Foundation Master 2001/2

3 June 1935 – 7 October 2021

Obituary by Sir John Stuttard (Past Master and Former Lord Mayor)

The first meeting of the Guild was its Inaugural Annual Lecture (now entitled the Franklin Lecture in honour of the Foundation Master) which was given by Sir William Stubbs (Chairman, Qualifications and Curriculum Authority) on 15 November 2001 at London Guildhall University under the title of ‘GCE Advanced Levels and the Gold Standard’.   On this occasion, the Master wore, for the first time, the Master’s robe which he had presented to the Guild.  

The first Election Dinner was held on 13 February 2002 at the Women’s Library at the University (now London Metropolitan University) when the Guest of Honour was Professor Adrian Seville (sometime Academic Registrar, City University).  Prior to the Dinner, the first ceremony of Declaration by those admitted to the Freedom took place when Sir Christopher’s successor, Alderman John Stuttard JP, admitted Professor Franklin to the Freedom, and the Master then admitted Mr Alderman Stuttard to the Guild. 

In addition twenty-five other candidates were admitted including John Holland CBE, DL (sometime Chief Commoner) as the first Honorary Freeman in gratitude for the advice and support he gave during the formation period.  Mr N Barry Jaynes was the first Honorary Beadle.  

 The Guild Newsletter was established early in that first year as an important channel of communication with the Freedom.  Initially it was edited by the Honorary Foundation Clerk who produced four issues each year.  In 2005, Past Master Max Weaver assumed the Editorship enlivening the contents with photographs but reducing publication to three times a year.