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The Boar's Head emerges from the Livery Hall
Accompanied by the Royal Logistics Corp (Defense Services School) |
On the 4th December the Worshipful Company of Butchers delivered to the new Lord Mayor, Fiona Woolf, a
boar’s head. An ancient ritual of thanks.
The butchers are recorded in the annals of history as early
as 975AD, by 1540 they were granted a Coat of Arms.
The Master of the Company, Ian Kelly told us that the hall
currently situated in Smithfield is their eighth, not through carelessness he
hastens to add but because of cataclysmic events. The original Hall in Smithfield was destroyed
in the Great Fire in 1666, the Company moved to Pudding Lane where they remained
from 1668 to 1884. That hall land was acquired by an Act of Parliament and
they returned to Smithfield. Both World Wars saw extensive damage to the
premises and the current building dates from 1960s, however, it houses many
treasures and artefacts within from days gone by.
The Arms of The Company were granted in 1540, the motto being - 'Omnia Subjecisti Sub Pedibus, Oves et Boves'- Thou hast put all things under his feet, all Sheep and Oxen. The Charter of Incorporation was granted by James I in 1605.
The boar’s head was originally a gift to a past Lord Mayor
who granted the butchers’ land near the Fleet River for butchering their
cattle; as with many ceremonial elements of the City, this ‘gift’ continues
today. Due to the ever present Health & Safety Regs the ‘real’ boar’s head
is taken to the Mansion House earlier in the day and the paper machè version
paraded through the streets.
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| The Beadle, Neil Hunt |
The Master and his Court come out in all their finery, led
by the Beadle and followed by family, friends and hangers on, including a jolly
contingent of City of London Guides qualified and in training. It was lovely to
parade down Cheapside with a police escort, by cycle, motorbike and horses to
the rear, with the British Imperial Military Band to the fore playing a lively
march.
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| The Master is the gentleman in the fine chain |
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| We parade down Cheapside |
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| Crossing Poultry to Mansion House |
The arrival at the Mansion House was greeted by a lovely
smile from the Lord Mayor, who said ‘I heard you coming!’ Lots of photographs and then the party moved
into the Mansion House; one lady asked me to go first, thinking I was invited, for
a moment the idea to gate-crash something I would dearly love to experience
crossed my mind, however, I declined and had a group photo with my fellow Guides
instead.
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| Lord Mayor is pleased to see us! |
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| Introductions all round |
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| Posing for the cameras |
More information about the Butchers' Company connections with Monarchy, Fishmongers & Poulterers as well as their charitable works can be found on their web site.
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British Imperial Military Band
made up of ex-servicemen bandsmen |
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| The happy group of Guides! |
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