Alderman, Sir Roger Gifford
(Lord Mayor 2012 - 2013)
Sir Roger Gifford (b. 1955), was elected Alderman for the Ward of Cordwainer in 2004, served as Sheriff in 2008/9 and as the 685th Lord Mayor in 2012/3. He was knighted by the Queen in 2013.
His Mother Livery is the Musicians' Company, being clothed in that Livery during 2005 and elected to the Court in 2009. Sir Roger served as Master in 2016/17. In 2010 he was Master of the International Bankers' Company, is an Honorary Liveryman of the Cordwainers' and the Security Professionals' Companies and is the sponsoring Alderman for the Guild of Public Relations Practioners.
He became the UK Country Manager of SEB (Skandinaviska Enskilda Bank) in 2000 and has been Chairman of the Association of Foreign Banks, which represents all foreign banks based in London.
Committment to supporting the Arts includes Trustee of St Paul’s Cathedral Foundation; St Paul’s Cathedral Choir School Foundation; King Edward's School, Witley: the Barbican Centre Trust; the City Music Foundation; Chair of English Chamber Orchestra; and Chair of the Tenebrae Choir.
Sir Roger is a Knight Bachelor; Knight of the Most Venerable Order of St John; Commander of the Order of the Polar Star (Sweden); Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland; and Member 5th Class of the Order of Kuwait.
Click the image left to see a video featuring Pastmaster and Past Lord Mayor, Alderman Sir Andrew Parmley, together with Sir Roger playing a recorder sonata at the Mansion House with a young music student. In it they talk about the work of the City Music Foundation established by Sir Roger during his Mayoral year. Sir Roger is using the 'four-way' music stand presented to him by the Musicians’ Company's on being elected to the Mayoralty.
The pipe organ being played by Sir Andrew Parmley was commissioned by Sir Roger (on behalf of the City of London Corporation) and presented to the Queen during his period as Lord Mayor.
During 2013, the organ (made by Manders of Bethnal Green, London) was used a number of times at Mansion House for concerts. The WCOM Midsummer Banquet was held there and the picture (right) shows Sir Roger in duet with the Master at the time, John Morehen at the organ. The organ now resides in 'The Lady Chapel' of Westminster Abbey.
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