SOLD OUT – Summer Festival 2025 – SOLD OUT

We are honoured that His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent GCVO, Commodore-in-Chief Maritime Reserves will be joining us to witness the signing of the Armed Forces Covenant, attended by the Court and military guests, prior to dinner. He will be accompanied by Cdre Jo Adey ADC, Commander Maritime Reserves. Regrettably space precludes all guests attending the signing ceremony. The evening will commence at 6:15 pm with a Champagne reception on the terrace (weather permitting) and the opportunity to have your photograph taken with your guests before dinner. For security purposes if you arrive after 6:30pm you will have to wait outside the front of the Hall until dinner is called at 7:00pm, so please do not be late! Carriages will be at 10:30pm.

We are guests of the Worshipful Company of Barbers, which traces its origins to 1308, and ranks 17th in the order of precedence. The Company has had a Hall on the edge of the City, in the area of the north-west corner of the Roman Fort of London, since the 1440’s. The current Hall, opened in 1969 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, is at 1A Monkwell Square in the Barbican, EC2Y 5BL. The nearest tube station is Moorgate.

We are delighted that our guest speaker is Michael Buchanan, Chief of the Clan Buchanan (possibly the 5th largest Scottish Clan), which had been vacant for 310 years until his claim was accepted in 2018.  An Oxford graduate with an MA in Engineering Science, Michael is a Chartered Civil Engineer and spent 7 years with Sir Alexander Gibb & Partners designing and supervising the construction of water resource schemes, including at the 210MW Victoria Dam in Sri Lanka.  He now runs his 2,500Ha family estate in Scotland and has embarked on a programme to make the estate properties energy efficient.  Michael’s other claim to fame is in shooting, representing Scotland at the 1994 Commonwealth Games and winning the British long range rifle shooting championship 5 times at distances commencing at 1,000 yards.

There will be a selection of show songs after dinner from our guest pianist Ben Costello and singer Sylvie Noble

The cost of a ticket will be £140 a head. Dress: Black Tie (Dinner Jacket) or Mess Dress/Service Dress for military guests.

This is always an evening of fun and fellowship to which all Members of the Livery, their partners and guests will be given a hearty welcome. Please book your place early and pay through the website!

For those who have booked, a virtual pour memoire will be sent nearer the date.

I very much look forward to seeing you there.

Debbie Abergil

Clerk