Events Page

The Zürich Guilds spectacular visit to London

Norman Woolley and his wife Julie (right) proudly leading the procession with Raymond Porchet


The Parade, with the Bus (and Böögg)

Olivia Elton Barratt, Ken Rockall (Banner Bearer) Kay Johnson and Sandra Barker in the Parade

The small Swiss Böögg guarding the Prime Warden

The Basketmakers Company, through PPW Norman Woolley and Assistant John Clarke, organised a hugely successful participation of the 26 Guilds from Zürich in the Lord Mayor's Show on the 8th November.

On the eve of the Show the Guilds hosted a Banquet in Guildhall. Their bands assembled to play in Guildhall Yard as guests were arriving; 'a remarkable sight'stated Lady Sally Oliver on television when she was commentating on the Lord Mayor's Show. At the reception beforehand we had the honour and pleasure of welcoming the new Lord Mayor Alderman Robert Finch who graciously said a few words and to much cheering confirmed that he will be attending the Sechseläuten Parade in Zürich in April 2004. One of the speakers at the Banquet was Sir Alan Traill who as Lord Mayor in 1984 invited the Zürich Guilds over; then around 70 Guild Members attended, this year we had 900! The splendid meal had a typically English theme with the Roast Beef carried in by two chefs for the approval of Raymond Porchet, Honorary Guildmaster of the Zunft zur Letzi, who organised the Swiss side of the visit.

In the Lord Mayor's Show Parade we had over 650 Guild members marching with Raymond Porchet, Norman Woolley and his wife Julie proudly leading the procession. Ken Rockall, our Banner Bearer, marched in the parade with Olivia Elton Barratt, Kay Johnson and Sandra Barker all of whom are Basketmaking teachers and members of the Company. There were also 40 Guild Members riding horses provided by the Household Cavalry with grateful thanks to Col. Massey. The Pageant Master, Dominic Reid, said normally a float would take 20 seconds to pass by a fixed point, but the Zürich Guilds and the Basketmakers took four and a half minutes!

The Basketmakers Company were in the procession on the blue Michelin Bus which was generously provided by Richard Walduck of the Imperial Hotel Group who also arranged accommodation for the party of 900 from Zürich. Members of the Basketmakers Company on the bus included the Prime Warden, Raymond Graham, Upper Warden, Ronald Bartle, Under Warden, Richard Bundock, PPW Ted Hipkins and Assistant John Clarke who unfortunately, after all his hard work, broke his right hand during the parade.

Also on the bus was a small replica of the Böögg. The Böögg is the name given to the effigy of a snowman which is burnt in public as a symbol for the banishing of Old Man Winter in the Zürich April Sechseläuten Festival. It was originally a pagan fire cult to celebrate the return of Spring. The 3m high Böögg sits on a 13m high pile of bonfire logs; at exactly 6 pm the fire is lit and mounted Guildsmen start riding around the blazing fire. The flames soon engulf the Böögg whose body is stuffed with explosives and, legend has it, when his head explodes that is the defining moment for the beginning of Spring. The Böögg was featured in the spectacular evening fireworks display on the River Thames after Lord Mayor's Show, watched by both the Swiss and the Livery from two 500 seater trip boats.

Returning to Tower Pier, after the fireworks display, Guild and Livery members enjoyed an evening of celebration, at several locations. Some 400 to Guildhall Crypts, involving an impromptu march through the City streets led by the Schmiden Band playing all the way to Guildhall!

There are 26 Guilds in Zürich of which six have associations with City Livery Companies. Those Livery Companies who participated and hosted events in this Lord Mayor's Show were:-

 

BASKETMAKERS COMPANY: LETZI GUILD (FARMERS)
BUTCHERS COMPANY: WIDDER GUILD (BUTCHERS)
CUTLERS COMPANY: SCHMIDEN GUILD (BLACKSMITHS)
GOLD & SILVER WYRE DRAWERS' COMPANY: DREI KÖNIGEN GUILD (THREE KINGS)
JOINERS' & CEILERS' COMPANY: ZIMMERLEUTEN GUILD (CARPENTERS)
PATTENMAKERS' COMPANY: SCHUHMACHERN GUILD (SHOEMAKERS)

The Dinner hosted by the Livery Companies in Guildhall on Lord Mayor's Show day was another splendid affair. Everyone was still in their parade costumes making it very colourful indeed. Thanks to our Basketmaker sponsors, we were able to host our friends from the Letzi Guild. The Schmiden band enthralled all present with their music, with much raising of glasses and toasting as the evening progressed, ending with a mock ceremony for Raymond Porchet, electing him 'King of Switzerland' with a cloak and crown. On the 11th November Raymond Porchet, Honorary Guildmaster of the Zunft zur Letzi, received the Freedom of the City of London, being proposed by none other than Alderman Robert Finch.

The visit of the Zürich Guilds to London further emphasised the relationship between the Guilds and the Liveries, echoing our motto 'Let Us Love One Another', and at the same time providing a unique opportunity to cement the links between two of the greatest financial centres in the world, London & Zürich. The Basketmakers have had some wonderful publicity and recognition for organising this hugely successful event for which they should be very proud.