It was my honour to be installed as the Master of the Worshipful Company of Carmen yesterday.
To clear up any confusion, I'm not heading up a new production of the famous opera!
For those unaware, The Worshipful Company of Carmen is one of the largest of the 111 livery companies in the City of London, dating back to 1517 (centuries before Bizet was in action!). It has over 600 members and represents a range of aspects within the transport and logistics sector.
As well as promoting fellowship, achievement and the advancement of knowledge in the industry, The Carmen - like all livery companies - is committed to charitable generosity. Indeed, in the past year, the 50,000 livery men and women in the City of London raised an incredible £70 million for charities.
This role is a particular privilege as the Master Carman is elected by Court of Assistants and Past Masters - the most recent of whom was my good friend, the fantastic David Pugsley. Thank you David, for everything you have done for the Carmen and the industry over the past year, and I very much look forward to taking on the baton. Congratulations too to Allison Kemp MBE and Andrew Roy Miles, installed as Junior Warden and Senior Warden respectively. Scite, cito, certe!