Page 30 - October 2022
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THE SALAMANDER OCTOBER 2022
From the Clerk
Andrew Bignold
Andrew joins the Company with a wealth of experience of Livery Companies, Mansion House, The City of London, and Corporation, over the last 19 years, including the history and protocols as well as strong working relationships with its managers and leaders. He has also hosted the City Dinners held at the Catlin Group Headquarters for four years and is experienced in a wide range of charitable work.
He was Assistant Clerk to the Gunmakers between 2013- 18 involved in the compilation of processes and procedures, membership, financial and information technology matters, ceremonies, and administrative support to six Standing Committees. Andrew is The Beadle to the Worshipful Company of Tax Advisers, having similarly served in this role with The Worshipful Companies of Security Professionals and the Chartered Secretaries and Administrators. He is the Immediate Past Chairman of the Beadles’ Guild and is their
Treasurer for the last seven years. He is a Toastmaster with 19 years’ experience at over 2800 events and specialises in the Asian market with familiar use of Asian language and is the proud owner of six sherwanis (Nehru suits) in various colours. Weddings, birthday parties, awards nights and other festivities have all enjoyed his guidance both in the United Kingdom and overseas in Germany, Dubai, and Kenya. His roll call of VIPs includes world- class entertainers, Captains of Industry, Senior Military and Civic Officers, and Royalty. He is very well experienced in organising and delivering all types of events.
This is Andrew’s second career, having served 31 years in the Metropolitan Police Service, at uniformed officer level in a wide variety of roles including Foot Duty, Royalty Protection, Public Order, Training and Public Complaints Investigation before running the Awards Team in the Commissioner’s Private Office for twelve years. The latter role included processing applications for a variety of police and civil awards for Police Officers and members of the public, concluding with the presentation arrangements by various dignitaries at both
private and public ceremonies
He is a Group Scout Leader in Hampton, a Governor of both the Royal Humane Society and the RNLI, and is interested in all aspects of London, being a member of several London Societies. Being a churchwarden confers on him guardianship of the Kingston Vale Trust.
Apart from discipline about dress standards, diet, fitness and attention to detail, Andrew relaxes by reading (current affairs, biographies, military history, and anything on London), long-distance walking (41 years participation in the Nijmegen Marches in The Netherlands), house restoration, gardening, running, swimming, horse riding and spending time with his children and their families. To balance this, he also enjoys good food and wine, and, most of all, good company.
The image below is of Our Master, Stephen Sanders, Past Master Francis Blois and Andrew Bignold, who were amongst those who attended a Requiem and Thanksgiving Eucharist for Queen Elizabeth II. The service was held on September 15th. at St Mary- le-Bow Church in Cheapside and was led by our Honorary Chaplain the Revd. George R Bush.
I am sure Andrew will be a great asset to the Company and we all welcome him to his forthcoming important role as The Clerk whilst wishing Steven thanks for his work over the last eight years and a long, happy, and healthy retirement.
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