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2002 saw the company celebrate its many activities in a float dedicated to education, catering, tailoring and philanthropy. This gave the opportunity for pupils from the many schools in the Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust to process alongside the display and for the Jazz Band to entertain the crowds. The day was notable for being extremely cold which presented challenges for the band, Mark Bamping on the drums: “It was freezing – I remember wearing gloves to help with the two hour drumathon pain”. Ben and Jake Wiseman were in attendance and reflected that it was a pleasure to meet fellow pupils from the other Merchant Taylors’ School, whilst Andy Goff reminisced: “It was great walking and waving to crowds (who were rattling buckets) and it was a wonderful experience for students and their parents. The latter were very proud – indeed, we were surprised at how many parents were along the route calling out to us. I remember a member of the public coming up to the float and asking someone from the Hall where to go to get a pair of trousers made!”

Concordia Winter 2022

Above: Mark Bamping, Jake Wiseman, James Kellas, Owen Lloyd, Phil Bruce, Rajiv Shah and Adam Balkwill

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Sir David Brewer, Lord Mayor of London 2005