Across Europe

London

Buckingham Palace

Around London

Greenwich

Kensington Palace

St. Ives, Cornwall

Paris

Brussels

Amsterdam

Münster

The very end of April, 2002, continued

How did it come to pass that we happen to wind up behind the security lines yet again, this time to rub shoulders with the Lord Mayor of the City of London?

Well, we were strolling around London's financial center when we saw this really big meeting place, Guildhall. As we were walking towards it this huge black Rolls Royce rolled into view and stopped in front of us. As I started taking photos this man with a rather big fur hat exited, bandishing a gold- and wood-encrusted sword scabbard. Okay, I'm interested. I was expecting someone in a suit, toting a briefcase, perhaps chatting on a cell phone.

His buddy steps out sans chapeau, but with a white barrister's wig, holding aloft something which appeared to be somewhere in-between a scepter-on-a-stick (scepters were originally orbs, held in the sovereign's hand) and a gold lacrosse stick. As they began marching through the building we followed.

One of these gentlemen was a stand-in for the Lord Mayor of the City of London, who was out of town that day. (I think sword guy was symbolically protecting sceptre guy, but that scepter could probably pack a good wallop.

Before leaving we chatted with some of the staffers. It turns out that as head of the Corporation of London, the Lord Mayor presides over its governing bodies - the Court of Aldermen and the Court of Common Council. He is Chief Magistrate of the City of London, Admiral of the Port of London, Chancellor of City University, and President or Patron of many other civic and charitable organizations.

Oh, a day such as today would have tired out most souls, but not us. We continue walking around London.

previous

next