Newsletter - June 2026
Dear Loriner,
I am lucky enough to have attended a great variety of memorable events so far this year, some of which you will read about in the newsletter. It was wonderful to see so many of you at the Mansion House Banquet and I do hope you all had a pleasant evening. It was a fantastic celebration and one of my most memorable events so far.
One of the evenings I would like to mention was the very special occasion of the 20th anniversary gala dinner in aid of Treloar’s School. Treloar’s provides a unique environment for around 180 students who have complex care and learning needs. The event raised a staggering sum of just over £220,000. Our attendance at the gala dinner further cemented the close relationship that exists between the Loriners and Treloar’s.
I am very much looking forward to the Summer Court Lunch on 16th July where our speaker is the Chief Executive of Racing Welfare, Dawn Goodfellow. Please do make sure you book your seat as it is filling up!
If you aren't able to join us I wish you all the best for the rest of the summer and hope to see you at a Loriners event later in the year.
John Morton, Master 2026/27
Royal Airforce leg, UKAFEA Inter Service Competition
The first leg of the UKAFEA Loriners Cup, hosted by the Royal Air Force, was held at Elm Farm Equestrian Centre near Grantham on Tuesday 14th April 2026.
The Master and Mistress were joined by the Upper Warden Nick Athienitis and his wife Cate, Chris Walton (Loriners' Steward for the UKAFEA) and his wife Helen, and Court Assistant Stephen Macklow-Smith. The Loriners party arrived at the centre to be greeted by Wing Commander Haley Norris and some very welcome flasks of tea and coffee.
This leg of the cup comprised the dressage competition and started promptly at 09.45. As in previous years, each of the services entered 4 riders who all completed the prescribed movements around the outdoor arena. After the last rider had finished, the Loriners retired to the marquee while the judges considered the scores, selecting the best 3 of the 4 riders from each service.
The Master was then escorted to the centre of the show jumping arena where he had great pleasure in presenting rosettes to all the riders. The RAF came out winners on the day, with the Army second and the RN a creditable third. Before a splendid lunch The Master and Commander Jo Bollen RN signed the Sponsorship Agreement between the Loriners' Charitable Trust and UKAFEA for 2026.
After lunch Air Cdre Rob Caine, President RAF Equitation, thanked all those attending and expressed his gratitude to the Loriners for their continued support which is very much appreciated by UKAFEA. The Loriners departed at 14.00 after a wonderful day, and look forward to the next leg on 27th May, hosted by the Army.
Christopher Walton Steward UKAFEA
United Guilds Service - St Pauls Cathedral
On Friday 20th March 2026 the 82nd United Guilds Service was held at St Paul’s Cathedral. As usual this important annual event was extremely well attended by the City Livery Companies, both Ancient and Modern.
The Right Honourable The Lady Mayor read the Second Lesson to a packed St Paul's during a moving service conducted by The Very reverend Andrew Tremlett, Dean of St Paul's with a Sermon given by the Reverend George Bush.
Our Master, John Morton, was accompanied our Under Warden and Learned Clerk (pictured) supported by a number of Past Masters, Court Assistants and Liverymen of our Company. Following the service, lunch was hosted at Barber Surgeons' Hall.
Past Master, Colin Gurley
Celebration of 125 years of the Submarine Service
The Master, and Past Masters Chris Walton and Colin Gurley, were honoured and privileged to be invited by the Royal Navy to attend the celebration of 125 years of the Submarine Service, held on HMS Clyde, Faslane on Wednesday 22nd April 2026. The Loriners took early flights from London to Glasgow where they were met by RN personnel, who drove the party to Faslane, the home of the Submarine Service and its new training centre.
On arrival at about 11am the Loriners were taken to the Ops Room simulator which is an exact replica of that on an Astute Class submarine. A senior rating then described how the Ops Room works including the various levels of command. Examples of potential “difficulties” including internal explosions and sea leaks were demonstrated. Alarms and flashing lights really did replicate what would happen in such circumstances, all enhanced with verbal instructions and actions by others in the RN, who joined the exercise. The Loriners were spared, however, the use of hydraulics which would have moved the simulator up and down as in real life! The Loriners retired to the main building on the base for a welcome light buffet lunch and were joined by other guests including the Worshipful Companies of Horners and Glovers who are also affiliated to the Submarine Service.
After lunch, the group was escorted through the base to HMS Artful, another Astute Class Submarine moored alongside the jetty. A short series of health and safety instructions was given “topside” by the Exec Officer before we descended down into the submarine. This involved stretching over a 5ft diameter hole in the tower floor to access a vertical ladder down 20ft into the ops room. Vertigo is not at all helpful. The party was then split into 2 sub-groups after a briefing from the new Captain in the officers' ward room. The Loriners group were taken to the “bomb shop” – where the various missiles are kept in secure protective casings in cooled conditions. The area also had 2 of the 4 torpedo tubes. Incidentally, it seems one of the initiations for new recruits is to crawl the full length of a torpedo tube and kiss the very end! This is also the coolest and quietest area of the submarine and is sometimes preferred to sleep than even in a hammock. The galley was inspected, which provides 4 square meals a day as the crew work 6 hours on and 6 hours off. The group moved onto the escape hatch area where the CPO described the method of escape in the event of a catastrophic event. Everyone then climbed back up the vertical ladder, stepping back over the “hole” and back onto the top side of the submarine.
The afternoon finished with a question-and-answer session, before everyone departed the base on coaches back to various hotels, to prepare for the evening’s gala dinner. Coaches picked up all the guests enroute back to the base where a reception and dinner was held for some 250 people, both invitees and RN personnel, including some from HMS Agamemnon. The Master was invited to dine on the top table, hosted by Cdre B S Haskins CBE RN, Commodore Submarine Service, who also gave a welcome speech. A fine dinner followed, with toasts, and each course was preceded by a short film of the history of the Submarine Service from 1901 (HMS Holland 1) to the present day. How technology has developed! Coaches returned all those leaving the base back to various stages. The Master, and PMs Chris Walton and Colin Gurley then took flights back to London the following day and reflected on what both a privilege and an extraordinary opportunity they had been given. A once in a lifetime experience.
Christopher Walton, PM
The Worshipful Company of Loriners - Proud To Support Treloar’s School & College
On Friday 24th of April 2026 the Master and Mistress Loriner - Mr John & Mrs Rebecca Morton, together with Upper and Under Wardens - Mr Nick Athienitis and Dr Richard Forster, Immediate Past Master - Nicholas Bensted-Smith CC and a party of 18 Loriners and guests had the great pleasure of attending the Treloar’s Gala Dinner held in the Great Hall of the Guildhall, London.
This very special occasion, attended by over 400 guests, marked the 20th anniversary of this now annual event usually held at the Mansion House. Hosted by the Lady Mayor - Dame Susan Langley DBE, the evening and dinner was themed to reflect the dazzling Emerald City from the Wizard of Oz with a 1980's DJ set from Spandau Ballet legend Martin Kemp who brought the celebration to a spectacular close. Throughout the evening the guests were reminded of the amazing work undertaken by Treloar’s which provides a unique environment for around 180 students, aged 4 to 25, who have complex care and learning needs.
The festivities included both live and silent auctions which raised a staggering sum of just over £220,000 to support Treloar’s ongoing work. Treloar’s School in Alton, Hampshire dates back to 1908 when it was founded by Sir William Purdie Treloar - Lord Mayor of the City of London in 1907 and Past Master of our Worshipful Company of which we Loriners are justly proud.
Colin Gurley , Past Master (2023)
Annual London Horse Harness Parade
On Easter Monday at the South of England Showground the annual London Harness Horse Parade (which dates its origin to 1885) took place on a beautiful sunny day! The Worshipful Company of Loriners have been proud to provide sponsorship for many years and the event is a standing fixture in the Master's diary.
The Master and Mistress Loriner were accompanied by the Immediate Past Master Nick Bensted Smith and Past Master Colin Gurley who is the permanent City Livery Steward for the Parade looking after all Livery Masters and their partners attending each year. The City Livery present included the Master Farrier John Cowper-Coles, the Senior Warden of the Coachmakers - Mark Broadbent and of course the Master Loriner John Morton.
This year there were in excess of 65 entries over the different classes whose owners were up at the crack of dawn cleaning and polishing their horses, ponies and carriages to perfection! All entries faced a rigorous veterinary, farriery, tack and even driver inspection by a team of very keen-eyed judges. As usual the high standards were upheld as evidenced by the number of awards presented by the representatives of the Worshipful Companies of Farriers, Coachmakers and Loriners. A most enjoyable day out aided this year by the fine weather.
Colin Gurley - Past Master
York Weekend Away
On Friday 8th of May the Master and Mistress Loriner travelled north to York for a most enjoyable weekend in the company of the Masters and Consorts of several other City of London Livery Companies attending the Installation Dinner of the new Mistress Elect of the Company of Cordwainers of the City of York.
A very enjoyable informal dinner was held on Friday evening attended by the Mistress Elect of the Cordwainers of the City of York together with the Deacon Convenor of Aberdeen.
On Saturday, after a relaxed breakfast, the group were given a private tour of York Minster, which gave a fascinating true insight into the history of the Minster and the challenges of the continuous renovation that has to be undertaken on such a large and historic building.
In the evening the Installation Dinner for the new Mistress took place in the historic Merchant Adventurers’ Hall one of the finest medieval guild halls in the world.
The weekend concluded on Sunday morning with the Livery Masters, in full dress regalia, processing through York to the Parish and Guild Church of All Saints Pavement for a service attended by the Lord Mayor of York.
A very enjoyable weekend despite the long journey home on Sunday afternoon.
Past Master, Colin Gurley
Mansion House Banquet
The Master invited Canon Dr Simon Bloxam-Rose to be the Guest Speaker. As a padre in the armed forces, Simon gave a well-received light-hearted speech and toasted the Master.
The Company welcomed representatives from its military affiliations, including HMS Agamemnon, the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery and 1 Squadron RAF Regiment. Members of 226 Tottenham Cadet Detachment were also in attendance.
A delicious four-course dinner was served with fine wines and delightful music was provided by the Royal Marines Association Ensemble. The Post Horn Gallop was quite a finale, enjoyed by all. The Loving Cup was passed around, enabling the tradition of unity to be displayed and shared.
The conclusion to the evening was with an invitation from the Master to share a Stirrup Cup in The Salon, although conversations seemed to continue for as long as possible when it was time to leave.
Assistant to the Clerk, Georgy Armitage
Communications Committee
June 2026