09 January 2012
London Borough children enjoy a glitzy party in the City
Around 550 London children took part in a spectacular fancy
dress party in the City’s glitzy Mansion House on Saturday (7
January) – hosted by the modern day Dick Whittington Lord Mayor
David Wootton.
The children were able to enjoy the splendid surroundings of the
18th-century State Rooms and palatial Egyptian Hall, where the City
of London Lord Mayor normally welcomes politicians, statesmen and
financiers. Adult representatives from boroughs around London took
part too.
The usual formality of the Mansion House was replaced with the
excited noises of children, clowns, party games and a live band.
The Lord Mayor even led a Conga line featuring all children and
other guests. They all had afternoon tea at the Old Ballroom.
Bradford-born Lord Mayor David Wootton said:
"As a child, one of my ambitions – among many - was to become a
Lord Mayor and I am now living that dream. I hope the children went
away from the party having had some great fun but also knowing that
anything is possible. My year as Lord Mayor is full of serious
business promoting London’s key financial, professional and
business services industries but this was a hugely entertaining
afternoon with potential future Lord Mayors of the City of
London."
Ends
Notes to editors
About the Lord Mayor of the City of
London:
The Lord Mayor is elected for one year and the position is unpaid
and apolitical. The Lord Mayor spends some 90 days abroad leading
delegations to key fast-growing markets and addresses some 10,000
people face-to-face each month (making around 800 speeches a year).
The Lord Mayor listens to City and UK businesses and helps the City
Corporation advise the Government of the day on what is needed to
help the UK-based financial, professional, and business services
sector to function well.
The Lord Mayor frequently travels to represent the City and UK
businesses; and travels overseas with the status of a Cabinet
Minister. On average, the Lord Mayor will meet one head of state a
month and will meet a prime minister or finance minister each week
to discuss City and UK business , often in conjunction with senior
City business representatives. The Lord Mayor, who is unpaid, lives
in the Mansion House, for the Mayoral year.
About the City of London Corporation:
The City of London Corporation is a uniquely diverse organisation.
It supports and promotes the City – the business district at the
heart of London - as a world leader in international finance and
business services and provides local services and policing for
those working in, living in and visiting the Square Mile. It also
provides valued services to London and the nation. These include
the Barbican Centre and the Guildhall School of Music & Drama;
the Guildhall Library and Art Gallery and London Metropolitan
Archive; a range of education provision (including three City
Academies); five Thames bridges (including Tower Bridge and the
Millennium Bridge); the Central Criminal Court at Old Bailey; over
10,000 acres of open spaces (including Hampstead Heath and Epping
Forest), and three wholesale food markets. It is also London’s Port
Health Authority and runs the Animal Reception Centre at Heathrow.
It works in partnership with neighbouring boroughs on the
regeneration of surrounding areas and the City Bridge Trust, which
it oversees, donates more than £15m to charity annually.
Media contacts:
Sanjay Odedra, Press Office, City of London Corporation
T +44 (0)20 7332 1835 /
M +44 (0)7831 542 856
Email
sanjay.odedra@cityoflondon.gov.uk