WCB unveils Princess Royal as future Master

- Published: 03 October, 2008

The Princess Royal is expected to become Master of the Worshipful Company of Butchers in September 2010.

At Common Hall, the Company's annual meeting, outgoing Master John Tuckwell confirmed that Her Royal Highness had indicated she would accept the invitation to be Master.

Past Master Tuckwell said it was an exciting time for the Company, with one of its Court members, Alderman Nick Anstee, likely to become Lord Mayor next November, the first person for 157 years to have the Butchers' as his Mother Company. The Master of the Butchers' Company for the coming 12 months is Brian Wheatley from Leeds.

The new Master said he took over from Past Master Tuckwell with the Company in a very sound financial situation. "I intend to keep it that way and, with your help, even improve it. The funds for our general charity and our education charity continue to grow and we are always looking at ways to improve things."

The charity chosen for his year of office will be 'The Little Sisters of the Poor'. It has nine homes in England, including one in his home town, Leeds. Funds raised during the year will go to the Little Sisters in South Lambeth, London. Wheatley's charity dinner will be held on 18 June next year,

John Tuckwell had been an excellent Master, leading from the front in everything he had set out to achieve, said the new Master.

Reporting on his year in office Past Master Tuckwell said he was confident he was leaving with the Company in good heart, strong and with an exciting future. His charity dinner, in aid of the RNIB Talking Book Service and the Company's own 400 Charter Appeal, raised £20,000.

In one of his final acts as Master, Tuckwell presided over the unveiling of a bronze of the late Queen Mother, who had been an honorary Freeman.