A Royal Occasion

Deacon Convener of the Nine Incorporated Trades of Dundee, John Fyffe MBE, was a guest of the Seven Incorporated Trades of Aberdeen at a Royal dinner at the City’s Trinity Hall last month.

Guest of Honour was the Princess Royal, the first official Royal visit since Trinity Hall opened its doors to the public in the 1960s.

As well as Princess Anne, 196 visitors from the London Livery Companies, England’s equivalent to the Trades, were also welcomed to the modern landmark.

The Liveries are all linked to the Lord Mayor of London who happens to have very strong links to the north-east. Alastair King hails from the Donside area and still splits his time between London and Strathdon.

He first suggested the Liveries should travel north to his hometown for their annual trip two years ago.

When he asked Deacon Convener Andy Leiper if he thought the Seven Incorporated Trades would be able to host, he responded: “Of course we can”.

The Lord Provost and the Lord Dean of Guild were among those greeting the 196 Londoners – as well as their Royal guest.

Princess Anne, who has been involved with the Liveries for decades, spent time talking to guests.
Princess Anne’s visit also celebrated the Seven Incorporated Trades’ charity work. The Trades Widows’ Fund has donated more than £1.5 million to local causes since 2017.