THE MASTER

Peter Lamble

As someone who joined the Company in the year 2000 by redemption as a result of my now more than 30 years in the Footwear business, I am delighted with the progress the Company has made recently in supporting the industry. I very much intend to continue this good work, by forming stronger and more diverse links with the footwear sector despite the hard financial times affecting everyone currently.

My priorities for the year are here.

The adoption of the Governance Review recommendations has given us a clear path to modernising the operation of the business side of the Company.  I will work to support and coordinate the talented team who are charged with running the operational committees.  In particular, I will work to coordinate efforts to strengthen the financial position of the company, as without the monetary resources underpinning them our aims of going good and having fun will be constrained.

Although the social calendar for the first part of the year may be somewhat modified, I am looking forward to taking part in as many and varied events as I can, and to representing the Company throughout the Livery and the City of London.

Outside  footwear (I am still Chairman of Start-rite children’s shoes) I am a National Leader of Governance supporting primary schools in Norfolk and am also a trustee of the local Norfolk Big C cancer charity. My wife Angelique and I live just outside Norwich, and we have three children and four grandchildren all of whom live locally to us.

THE SENIOR WARDEN

Sir Roger Gifford

I look forward to supporting the Master, my Fellow Wardens, the Court and Clerk, both in their ongoing work for the Company and to raise money for key charities within the Cordwainer family.

This feels especially relevant as we pull out of the malaise caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, whose economic effects are yet to be understood, let alone fully realised.  This may be a difficult year financially – I hope to be able to help Master and Court steer through this period effectively.

In the past year, I have been a member of the Freedom Committee, the Finance Committee, the 750 Committee and the CET and chair of the Charity Committee.  I have participated whenever possible in Company livery and charity events and enjoyed them all. I believe strongly in the work of the Cordwainers, connecting to and supporting footwear designers and manufacturers in the true spirit of the livery movement – and I look forward to helping preparations for the upcoming 750 anniversary.

Professionally, I have been a banker for the past 40 years, living in Japan in the 90’s and a regular traveller.  I continue to work full time and also chair the UK Green Finance Institute, recently formed as a result of a recommendation from the Government Taskforce on Green Finance in 2018, which I also chaired.  I was elected Alderman for Cordwainer Ward in 2004 and Lord Mayor of London in 2013.  I am married to Dr Clare Taylor and between us we have six children.

THE SECOND WARDEN

John Peal

The Peal family has a long and deep involvement with the Cordwainers and I am proud to have the opportunity to continue that. I  give my full support to the new Master, Wardens, Clerk and the office team. In particular, I will assist in every possible way to facilitate the smooth implementation of the new governance structures and processes.

It’s clear that the Company is taking great strides to get ever closer to the footwear trade and educational bodies to strengthen our traditional values and purpose.

Despite the likely long-term impact of the COVID pandemic on the company’s resources, I will support the goal of maintaining our charitable spending, protecting the value of our property assets and continue to build close relationships with individuals and organisations in the UK footwear world.

In particular, the 750th Anniversary Committee I chair has much work to do to mark the milestone memorably and I look forward to that challenge despite the uncertainty of resources and location – because it’s a rare opportunity for the company to show the fellowship of the Livery and cement the ties with the trade and City of London.

My working career was in sales and marketing of consumer durables, including 18 years as European Marketing Director for Titleist and FootJoy, and now I head up the business development team for a leading e-commerce business. My wife, Elly, retired from teaching 3 years ago and our three daughters (two Liverymen and one Freeman) are now all married, with two grandchildren to entertain us.

THE STEWARD WARDEN

Sarah Cochrane

It is a great honour to be elected as Steward Warden  for the coming year.

The company is enormously dear to me, as my family have been involved for eight generations and to be able to continue this tradition and aid the prosperity of the Livery would be an honour.

I am currently a fundraising officer for the HALO Trust. I support them with the administration of individual donations and run the fundraising events that HALO organises and the external events that HALO secures places in, as well as individual fundraisers. I am hoping that during my year I will be able to assist the office in developing our fundraising and build its capacity, especially in these difficult times.

I live in Dorset and in my spare time enjoy walking the dogs, gardening, shooting and fishing.

THE RENTER WARDEN

Sally Childs

I am proud to be a Cordwainer and I will strive to serve the company to the best of my abilities and look forward to making my contribution to realising the 2030 vision and prepare for the 750th anniversary in 2022.

I have been a member of the Cordwainers Educational and Training Trust Company for the past five years and was delighted to work on the re-design of Cordwainers Court. My involvement at this level has given me a far greater understanding and appreciation of the mechanics of the company and the charitable work it undertakes.

I feel quite impassioned to spread the word amongst fellow members about the benefits of positive participation within the company as I have found it to be immensely rewarding.

Professionally, I have worked as an interior designer for the past 24 years, setting up my own practise in 2010, working on residential properties in London, Surrey and Sussex.

I live in Surrey with my husband Toby and our three children, Emmeline , Tilly  and George.