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Court of Aldermen
- Type: Committee of the City of London Corporation Term limits: None
- History: Founded Time immemorial Preceded by Court of Hustings
- Leadership: Lord Mayor Alan Yarrow, Independent, Since 2014
- Structure: Seats 25 aldermen Independent 25 / 25
- Meeting place: Aldermens Court Room, Guildhall
The Court of Aldermen is an elected body forming part of the City of London Corporation. The Court of Aldermen is made up of the twenty five aldermen of the City of London, presided over by the Lord Mayor (who is one of the aldermen). The court was originally responsible for the entire administration of the City, but most of its responsibilities were subsumed by the Court of Common Council in the fourteenth century. The Court of Aldermen meets nine times a year in the Aldermen's Court Room at Guildhall. Some of the remaining duties of the Court include approving people for Freedom of the City and approving the formation of new livery companies, appointing the Recorder of London and acting as the verderers of Epping Forest.
Although it is customary for them to retire at age 70 there is no legal compulsion to do so. They must submit themselves for re-election every six years.
Current Aldermen
Last updated 4 September 2015
From Livery Companies of the City of London
The Court of Aldermen has 25 members, one representing each ward of the City of London, together with the Recorder of London. They are elected by the registered voters within the ward, and stand for re-election at least every six years. They retire at 70 years of age. The historic requirement that aldermen sit as magistrates in the City of London was dropped in 2013, but most of those listed below still do.
The list is in order of the year in which they have served as Lord Mayor, and thereafter in the order of their first election as an alderman.
- David Howard, Bt., Cornhill. Gardener.
- Ian Luder, CBE., Castle Baynard. Cooper.
- Nicholas Anstee, Aldersgate. Butcher.
- Michael Bear, Portsoken. Pavior.
- David Wootton, Langbourne. Solicitor.
- Roger Gifford, Cordwainer. Musician.
- Fiona Woolf, DBE, Candlewick. Solicitor.
- Alan Yarrow, Bridge & Bridge without. Fishmonger.
- Jeffrey Evans, Cheap. Shipwright.
- Paul Judge, Tower. Marketor.
- Andrew Parmley, Vintry. Musician.
- Alison Gowman, Dowgate. Glover.
- Gordon Haines, Queenhithe. Horner.
- David Graves, Cripplegate. Solicitor.
- John Garbutt, Walbrook. Weaver.
- Peter Hewitt, Aldgate. Woolman.
- Matthew Richardson, Billingsgate. Wax Chandler.
- William Russell, Bread Street. Haberdasher.
- Charles Bowman, Lime Street. Grocer.
- Tim Hailes, Bassishaw. Solicitor.
- Julian Malins, QC., Farringdon Without.
- Michael Mainelli, Broad Street. World Trader.
- Vincent Keaveney, Farringdon. Within Solicitor.
- Peter Estlin, Coleman Street. International Banker.
- Patricia Scotland, QC., Bishopsgate. Skinner.
For more on the Court of Aldermen, please visit this link at the City of London website.
resources
- The Aldermen of the City of London Temp. Henry III - 1912 By Alfred P Beaven. Contains comprehensive lists of and biographical notes upon the aldermen of the City. It also includes extensive materials on the relationship of the various aldermen to the livery companies and to Parliament. Originally published in two volumes, it is here given in one.
- WELCOME TO GUILDHALL, LONDON
- The Most Beautiful Room in London? King's England: London By Arthur Mee
- Wards of the City of London