Election of the first Lady Mayor

The Lady Mayor Elect, Credit: The Author

As has happened on Michaelmas Day every year for almost 700 years, on 29 September this year, our Master, Alan Hughes joined the Masters, Prime Wardens and Upper Bailiff of the Livery Companies of the City of London, together with a large number of liverymen from all the liveries, attended at Guildhall to elect the next Lord Mayor.

The Election of the Lord Mayor is one of the great ceremonial occasions in the City of London as every Livery Company Master, Prime Warden or Upper Bailiff attends wearing their gown and chain of office and process into the Guildhall. They are followed by the Sheriffs, the Alderman and, finally, the Lord Mayor who is preceded by a Sword Bearer and a Mace Bearer. Everyone who has been a liveryman for at least one year is entitled to attend. It is always a packed meeting with an overspill room for those who did not arrive early enough!

The current Lord Mayor is the 696th holder of the office. Until now, only 2 Lord Mayors have been women – Dame Mary Donaldson in 1983 and Dame Fiona Woolfe in 2013. Only this year it was different.

Alderwoman Dame Sue Langley was elected an Alderwoman in 2018 and was Sheriff in 2023. She was nominated by the Court of Aldermen to be the Lord Mayor for 2025.  Being the first woman to use the title Alderwoman, it was no surprise when she stated her intention to be known as Lady Mayor, if elected. She said that since there were Lady Justices and a Lady Chief Justice, it was entirely appropriate to be called Lady Mayor.

This decision did not prove popular in some quarters and there were rumours that a number of liverymen would speak against her. This galvanised the 25/26 group of Masters into action. The day before the election, plans were laid to drown out the protestors by calling as loudly as possible “all” when her name was announced.  

Inside Guildhall, Credit: The Author

When I arrived the hall was full and abuzz. The processions duly processed and His Honour Judge Mark Lucraft KC, the Recorder of London (and a Founder) announced the purpose of the meeting. When the placard with the name Langley was held aloft the roar was deafening – the loudest that I had heard for many years. If there were any attendees saying “never” they were lost in the roar of approval. Further procedural steps then took place but when she returned to the Hall to the left of the current Lord Mayor (indicating that she had been elected) the applause was both loud and sustained.

We had elected our first Lady Mayor and the world had not stopped.

After the excitement of shouting we came back to the Hall where 8 other livery companies joined us for lunch. If you have not been to the ceremony before I encourage you to do so to witness this piece of history of which, in a small way, we are all part.

Simon Oliver

Upper Warden