The Lord Mayor’s Show, one of the landmark events in the City of London’s calendar, has been cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The decision has been taken by the Lord Mayor’s Show Ltd.
The annual event which, traditionally, features a three-mile-long procession through the City’s streets, would have been held on Saturday 14 November as a contained, televised spectacle with no public access in Guildhall Yard.
According to historical records, the last cancellation of the Lord Mayor’s Show was in 1852 to allow for a period of national mourning for the Duke of Wellington.
Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman William Russell, said: “The Lord Mayor’s Show is a unique event but, because of serious and increasing concerns about the Covid-19 pandemic over the coming months, we believe that cancelling it is the right decision.
“Safety must remain our ultimate priority. I would like to thank everyone who has worked on this show.
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“Our gratitude to them will remain undiminished, as will my hopes that we will be able to hold the Lord Mayor’s Show next year.”
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Lord Mayor’s Show Ltd, Alderman Tim Hailes, said: “It seems likely that, as we head towards winter, London and the UK will face increasingly challenging times so, with deep regret, the Board of Directors of the Lord Mayor’s Show Limited has taken this difficult decision.
“Instead of relaxing the public health restrictions, they look set to be tightened, so it would have become untenable, if not impossible, to hold this popular event, even in its scaled-back format.”
Pageantmaster of the Lord Mayor’s Show, Dominic Reid OBE, said: “Today’s decision to cancel this year’s Show is as inevitable as it is regrettable, but we are facing uncertain times and despite everyone’s best efforts, we took the view that cancelling the event is the most appropriate and responsible action.”
The City of London Corporation, which is headed by the Lord Mayor and supports the Lord Mayor’s Show, is the fourth largest funder of heritage and cultural activities in the UK and invests over £100m every year.
Lead image by Clive Totman.
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