New Master and Wardens and Summer Reception - Thursday 16 July 2026

Our Election Court meeting of 2026 began in the Court Room of Haberdashers’ Hall in West Smithfield. The Hall, Haberdashers’ fourth, was designed by Michael Hopkins and Partners and opened in 2002. The horseshoe shaped Court Room has a beautiful Royal Wilton carpet depicting the Haberdashers’ arms (and amazing acoustics). The Livery Hall is panelled in American white oak.

The Court welcomed Snjezana Maclean, in succession to assistant clerk, Dian Taylor, and elected the Master and Wardens for 2026-2027. As Master, Andrew Fenemore-Jones. As Upper Warden, John Toth and as Renter Warden, Nicholas Humphery-Smith. The Court also had the pleasure of admitting Alexandra Rollin to the Freedom of the Company. Alexandra has passed all the Scrivener Notary examinations and has satisfactorily undergone a two-year period of supervised practice and therefore has qualified as a Scrivener Notary. Scrivener Notaries are our core profession and it is always wonderful to admit a new Scrivener Notary to our Company.

The Court then moved into the Livery Hall where members of the Company had been gathering. The Master explained that this was the final Court meeting which would be attended by assistant clerk Dian Taylor before her retirement at the end of July. He told the members that at its meeting in March the Court had resolved unanimously to admit Dian as an Honorary Freeman of the Company in recognition of her years of service. Dian professed the oath of a Freeman and was admitted to the Company honoris causa. Past Master David Philip had arranged for a certificate marking the occasion to be written in calligraphy by Court Assistant elect Dr Winifred Eyles. Dian was also presented with a specially commissioned brooch, depicting an eagle with penner and inkhorn; the central image in our arms.

The Master and Wardens elect then made the requisite declarations and oaths and were invested as Master and Wardens for the year 2026-2027. The new Master gave an appreciation of the Immediate Past Master, mentioning in particular his very successful weekend for members in York and his fundraising for a number of charities including the Company Charity, for which he raised over £4,000 by cycling the South Downs Way in three days. The Master presented the Immediate Past Master with a Past Master Badge.

 A reception and supper followed.