The Lord Mayor Elect and Family

Over 6,100 people took part in the 2009 Lord Mayor's Show, including 2,000 servicemen and women, 220 vehicles, 71 floats, 13 marching bands, 21 carriages including the glorious State Coach and of course the giant figures of the City's guardians Gog and Magog.  The procession was 3 miles long but fits into a route of only 1.7 miles.  Bravely marching forth were The Master, symbolically accompanied by the IPM and the Apprentice thus representing the past, present and future of the Company, together with the Beadle.  The rain fell and the wind blew but smiles were in evidence on the television coverage of our hardy representatives.

 The IPM, Master and Beadle at the start

The procession began at 11am after a thrilling and immaculately-timed aircraft flypast.  The procession then followed the traditional route through the streets of the City to the Royal Courts of Justice where the Lord Mayor Elect, Alderman Nicholas Anstee, took his oath of allegiance to the Sovereign before the Lord Chief Justice and the Judges of the Queen's Bench Division.

 The Apprentice forming up the line in the Modern Companies section

The procession then pauses before setting off on the return journey from Victoria Embankment to Mansion House, where the newly sworn-in Lord Mayor arrives and is greeted by City Aldermen and Livery Company Masters. 

The Firefighters’ horse-drawn vehicle that leads the Modern Companies

The Master, Beadle and Apprentice nearing the finish

The Master and IPM still smiling and waving