City of London Sheep Drive and Livery Fair Southwark Bridge Sunday 24th Sep 2023

Hosted by the Worshipful Company of Woolmen: A long-established charity event, celebrating a Freeman’s ancient “right” to bring sheep to market over the Thames, toll free; all in aid of raising funds for The Woolmen Charity and The Lord Mayor’s Appeal.

This year’s Sheep Drive took place on Southwark Bridge and was led by Richard Corrigan, a top chef and holder of a Michelin Star.

The Master was pleased to show her support for Freemen of the Company who are also Free of The City, and a total of 16 of our Nurses exercised their right. The Master crossed the bridge multiple times to escort them on their passage.

Freeman Jo Tollemache, who took part in the event, shares her experience;

My friend, and fellow Worshipful  Company of Nurses member, Ruth Bailey and I arrived at the fair soon after it started dressed for the occasion in our ‘uniforms’ which made our profession somewhat unmistakable. We felt like minor celebrities as we were stopped and photographed by members of the public from all corners of the world. It was also lovely to meet and chat with other members of the Worshipful Company of Nurses as well as Liveryman from other Companies who were keen to welcome ‘Company 111’ to the fold.
We really enjoyed meeting Richard Corrigan, the fair’s guest celebrity, and having our photograph taken with the Lord Mayor’s party.

We also met Ann Dent, who organises the sheep drive, and she suggested that next year we should enter a whole team of ‘uniformed’ nurses to raise  the profile of the Company! Our families had a thoroughly enjoyable day too and I was lucky enough to be joined by my son, a doctor at the Manchester Royal Infirmary, for my sheep drive. We were all delighted that the Master was there to cheer us on.