The life-blood of commerce was in the City of London last month for the Lord Mayors Show.
The Institute of Couriers chair Carl Lomas, said: “The rain was lashing down but there was no dampening of spirits for the showcase of logistics for the new Lord Mayor. A thousand years of transport combined at the head of parade for Royal Mail and the Carmen transport livery.”
Institute of Couriers fellows cheered from under their IOC brollies at Guildhall and Carmen apprentice Caitland caught the very first photos as the procession of transport proceeded down Gresham Street to Mansion House.
500 years for Royal Mail and 500 years for the Carmen, transport livery and boys in red entered floats at the head of the parade celebrating. There were 150 floats in total, 200 horses and 7,000 people in the parade to showcase all things transport of London, to commerce to the new Lord Mayor, Alderman Andrew Parmley.
The Royal Mail featured with a 19th century horse drawn mail coach to celebrate five hundred years of mail and express delivery with posties carrying giant copies of iconic special stamps from Penny Black to the Routemaster bus editions.
Moya Greene, Royal Mail’s Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to take part in the Lord Mayor’s show as part of our 500 year celebrations. Even though today’s postal service is very different to the one King Henry VIII founded in 1516, we are proud of our heritage and have never erred from our core aim – to deliver mail safely, swiftly and securely.” Royal Mail has been headquartered in the City of London since 1635 following the opening of the first Letter Office at Sherborne Lane.
The Carmen livery with Master Marsha Rae Ratcliff were two slots behind the Royal Mail to reinforce the strategic importance of transport as the life blood of the City Commerce in London.
Graham Cole OBE, known to millions as PC Tony Stamp in “The Bill”, led the Worshipful Company of Carmen’s entry with an original ancient handcart loaded with “The King’s Chattels”. Then came an 18th century omnibus before a 44 foot euro trailer float depicting the Carmen’s journey from 1517 to 2017. The City’s skylines of the past and today were linked by a bridge, from which Worshipful Company of Carmen greeted the crowds. Large model vehicles travelled on a spiral helter-skelter roadway encircling the old City, 20 dancers, performing throughout the 3-mile route, below grey clouds that failed to dampen the excitement.
The Carmen half millennium
Master Carmen, Marsha Rae Ratcliff, said: “The Worshipful Company of Carmen is the oldest transport organisation in the world, a driving force uniting the world of transport in good fellowship to improve all our lives’ journeys. The Carmen work as a real team, and are all thrilled to be celebrating 500 years… of, together, carrying people and goods – and constantly looking ahead and pioneering to make transport even better than before.” Graham Cole said: “I was honoured to become a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Carmen in 2008. I love the City and all its history. I love transport and driving – the bigger, the better – and I have a racing licence. So to be a member of the oldest and most respected transport organisation in the world is very special for me. This is my third Lord Mayor’s Show. It’s wonderful! I love the bands, the pageantry and the crowds from all over the world. And to be involved in such a special year for the Worshipful Company of Carmen makes this even more exciting.”
Half millennium of the Royal Mail
Also joining the procession was Mason White, a nine year old stroke survivor who met Their Royal Highnesses, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall at a special reception to mark 500 years of Royal Mail. Mason, whose father works at Royal Mail’s Central London Mail Centre at Mount Pleasant, is a determined fundraiser.
Dubbed Royal Mail’s “youngest postman”, he has raised over £16,000 (including matched funding from Royal Mail) for Royal Mail’s Charity of the Year, the Stroke Association.
Since Royal Mail’s partnership with the Stroke Association began in 2014, the company has raised £1.8m for the charity, enough to pay for 9,000 “Life After Stroke” grants.
Postman Mark Penfold, earlier in the year completed a marathon and a 500 mile walk from Edinburgh to London to raise money for the Lily Foundation, a charity committed to finding a cure for into Mitochondrial Disease, was also be part of the parade. Mark has raised more than £65,000, including matched funding from Royal Mail.
INSTITUTE OF COURIERS
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