Saturday 13th November 2021 was the day of this year’s historic Lord Mayor’s Show in London. Kelly Group was thrilled to be participating in this prestigious historic event supporting the new Lord Mayor of the City of London.
Celebrating, and maintaining 800+ years of traditions, the 2021 parade procession featured 128 floats representing city businesses, Livery Companies, charities, Her Majesty’s Forces, and the City Police who came together to enjoy the celebration just as they did in the Middle Ages.
The 2021 Lord Mayor’s Show presented the first Irish, 693rd Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman Vincent Keaveny. His message highlighted the importance of collaboration and looking after the more vulnerable, therefore his mayoral theme for the coming year is “People with Purpose – Investing in a Better Tomorrow” and he’s hoping to build a more inclusive and sustainable economy during his time in office.
Speaking after his sworn in Silent Ceremony at the Guildhall on Friday 12th, Vincent Keaveny said:
"I am honoured to be elected as the 693rd Lord Mayor of the City of London at such a critical time.
The City will play a key role in addressing some of the major issues of today: supporting the recovery, making the most of talented people across the country and tackling climate change. The Square Mile has constantly reinvented itself throughout history to remain a world-leading business hub. The UK's financial and professional services sector will continue to create jobs, drive growth and deliver investment across our country and beyond.
I am confident that the City's future is bright.”
On the day of the parade, the procession took off from Guildhall passing by the official Lord Mayors London residence Mansion House, while continuing past St Paul’s Cathedral and finally arriving at the Royal Courts of Justice. Once the new Lord Mayor of the City of London has sworn allegiance to the Crown the procession followed him back to Mansion House through Victoria Embankment, in a 250-year-old State Coach.
The Significance and History of The Lord Mayor’s Show
The Lord Mayor’s Show is one of the best know and longest established annual traditional events in London dating back to the 13th century. In 1215, King John issued a Royal Charter which allowed the City to choose its mayor every year instead of having a sheriff appointed by the King in the hopes of establishing a collective ‘commune’ within the city. The annual historic Lord Mayor’s Show began in the same year as a river pageant on the Thames (hence the name ‘Floats’), presenting the new Lord Mayor of the City and marking his first full day in office.
In its modern form, the Lord Mayor’s Show is centred on a light-hearted street parade with a combination of traditional British pageantry and components of a modern carnival.
Kelly Group’s Procession Entry
Kelly Group was honoured to be a part of this year’s Lord Mayor’s Show parade, celebrating the group’s consistent work within the City of London since the mid-1980s. The group was amongst the first companies to be awarded a Gold Award from the City of London’s Considerate Contractor scheme, for a project with COLT and MFSC within the Square Mile - the very route the Lord Mayor’s Show procession walked. We’re privileged to have won an award every year since the inception of the scheme in 1994.
The group was float number 84 within the procession which saw our vintage Bedford van featuring a new full-body wrap alongside 6 procession walkers showcase the wide range of services the group offers across the nation.
The 1983 Bedford CF250 vehicle was first purchased by Mr Warner of Salisbury for £4320. He subsequently sold it to the second owner, Tim Kelly (Kelly Group Chairman) who has maintained the vehicle with only a few minor repairs to prevent corrosion.
The relevance of the Bedford CF250 model is quite significant as this is the exact model Tim Kelly used when founding Kelly Group. Tim used this vehicle for his first install in New Addington, Croydon, on the 17th September 1985 when the UK began awarding its first cable franchises to local operatives.
Kelly Group wishes the new Lord Mayor of London Vincent Keaveny, all the success for his year in office.
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