Wholesalers turned out in force to welcome the Lord Mayor of the City of London to New Spitalfields Market this week, as he toured the East London site with a delegation from the market and the City of London Corporation.
This year’s Lord Mayor, Alderman Ian Luder, and his wife went down well with traders, many of whom were waiting at the edge of their stands for a chance to showcase their produce.
Spitalfields Market Tenants’ Association chairman Chris Hutchinson led the tour around the market, which was also attended by the Lord Mayor’s two sheriffs and their wives, plus the Mayor of Waltham Forest, Anna Mbachu.
Afterwards, the Lord Mayor was presented with a cheque for £500 from the market for his chosen charities.
The Lord Mayor said: “This market has well-deserved success and long may it continue... The Olympics will also bring a new dimension to life.”
The Lord Mayor praised the Worshipful Company of Fruiterers’ campaign to raise awareness of healthy eating, adding that he hoped it would effect a “sea change” in eating habits.
Hutchinson said: “We mustn’t let complacency come in. We work hard with the City of London to keep the market full, competitive and on the right track for the future. The market has moved forward in leaps and bounds in terms of certification, health and safety, and recycling.”
Hutchinson also paid tribute to the late superintendent Ken Alexander, who died suddenly earlier this month at the age of 53, recognising all his work for the market over the last few years. “A great deal of the market you see today is down to his efforts,” he said.
The Lord Mayor also acknowledged Ken’s influence, calling the market “a testament to his work”, as well as a “great co-operative venture between the tenants and the corporation”.
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