24 June 2008
City of London elects new Sheriffs
The annual election of two Sheriffs for the City of London has
taken place today (Tuesday 24th June) at Guildhall, the historic
headquarters of the City of London.
Alderman Roger Gifford (Cordwainer ward) and George Gillon (also
Cordwainer ward) were both elected to serve as Sheriff and will
take up their duties on 26th September, ready to supervise the
election of a Lord Mayor on 29th September 2008. Both will hold the
position for one year.
Alderman Gifford was elected to the Court of Aldermen in 2004.
He has spent 30 years working in international merchant banking in
the City and is currently UK Country Manager for SEB (Skandinaviska
Enskilda Bank). He is also chairman of the Association of Foreign
Banks, which represents overseas banks based in the UK. He is a
liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Musicians and the Worshipful
Company of International Bankers, a trustee of St Paul’s Cathedral
foundation, St Paul’s Cathedral Choir School Foundation and King
Edward’s School Witley. He has a strong involvement with music and
the arts and is Chairman of the English Chamber Orchestra. He is
married to Dr Clare Taylor and between them they have six
children.
Mr Gillon became a member of the City’s Court of Common Council
in 1995 and sits on a number of committees including Policy &
Resources, City Lands & Bridge House Estates, Port Health &
Environmental Services and the Safer City Partnership Board. He
spent 14 years in Glasgow as a Chartered Surveyor before moving to
the City in 1979. Latterly he spent 16 years as a partner at
commercial property consultants Drivers Jonas. Mr Gillon is a
liveryman of the Chartered Surveyors’ Company, having served as
Master from 2002-2003. Other positions he has held include Governor
of the City of London’s School for Girls, the Chartered Surveyors’
Charitable Trusts, the Caledonian Club Charitable Trust and the
Honourable Irish Society.
The office of Sheriff dates back to the Middle Ages and is of
long-standing importance in the government of the City of
London.
Their duties include attending the Lord Mayor in carrying out
his official duties, attending the sessions at the Central Criminal
Court in the Old Bailey and presenting petitions from the City to
Parliament at the Bar at the House of Commons.
The Sherrifs' first announcement has been to call for
nominations for the 2008 Sheriffs’ Award for bravery, designed to
honour individuals or organisations who have shown unusual courage
or initiative in protecting people, property or liberty.
Nominations are invited from the general public, businesses,
emergency services and the Armed Forces. Entry forms are available
online at the Company of Security Professionals' website
(
http://www.professionalsecurity.co.uk/company/images/sheriffs.pdf).
Ends
Notes to editors:
The City of London provides local government services for the
Square Mile, the financial and commercial heart of Britain, and is
committed to maintaining and enhancing the status of the business
City as the world's leading international financial and business
centre through its policies and services. Its responsibilities also
extend far beyond the City boundaries and include management of the
Barbican Centre, Central Criminal Court at the Old Bailey, 10,000
acres of open space including Hampstead Heath and Epping Forest,
three wholesale food markets, as well as acting as the London Port
Health Authority.