Our Summer Banquet this year was held on 5th July and by kind permission of the Lord Mayor, we were able to hold it at the Mansion House in London.

As ever, it was a very enjoyable and sociable evening in the wonderful surroundings of the Egyptian Hall of the Mansion House.

Dining in the magnificent Egyptian room at Mansion House

The evening kicked off with a very enjoyable reception, allowing plenty of time for members and guests to greet and catch-up with each other and based on the hubbub of conversation, there was plenty of catching up going on!

We were delighted that a number of air cadets from 56 (Woolwich) Squadron, one of our two cadet affiliations, had volunteered to help with welcoming members and their guests to Mansion House.

Air Cadets from 56 (Woolwich) Squadron, with their Commanding Officer, Squadron Leader Mark Bird

The reception was followed by an excellent dinner during which we were entertained with music by the London Banqueting Ensemble, who provided us with a memorable, humorous, rendition of the Post Horn Galop.

Junior Warden, Graham Smith, gave a speech of welcome to the guests and proposed the toast to The Lord Mayor and the City of London Corporation.

Junior Warden Graham Smith, welcoming all guests and proposing the toast to City of London Corporation

The Lord Mayor, Alderman Professor Michael Mainelli, responded on behalf of the City with an excellent and amusing speech, in which he gave an update on some of the current developments in the City. He complimented the Lightmongers on the contribution they make to the City of London Livery movement and their generous support to charitable causes (particularly those linked to sensory impairment of sight and hearing) and encouraging education in the lighting industry. He presented small mementos of the evening to the Master and to the Clerk, Mark Houghton.

The Lord Mayor, Alderman Michael Mainelli giving his speech

The Master, Peter McVeigh added his welcome to all the guests, particularly the Lord Mayor and the Sheriff Masojada, together with their consorts. He thanked everyone for attending and making it a successful and memorable evening. He concluded his speech by presenting a cheque for £1000 from the Lightmongers Charity to the Lord Mayor’s Appeal “A Better City for All”, which supports a range of charities.

The Master, Peter McVeigh, presenting a cheque to the Lord Mayors’ Appeal

Philip Le Sueur, Constable of the Trinity Parish, Jersey, responded on behalf of the guests. He gave a witty speech, concluding with a toast to the Lightmongers Company, “may it flourish root and branch forever”.

Philip Le Sueur proposing the toast to the Lightmongers

The Master closed the evening by thanking everyone for supporting the event and wishing them a safe journey home.

A very enjoyable evening for all those attending and a great opportunity for members to entertain family, social and business guests in a superb and prestigious setting.  If you want to make an early reservation in your diary for next year the provisional date for the Banquet is 4th July 2025.