Students from Hadlow’s Faculty of Horticulture had the experience of a lifetime taking part in this year’s Lord Mayor’s Show in the City of London.

The college was approached by the Worshipful Company of Fruiterers, one of the City’s oldest established livery companies, to help decorate its float. This is believed to be the first time a college has been afforded this type of opportunity.

The theme of the float was a celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Bramley apple. The Hadlow students made the giant papier mâché tree - complete with ‘leaves’ and ‘fruit’ - and the huge apple pie. The latter, made from plaster, had a big slice taken out of it to reveal a centre generously layered with apple filling, represented by hundreds of chrysanthemum heads. The base of the float was covered by around 5,000 Bramley apples, supplied by Fourayes, the Kent-based company that is the UK’s largest producer of Bramley. The trailer at the rear was loaded with several hundred kilos of different varieties of eating apples, pears, grapes and bananas.

Liverymen, Fourayes staff, Hadlow staff and students were kept busy handing out pieces of fruit to spectators. The weather, although bad, was actually somewhat better than the Met Office forecast - and thousands of people certainly didn’t allow rain and gusty winds to deter them from lining the route.

The Fruiterers’ Master, Alan French, was dressed in his robes of office. With the forecast of torrential rain, however, it was considered unwise for other members of the livery to risk damaging the wonderful materials and complicated embroidery employed in the valuable traditional garments.

Throughout the day, Fourayes’ staff and Hadlow students bravely bore the brunt of some heavy rain, which quickly penetrated their sweatshirts.

Bearing in mind the anniversary that the Fruiterers’ float was celebrating, it was appropriate that Celia Steven, a direct descendant of the Mr Bramley after whom the apple was named, also took part in the procession.

The three-mile-long parade involved a total of around 6,000 people, 1,550 of them servicemen and women. In addition, 202 horses took part, along with 24 marching bands. The 71 floats featured people from a wide range of London-based communities, groups and organisations.

This year’s show commenced with a ‘run-past’ Nick Anstee, the about-to-be-sworn-in mayor, by some of London’s best young athletes. This was followed by a ‘fly-past’ over the Mansion House (the Lord Mayor’s official residence and also his workplace).

The procession then made its way through some of the City’s most historic streets, eventually returning, some three hours later, to the starting point via the Embankment. Meanwhile, the new Lord Mayor - travelling in one of the state coaches - made his way to the Royal Courts of Justice to pledge allegiance to the crown.

The BBC gave the event an hour-and-a-half of coverage, and the footage included some good shots of the Fruiterers’ float. Presenter Clare Balding interviewed the Master, alongside Amanda Cottrell - a member of the livery - and Hillary Daniels, a mature student at Hadlow.

Mark Lumsdon-Taylor, Hadlow’s director of finance and resources, himself a Fruiterers’ liveryman, said: “The Lord Mayor’s Show is truly a unique experience for everyone involved. By supporting the Worshipful Company of Fruiterers with the design, build and development of this year’s float - all the work being undertaken by students - we engage the college in the traditions of the City, a further enhancement of what they learn at Hadlow College. The traditions of the City of London are very important - the show helps to promote understanding.”

• This year’s fireworks display on the Thames, expected to be one of the most magnificent ever, had to be cancelled because it was considered the high winds made the event too dangerous.

• London has been privileged to have a Lord Mayor since 1189 but it was not until 1215, when King John granted a charter allowing the people of London to elect their own mayor, that what was known as the Mayor’s Journey came into being. Over time, ‘the journey’ gradually developed into the magnificent event it is today - a unique blend of pomp, tradition and modern activity - involving businesses, livery companies, charities, the City of London Police, the armed forces and people from all walks of life.

• During the last 800 years, 700 men - and just one woman - have served as Lord Mayor - the most famous of all being Dick Whittington, who took office on three occasions. A generous philanthropist, he was deeply involved in the financial dealings of the City.

Topics