The Worshipful Company of Lightmongers is delighted to announce that Mark Houghton will take on the role of Clerk to the Company from 1st September 2022.  He brings a wealth of military, livery and membership organisation experience to the Company.

Mark has completed a successful Army career undertaking a wide range of appointments including commanding the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery when it was based in St Johns Wood in London.

He was fortunate to have worked as a Technical Official to help deliver the London 2012 Olympics.

Over the past nine years he has worked in the public, private and charitable sectors including leading multi-disciplinary groups overseeing rehabilitation for injured service personnel as well as chairing the Board of Trustees for a charity providing support to service families.

He has been involved in the livery movement for nearly 30 years, having joined the livery of The Worshipful Company of Farriers in 1994 and been admitted into the Freedom of The City of London in the same year: He was Master of that Company in 2021/22.

Mark says that improving the lives of people through recognition and the award of qualifications has always been important to him and he is delighted to be taking on the role and responsibilities of Clerk to The Worshipful Company of Lightmongers.

Mark will be ably assisted by Abigail Jones (Abbie) who has been appointed Assistant Clerk.

Abbie has supported our Clerk Phill Hyde for 10 years taking care of the administration of functions and events as well as membership applications, progression arrangements and installations.

Abbie trained as a singer, specialising in Musical Theatre and Classic Jazz, but as with many creatives, has spent the majority of her working life as a Personal Assistant/Administrator, working for a number of Churches, Musicians and Producers.

She has also been a Quizmaster for the last 15 years, hosting quizzes for various organisations in some very interesting (and some not so interesting) venues across England.

Performing, however is still her main passion and she sings as often as she can professionally, as a soloist and in a couple of pro choirs and has even taken on some of her most favoured roles in a local Amateur Dramatics Society she helped found, such as Nancy in Oliver, and The Witch in Into the Woods.

Abbie lives in London with her husband, son and daughter (and her two cats) and is very pleased to be continuing her work with the Lightmongers, after almost ten years working behind the scenes.

Lightmongers would like to express their gratitude to Interim Clerk, Christine Cook, formerly of the Guild of Freemen, who stepped in at short notice following the untimely death of Phill Hyde and guided us with such assurance through the past few months.

You can reach Abbie on administrator@lightmongers.co.uk – please add this to your safe sender list and as a contact to ensure you don’t miss any emails from her.

Best wishes

Margaret Fitzsimons
Master Lightmonger