The Lord Mayor Alderman David Wootton and The Lady Mayoress host dinner at the Mansion House to meet the Archbishops and the Bishops on 9th February 2012.
This is a bi-annual dinner hosted in all the colourful pomp and fanfare in the lofty Egyptian Hall at Mansion House for the Archbishops and the Bishops by the Lord Mayor of the City of London, which is a highly prestigious position elected out of all the Aldermen of the Livery Companies working in the City. Several ceremonial dinners are hosted ny the Lord Mayor and the City being the hub of the economic activity one of the most famous dinners is held with the Chancellor of Exchequer who gives his annual ‘Mansion House speech’.
It’s a great tradition that the City remembers faith in this way, perhaps to remind the City of always having a value-led approach to money matters. The Lord Mayor celebrates bi-annually with a sumptuous dinner for the Archbishops and the Bishops. I was invited as the Hindu representative as were my colleagues from the Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim, Baha’i and all other major faiths. After dinner the Lord Mayor Alderman David Wootton, Archbishop Dr Rowan Williams and Archbishop Dr John Sentamu gave speeches, and then with all the fanfare various toasts were sounded for the Queen and the Royal Family and the Archbishops, Bishops and the faith representatives.
Anil Bhanot
Hindu Council UK