LONDON’S LORD MAYOR

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 November 1934, Page 10

LONDON’S LORD MAYOR

SIR STEPHEN KILLIK LONDON, September 30. "All those who arc not Liverymen depart the hall on pain of imprisonment,” challenged the Common Serjeant yesterday morning, when a Sunday Times representative dared the edict to witness the time-honoured ceremony of electing the Lord Mayor of London at the Guildhall. ' Michaelmas Day, always the day of the election, fell this year on a Saturday, and the usual City crowd who irnjko the Guildhall and Mansion House processions their own was -augmented by school children. A party of girls from, the City of London School were admitted to the gallery of the Guildhall, where, dwarfed by the figures of Gog and Magog, they gazed with unblinking wonder at the pa'geantry in whose tradition they are linked. A dozen processions wound beneath them —they were thrilled by the red robes of the Court of Aldermen, worn over black court dress no less brilliant than the herb-strewn carpet over which they walked; the nosegays they all carried; the upright figure of the City Marshal, sword and nosegay in his left hand, white-plumed hat in right; the Sword Bearer holding the ancient sword a foot and more above his high fur hat; the Mace Bearer, all attendant on the acting Lord Mayor, Sir Louis Newton, deputising for Sir Charles Collett, withdrawing from and re-ientering the Common Hall until the final result of. the hasting was declared. Names were called out —the names also appearing on a white board. By acclamation, leaving no doubt of its enthusiasm, two were first nominated —Sir Stephen Killik, Aiderman .and Fanmaker, and Sir Percy Vincent, Aiderman and Gold and Silver Wire Drawer. To the name of Sir Stephen the Liverymen then responded with an all but unanimous cry of assent; to that of Sir Percy Vincent they cried “Next Year!” Amid loud applause the . Common Serjeant announced that the Aidermen had elected Sir Stephen Killik, who . was then invested with* the chain of .office. A TRUE-BORN LONDONER The new Lord Mayor is of small stature, but his voice rang out full and strong as he told of his pride in having been elected to be the chief magistrate of the City. “I was born in London,”, he said, “I have lived here all my life, and have spent more than half a century in business in the City of London.” Watching from the side gallery was his daughter, Mrs. Stanley Greenland, who will be Lady Mayoress, his wife, who was a daughter of the late Mr. T. Fell Molyneaux, having died in 1919. She must have had natural prieje in her father’s achievement. Also in the gallery was the present Lady Mayoress, whose heart must have been with her husband, prevented by illness from sharing in the ceremony. On behalf of his father, Mr. Henry Collett thanked Lord Plender for the tribute he and other members of the Livery had paid to the work done by his parents. The new Lord Mayor has been a member of the Stock Exchange for about 34 years, being the senior member of the Committee.' On the Court of Aidermen he represents the financial ward of Broad Street. He was Sheriff in 1922-23, and was knighted at the close of his year of office.