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| How the Company works |
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Governance of the Company
The governing body of the Company is known as the Court of Assistants which forms the Board of the corporate body of Drapers and thus acts as the Trustee of the Charitable Trusts. The Clerk is the Chief Officer of the Company, responsible for the implementation of its business and plans.
The Livery
Every Freeman is eligible to be considered for Call to the Livery by the Election Committee when they have attained the age of 30 years and have been Free of the Company for at least two years. Whereas the size of the Freedom is not restricted, that of the Livery is limited to 300. Thus there are always likely to be more candidates than there are vacant places on the Livery.
The Court of Assistants
There are some thirty-three members of the Court consisting of the Master, four Wardens and a variable number of Assistants. The Master and Wardens are elected annually from the Court, though it is customary that the Junior Warden is elected from the Livery. They serve office for one year from August to July.
Having served as Junior Warden, individuals serve in succeeding years as an Assistant on each of the Standing Committees. In due course, usually after some six years, they are likely to be elected in successive years Second Master Warden, Master Warden and, finally, Master. Once past the Chair, an Assistant is referred to as a "Past Master", and serves on the Standing Committees. Usually four years after serving as Master, they are elected Renter Warden for one year.
The Master is always addressed as ‘Master’ throughout the year of office.
The Administration
The conduct of the Company’s business inevitably falls most heavily upon the Court, the Clerk and staff of the Company. However, some opportunity exists for practical help from the Livery and Freedom by service on Standing Committees or as Governors of the Company’s Schools and by taking part in the annual almshouse Visitations. |
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