Save the Date

Date: Tuesday, 11th July 2023
Start Time: 17:00
Carriages: 22:30
Speaker: Alderman Vincent Keaveny, 693rd Lord Mayor of London (2021-22)
Theme: Innovation and Tradition in a Year of Change
Venue: Stationers’ Hall, London EC4M 7DD

About the Gala Evening

Established in 2014, Reflections of The Lord Mayor is an opportunity to hear a former Lord Mayor of the City of London reflect on their year as holder of one of the oldest continuously elected civic offices in the world, with a history dating back to the 12th century.

At the 8th Reflections of The Lord Mayor Gala Evening our Reflections speaker is Alderman Vincent Keaveny, the 693rd Lord Mayor of London. We are privileged to hear from the first Irish Lord Mayor of London – and a member of the Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers – in the august surroundings of Stationers’ Hall.

Alderman Keaveny will reflect on some of the key missions and ambitions of his Mayoralty. His theme for his Reflections – ‘Innovation and Tradition in a Year of Change’ – will include insights from a year that encompassed two monarchs and three prime ministers.

During his time in office, our former Lord Mayor focused on areas such as improving social mobility in the financial services sector by helping to bring in and then promote people from diverse and less privileged backgrounds. He also targeted what he termed “the COP26 legacy work” and the part the City of London must now play in fighting climate change.

After Alderman Keaveny’s talk, there will be a break from proceedings for dessert. Guests will be invited to note down any questions they may have, as our former Lord Mayor will then return to the stage for a live Q&A session.

Reflections is a non-profit, with a surplus from proceeds of the Gala Evening going to charities nominated by our Lord Mayor speaker.

For 2023, the nominated charity is The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE). As such, Reflections of The Lord Mayor offers a range of opportunities to align your organisation with an event that celebrates both an important part of the capital’s heritage and its contemporary business and community life. You can support us in a number of ways – through individual or group (table) ticket purchases, by advertising within our programme or by becoming one of our valued event sponsors.

While the event has the office of Lord Mayor at its heart, another important element is celebrating professional talent and inspiring young people to engage with their community and heritage. In 2017, the first professional Roundel competition was held, helping to celebrate the ancient art of stained-glass painting and design, and stimulate interest in its contemporary practice. This has been expanded to engage with young people via separate amateur competitions for primary-age children and Army, Air and Sea Cadets (CCF) in the London region. In both cases, we have been privileged to have the support of the Worshipful Company of Glaziers & Painters of Glass.

In 2023, once again, musicians from the Royal College of Music Junior Department will be performing for guests. We will be introducing the recipient of the 2023 Reflections of The Lord Mayor Junior Musician Award in Music, who will be performing several pieces at this Gala Evening.

The combination of contributions to Lord Mayor-nominated charities and competitions targeting young artists and musicians adds a ‘giving back’ element to proceedings that meets Reflections’ founding aim to celebrate civic life and the life of the capital.