THE SMITHFIELD GAZETTE EDITION 163 January 2018 CHAIRMAN OF THE SMTA I would like to take this opportunity to wish all the staff at Smithfield, our friends at the City of London, customers, suppliers and other readers of this Gazette a happy and peaceful Christmas and all the very best for 2018. Next year we can look forward to celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Victorian market buildings, which were opened on 24th November 1868. We are working closely with the Museum of London to put on a fitting celebration over the August Bank Holiday weekend to which all will be welcome – something to look forward to! Greg Lawrence THE LORD MAYOR I am delighted to wish everyone at Smithfield a very happy New Year! Smithfield is a treasured part of the City of London and we in the City are grateful for the year-round hard work by everyone involved with the Market; especially during the festive season. Smithfield Market has played a special part in the life of London for centuries, and it’s fantastic to see it thriving today. Your contribution to the City’s eclectic social and cultural offer is simply unique and much valued. I thoroughly look forward to visiting the Market during my Mayoralty, and would like to wish you all a very happy 2018. Alderman Charles Bowman TH SMITHFIELD MARKET 150 ANNIVERSARY Over the August Bank Holiday in 2018, the Museum of London will join forces with the Smithfield Market Tenants’ Association (SMTA) and others to put on a large-scale weekend street party of free, public festivities to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the iconic markets at Smithfield. The weekend will be reminiscent of the old St Bartholomew’s Fair and feature food, music, historic re-enactments and much more. On 24th November 1868 the newly redesigned Smithfield meat market, which is owned and managed by the City of London Corporation, was officially opened after years of redevelopment. Designed by acclaimed architect Sir Horace Jones, the new market was the talk of London, and restored the market’s position in the heart of the bustling City. Sharon Ament, Director of the Museum of London, said: “There has been a market on site at Smithfield in some form for hundreds of years. It was the epicentre of market trading in London with people coming from miles around to buy and sell their produce or join in with the historic St Bartholomew’s Fair – one of the biggest festivals of its day. Next year we will, together with the SMTA, recreate this momentous celebration to mark the 150th anniversary of these astonishing markets. All of London is invited to come and be part of this special occasion.” Greg Lawrence, Chairman of the SMTA which represents the meat traders, said: “The 150th Anniversary is a major milestone in the history of the Market and we look forward to celebrating it with our friends and neighbours.” SMITHFIELD GAZETTE 1 Printed & distributed by Smithfield Market Tenants’ Association, 225 Central Markets, London, EC1A 9LH Telephone 020 7248 3151 Fax 020 7329 6464 Email [email protected] THE SMITHFIELD GAZETTE IN MY OPINION COMMENT The office of Chief Commoner is the highest civic Looking back at 2017, we have had more than our position within the Corporation of London to which a share of bad news this year with terrorist attacks and Common Councilman, as such, can aspire. The role natural disasters, as well as the loss of our great friend has changed greatly in recent years and now shares Peter Martinelli, and the political situation doesn’t prominence with the Chairman of Policy and seem to improve either. The Brexit ‘negotiations’ Resources Committee although `The Chief’ takes seem to go from bad to worse. We can only hope precedence still at civic and ceremonial events following immediately behind the Lord Mayor and the that the hopes of the majority who voted leave are Sheriffs and ahead of all other Aldermen and not betrayed and that a deal is arrived at that we can Common Councilmen. The Corporation still resists the all live with. Let us hope that things improve in 2018. title of `Leader’ but the political leadership comes from the Chairman of Policy. THE NEW LORD MAYOR The title of Chief Commoner is first recorded in 1879 ALDERMAN but the role is commonly understood to date back to CHARLES BOWMAN medieval times due to the custodial responsibilities for city lands and Bridge House Estates, now taken over by the City’s Investment Committee. Alderman Charles Bowman took office as the 690th th Lord Mayor of the City of London on Friday 10 The Chief takes the lead on the planning of all November. The new Lord Mayor is a chartered Corporation hospitality and in authorising the use of accountant. He qualified with PwC in 1986 and was the whole Guildhall complex including the Yard and admitted to partnership in 1995. His main area of Art Gallery, chooses fixtures and fittings when specialism has been delivering audit and capital required and deals with complaints. market transaction services to large listed and multi- national companies. He has served on the Council of Like the Lord Mayor the office is for one year only but the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and is greatly sought after and highly esteemed by all Wales. members of the Court. The Chief has a pastoral responsibility, will provide advice and guidance to He was elected as the Alderman of the Ward of Lime members if necessary including an informal Street in May 2013 and became the Aldermanic disciplinary and dispute resolution function. Sheriff of the City of London in September 2015. He has served on a number of committees of the City of The role is very active with several sub Committees to London Corporation. He is a member of the Court of chair and many events representing the members or the Worshipful Company of Grocers and a liveryman the City when the Lord Mayor or the Sheriffs are of the Worshipful Company of Chartered Accountants unable to attend. in England and Wales as well as being a magistrate, school governor and Ambassador for the Samaritans. Farringdon Without was last represented by a Chief Commoner in 2002 when Jeremy Charkham took office. I am proud to be bringing prominence again to THE WARD OF LIME STREET the best Ward in the City and as only the fifth woman to be Chief Commoner since records began. The new Lord Mayor’s Ward of Lime Street is so named due to the production of lime in the area in Wendy Mead OBE mediaeval times. Lime was an important material from ancient times for the construction of buildings, acting as mortar and also being used in plaster. Today the Ward is identified more closely with the insurance industry as it contains the Lloyd’s building and the QUOTE OF THE MONTH offices of several prominent insurance companies. “If you haven’t got any charity in your heart, It is thought that Charles Dickens sited the house of Ebenezer Scrooge where the Lloyd’s building is now you have the worst kind of heart trouble.” on the corner of Lime Street and Leadenhall Street. Bob Hope SMITHFIELD GAZETTE 2 Printed & distributed by Smithfield Market Tenants’ Association, 225 Central Markets, London, EC1A 9LH Telephone 020 7248 3151 Fax 020 7329 6464 Email [email protected] BDCI LAUNCHES LEAN ON US NEW COURT CENTRE FOR FARRINGDON WITHOUT To help increase the spread of the good work BDCI (the Butchers’ and Drovers’ Charitable Institution) A new court building has been proposed to be built does, they have launched an exciting new initiative near the Temple in the area of Fleet Street. It would designed to communicate that practical help is contain eighteen state of the art courtrooms and available. ‘Lean On Us’ neatly sums up the core of would replace all of the City’s current courts except everything that BDCI stands for, and it represents the the Old Bailey. This means it would house the City’s ultimate benefit that they offer… when you need Civil Court, the Mayor’s and City of London County extra help, just ‘Lean On Us’ and BDCI will be there for Court, the City’s Magistrates’ Court and new Crown you. BDCI provides support for anyone in the UK and Court facilities. The focus will be mainly, but not the Republic of Ireland who has been connected with exclusively, on cases dealing with fraud, economic the meat trade, as well as their widows/widowers or crime and cyber-crime. dependents. Help is available for those who maybe struggling to cope for a variety of needs including The plans for the court are being developed in paying bills, repairs to the home, mobility equipment partnership with HM Courts and Tribunal Service and and nursing home fees. the judiciary. A feasibility study is to be completed early in 2018. The location would put the new court If you know of anyone who could do with some building conveniently near to the Rolls Building, the support please encourage them to get in contact. Royal Courts of Justice the Old Bailey and the Inns of Further details and a copy of the application form can Court. be found on BDCI’s website: www.bdci.uk.com. Alternatively applicants can contact BDCI directly by telephone on 01727 896094 or via e-mail THAMES TIDEWAY PROJECT [email protected]. Here are some examples of how BDCI have helped recently: The Thames Tideway is a 15-mile-long sewer, the Jane is PA at a butchery company.