaired students.

 

Guests were treated to an entertaining address from Alderman Mainelli, whose speech was sprinkled with lighting-inspired humour.   Responding on behalf of the guests, Peter Diamond, Chairman of Pudsey Diamond Engineering Ltd, shared the inspiring story behind the growth of his successful lighting engineering business.  A great example of innovation, resilience and entrepreneurship in the UK’s lighting industry.

The dinner was the opportunity for an exchange of gifts between Lightmongers and the Lady Mayor, Lightmongers making a donation to the Lady Mayor’s charitable appeal and Alderman Mainelli presenting the Master and Clerk with personal gifts on behalf of the Lady Mayor.

After dinner, we were treated to a selection of classical favourites from Gilbert and Sullivan thanks to three exceptionally talented students of the Guildhall School of Music, Jacob Cole (tenor), Molly Baker (soprano) and Emanuel Samant-Crampton (pianist). It is always a privilege to be able to support the Guildhall School of Music students by providing opportunities for them to gain experience.

We were also proud to be joined by cadets from our affiliated unit, 56 (Woolwich) Squadron RAF Air Cadets, led by Squadron Leader Mark Bird. Their attendance reflects the strong and enduring relationship between the Company and the young people we are so proud to support.

The Master closed the formal part of the evening by highlighting the 20th anniversary of the Lightmongers Charity Golf Day on 8th September, our major fund-raising event of the year.