Our History
Agriculture can be said to be England's oldest and most
important industry, with the growth of the City dependent on the
supply of food to support its growing population for centuries.
Whilst evidence suggests some livery companies were active as early
as 1155, it is thought farmers were not represented until much
later, since they operated outside the square mile, unlike the
related trades of Bakers, Butchers, Poulters, Woolmen and
Fruiterers.
The Company’s origins stem from the Chairman's Committee of the
British Red Cross Agricultural Fund, which was set up during the
Second World War to raise funds for the war effort. The whole of
agriculture and its ancillary trades combined to raise over
£8.5million.
To perpetuate the Fund’s good intentions plans were initiated to
create a livery company:
- 1946: Company of Agriculturalists of the City of London
formed
- 1952: Worshipful Company of Farmers grant of Livery
approved
- 1955: Royal Charter gained
The Livery Companies of
London View
Livery History of which the Worshipful Company of Farmers
stands 80th in precedence, were originally founded as Trade Guilds
to regulate the crafts and professions operating in the 'square
mile' of the City and to help run the civic government of the City,
including the election of the Lord Mayor and the Sheriffs through
assemblies at the Guildhall. They took part in ceremonial events
and collective acts of worship, whilst pursuing an ethos of
charity, welfare and education associated with their
trade/profession.
The Worshipful Company of Farmers - Past Masters
1946-1953 The Rt Hon Lord Courthope, MC, DL
*
1953-1954 Sir Richard W. Haddon, CBE *
1954-1955 V. H. Parker, MBE *
1955-1956 W. J. Cumber, CBE *
1956-1957 Sir Cleveland Fyfe, CBE *
1957-1958 F. N. Matthews, MBE *
1958-1959 Sir Thomas Neame *
1959-1960 F. C. Hawkes CBE *
1960-1961 The Rt Hon Lord Cromwell, DSO, MC, JP
*
1961-1962 S. W. Cheveley, OBE *
1962-1963 The Rt Hon Lord Swaythling, OBE *
1963-1964 E. G. Parsons, CVO, CBE *
1964-1965 H. C. Tinsley, MBE *
1965-1966 P. B. Taylor, TD, JP, DL *
1966-1967 W. L. Cardy *
1967-1968 E. Hitchcook
1968-1969 H. C. H. Graves, OBE *
1969-1970 N. R. Whitwell, JP *
1970-1971 W. M. Balch *
1971-1972 F. H. Garner *
1972-1973 R. S. Borner, OBE, VRD
1973-1974 The Rt Hon The Earl of Lonsdale *
1974-1975 B. L. Barker *
1975-1976 Lt Col C. A. Brooks, OBE, TD,DL *
1976-1977 Sir Nigel Strutt, TD, DL *
1977-1978 M. C. Cheveley *
1978-1979 A. Q. Hitchcock, CBE
1979-1980 R. J. Harrison, JP *
1980-1981 C. G. Metson, OBE *
1981-1982 M. H. Hinton, JP
1982-1983 Major Sir Charles Graham, Bt. *
1983-1984 K. E. Roberts, OBE, JP *
1984-1985 C. T. Muddiman *
1985-1986 D. G. Pearce
1986-1987 T. W. Kemsley, JP
1987-1988 S. F. B Taylor
1988-1989 R. M. Older, CBE, DL *
1989-1990 A. C. Streeter, DL
1990-1991 R. J. Upton, JP, DL
1991-1992 Sir Henry Neville, KCVO *
1992-1993 A. J. Tritton *
1993-1994 Mrs E. R. Wheatley-Hubbard, OBE *
1994-1995 M. C. Foreman
1995-1996 J. S. Borner *
1996-1997 W. M. Cornish
1997-1998 The Hon Sir Richard Butler, DL *
1998-1999 C. F. Pertwee, DL
1999-2000 J. H. Cossins, CBE, DL
2000-2001 R. A. Brooks
2001-2002 HRH The Princess Royal, KG, KT,
GCVO
2002-2003 C. T. Redman
2003-2004 P. H. Gibbons, DL *
2004-2005 N. J. Fiske
2005-2006 The Lord Plumb of Coleshill, DL
2006-2007 Sir Graham Wilkinson, Bt.
2007-2008 T. A. Copas
2008-2009 J. F. Thorpe, OBE
2009-2010 J. D. Courtney
2010-2011 W. F. Balch
* Deceased