November 10, 2007
Organized by our friend, Dr. Keith Thomson, (Mercy Ships UK board member and Consultant Anaesthetist) this is the seventh consecutive year that Mercy Ships has participated in the Lord Mayor’s Parade. This year as we were already in London for Gary to receive his Fellowship by Election from the Royal College of Surgeons, we had the opportunity to walk in the parade alongside the Mercy Ships float. Here you will see a two minute interview with Gary.
Facts about the Lord Mayor’s Show:
• First Lord Mayor was elected in 1215; the Show is now in its 792nd year.
• It welcomes in the 680th Lord Mayor of the City of London.
• The Show takes place annually on the second Saturday in November.
• At 5pm, the Lord Mayor will light the touch paper to the Lord Mayor’s Fireworks display on the River Thames between Blackfriars and Waterloo Bridge. A team of eight pyrotechnicians takes two days to set more than half a tonne of giant fireworks, some of which shoot more than 600ft into the air. It is the largest firework display in London.
• The word “float”, used to describe components of a parade or procession, is derived from the Lord Mayor’s Show when originally the exhibits would do just that – “float” along the Thames in barges.
• The Pageantmaster, Dominic Reid, is responsible for organising the logistics of the Show – this includes arranging for the lifting and checking of 3,500 manhole covers, installation of 4,000 grandstand seats and 6,300 galvanised crowd barriers and laying of 43 tonnes of sand. He also organises the 6,000 participants, 180 vehicles and 20 marching bands.
• Last year there were more than 6,000 participants, 1,550 military personnel, 249 vehicles from Morris Minors to open top buses, 71 floats, 24 bands of all shapes and sizes and a giant mechanical Bengali tiger.
• The procession will weave its way from Guildhall in the heart of the City, through the historic streets of the Square Mile, passing the Mansion House and St. Paul’s Cathedral before continuing to the Royal Courts of Justice on the Strand.
About the Role of the Lord Mayor
The Lord Mayor of the City of London acts as an international ambassador for the UK business and financial services industry. He spends up to 80 days a year, travelling to around 20 countries to promote this industry and the Square Mile as a place of excellence in which to do business. As head of the City of London the Lord Mayor is involved with local government and London-wide issues, from the City of London’s work in the regeneration of neighbouring boroughs to transport and environmental issues which affect the City. On behalf of the Sovereign and the Government, he also acts as host when the City of London provides hospitality for visiting heads of state and foreign dignitaries.
Source: www.lordmayorsshow.org
