The Installation of the new Master of the Worshipful Company of Security Professionals, Paul Miller CSyP

On Tuesday 7^th June 2022, the Installation Ceremony of the Master, Immediate Past Master, Senior Warden, Middle Warden, and Junior Warden took place at a meeting of the Court held in the Chandelier Room at the recently refurbished Drapers’ Hall. Steeped in history, this is the Drapers’ second hall and was bought from King Henry VIII in 1543 for the sum of 1,800 marks (approximately £1,200).

The following Members of the Company progressed to Freedom; Ian Bond, Fiona Hotton, Hamid Nejad, Stephen Wilkinson and Jennifer Stockwell. And a total of 10 Freeman advanced to full Livery; Brendan Collins, Stephen Archbold, Warren Collins, Joseph McGee, James Sarson, Philipe Layden, Kenny Mosuro, Jane Farrell, Kate Bright and Andrew Nicholls. Newly elected Court Assistants, Frederick Carter, Ian Crossley, Simon Green, Tim Molden and Past Master Stephen Anderton made their declarations to Court and two new Stewards Chris Watson and Paul Lavery were formally announced.

The newly installed Senior Warden, Russell Penny had the privilege to formally welcome the principal guests which included: Angela McLaren, Commissioner of the City of London Police, the first female commissioner since the post was created in 1839; Air Vice Marshall Mick Smeath CBE, Royal Air Force, who was appointed Commandant General of the Royal Air Force Regiment earlier this year and was admitted as an Honorary Freeman of the Company; Air Commodore James Thompson, Royal Air Force who was also admitted as an Honorary Freeman of the Company that day; Lieutenant Colonel Marcus Hayakawa, Royal Engineers who was admitted as an Honorary Freeman of the Company; Mr Derek Mann, Master of The Company of Watermen & Lightermen; Mrs Mary Hardy, Master of the Worshipful Company of World Traders; Mr Graham Maltby QFSM, Master of the Worshipful Company of Firefighters and Mr Michael Cullen, Master of the Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers who has been a participant of the Children’s Magical Taxi Tour – a charity that takes 200 children with life threatening illnesses to Disneyland Paris every year, a cause that the Security Professionals supports through the annual Spring Dance.

The Master thanked our Sponsors, ICTS UK for their generosity and gave a special welcome to Ashley Fernandes from ICTS Consult who was present at the lunch. We are most grateful to all our sponsors for their support, without whom we would not be able to hold these timeless events in such splendour.

Following the reading of the citation, the Master presented The Ben Flenley Memorial Bowl and certificate to The RAF Regiment NCO leadership award winner for 2022, LCpl Carl Goodwin. Commissioner Angela McLaren, as guest speaker, concluded with a toast to the Company.