A Grace in honour of two trailblazing City women

Miss Sylvia Tutt, Master of the Worshipful Company of Secretaries and Administrators (1983/4)

A grace written for a lunch held by the Lady Masters Association at Trinity House, London on Thursday 12th October 2023 marking the fortieth anniversary of the first Lady Master of a Livery Company (Miss Sylvia Tutt) and the fortieth anniversary of the first female Lord Mayor of London (Dame Mary Donaldson). It was a great honour and privilege to be invited and to meet so many other trailblazing City women - and to hear from the second female Lord Mayor of London, Dame Fiona Woolf.

Back in nineteen eighty three,

Two “Big Sisters” made history;

and did so most reluctantly. 

We give thanks on this anniversary

of the first Lady Master of a Company.

Miss Tutt - a Chartered Secretary 

who requested no obituary. 

And we remember Lord Mayor Mary,

Whose passion for people was legendary. 

So what might this quadragenary

mean for the likes of you and me? 

A reminder, perhaps, for us to be

models of humility,

To shine as lights in the world so all may be free

to know the peace, love and true prosperity 

That flows from dedicating our lives, Lord, to thee. 

We pray that you might bless all those we love but no longer see,

this banquet and twoscore jubilee 

in this glorious House of Trinity.

Amen.

Image: Dame Mary Donaldson (1921–2003), Lord Mayor of London (1983–1984) portrait by Richard Stone. Guildhall Art Gallery.