Swearing-In of the Master and Wardens for 2025–2026

The Master and Wardens 2025/26

The Master and Consort 2025/26

At a meeting of the Court held on Monday 27 October 2025, His Honour Judge Simon Oliver was duly sworn in as Master for the year 2025–2026. He will be supported throughout his year in office by his Consort, Tom Sobel. Thomas Westley DL was sworn in as Upper Warden, and Kim Woolmer as Under Warden. Also sworn in at the same meeting were Alastair Wainwright and Matthew Alan Powell as Freemen, and Ian Russell as a Court Assistant.

This year’s appointments hold particular significance for the Company, as Kim Woolmer becomes the first female Warden in its history, and Tom Sobel serves as the first male Consort.

The Swearing-In Ceremony was conducted according to long-standing Company tradition. The retiring Master, Alan Hughes, formally handed over his office, first disrobing and passing his gown to the Beadle. The Master Elect also removed his gown and stood before the top table to take the oath administered by the Clerk, responding, “I so swear.”

The Beadle then invested the new Master with his robe and Chain of Office, before robing the retiring Master in the Assistant’s gown. The Clerk read the Declaration of Richard Weoley, after which the Immediate Past Master and the new Master performed the ancient custom of drinking Hippocras from the Weoley Cup, symbolising unity and continuity within the Company.

The new Master then presented the Immediate Past Master with his badge of office, followed by an exchange of badges and tokens between the Consorts.

The traditional sharing of the Loving Cup

The Beadle led the new Master to his place at the head of the table, where he proposed the customary toast:

“The new Master wishes to drink to you all in a Loving Cup.”

The Loving Cup was shared among the Court and Liverymen before the Beadle brought proceedings to a close.

In the spirit of Richard Weoley’s Will, the ceremony reflected his enduring wish that:

“And I do hereby wish that my means were agreeable to my Will, then should they record me a better Benefactor: and I shall ever wish the whole Body may ever live in Unity, Concord, and Brotherly Love, which is pleasing to God and Man. Even thus the God of Heaven Bless Them All. Amen.”

Following the ceremony Liverymen and guests dined together in Founders’ Hall, marking the start of the Master’s year in office.