In March 5 years ago, we reported that James Staughton OBE DL (1959) #1358 on the web family tree was retiring as CEO of St. Austell Brewery but would take on the role of Renter Warden (2nd in command) of the Worshipful Company of Brewers with a plan to become Master of the Company in 2022. Covid delayed his appointment and he assumed his new leadership role for the 2023/24 year, ably supported by his consort and wife, Emma née Minter-Kemp (1960) #802.
Suspecting that the general public’s view of Livery Companies was that they were a self-interested anachronistic left-over from a bygone age we asked James if he would tell us about the activities of Livery Companies today and follow that with a brief description of his year in office. He kindly agreed and here is what he wrote:
Background to the City Livery Companies
There are 113 Livery Companies and the Brewers’ Company is number 14 in the order of precedence having received our Royal Charter in 1438. A Livery Company is a type of Guild or professional association that originated in mediaeval times in London. The Livery Committee of the City of London has released the Livery Impact Report 2025 which presents data obtained from a Survey of Philanthropic Giving by Livery Companies undertaken in 2024.
The report shows that the aggregate giving by the 113 Livery Companies of the City of London was £81 million. The Brewers’ Company was delighted to be able to contribute to this total with an annual distribution of £2.5 million to its schools and charities. Across the Livery the major area of support was for education with £33.9 million distributed. Other key areas of support included arts and culture, housing, young people, and older people. In addition to direct financial contributions, between them the Livery Companies provided 76,100 hours of volunteer and professional pro-bono support. This included, among much else, the roles played by more than 1,000 School Governors and Trustees appointed by Livery Companies to external charities, as well as the voluntary effort of Liverymen in support of the Livery Companies’ own charities.
The full report highlights many more aspects of Livery philanthropic activities, including a number of inter-Livery initiatives, and can be viewed on-line at https://liverycommittee.org/impact-report/
MASTER BREWER – July 2023 to July 2024
I was hugely honoured to be invited to be Master of the Worshipful Company of Brewers. The role of Master includes:
- Providing leadership to the Brewers’ Company and providing advice and counsel to the Court and the Clerk
- Acting as Chairman of the Court in order to manage the Brewers’ Company, its assets, its charitable legacies, and its membership
- Representing the Brewers’ Company in the City and at other Livery events, to its schools and charities and to the wider brewing world
- Promoting a positive and relevant image of the Brewers’ Company to current and potential membership
- Hosting guests at Brewers’ Hall.
In representing the Company I was fortunate enough to enjoy the hospitality of many Livery Companies and visited a number of spectacular Halls situated in the City of London. The highlights of my year included attending two white tie dinners at The Mansion House. The first was in the presence of the King and Queen at the City of London Corporation Dinner to celebrate the King’s Coronation. The second was the Lord Mayor’s Dinner for all the Masters and Prime Wardens together with their Consorts. That was followed the next day by the United Guilds’ Service at St. Paul’s Cathedral. It was a spectacular and colourful event with all the Masters and Prime Wardens fully robed and badged for the occasion.
During my year we:
- Administered the distribution of £2.5 million through our charities
- Hosted 14 social events attended by 900 liverymen and guests
- Provided 11 governors for its 4 schools
- Acted as a trustee to 11 charities
- Raised over £13,000 for the Lord Mayor’s Appeal
- Attended 30 external events and functions.
The Brewers’ Company is proud to be part of the Livery movement which has endured for hundreds of years and yet remains relevant to modern society, retaining philanthropy at its core. For more information, please find the link below to our website. Cheers!
