Tony Attard OBE DL, founder and chairman of Panaz Group, was last night installed as the 60th Master of The Furniture Makers’ Company, the City of London livery company and charity for the furnishing industry.
Tony succeeds David Woodward as Master, who has just finished an extraordinary two-year term as Master.
The annual installation ceremony took place at St Mary-le-Bow Church in the City of London, followed by the customary dinner in the striking Egyptian Room at Mansion House, the official residence of the Lord Mayor of London.
Around 170 guests were in attendance to celebrate the new Master’s installation and were joined by City dignitaries including Alderman and Sheriff Alison Gowman, who was representing the Rt Hon The Lord Mayor, Alderman Vincent Keaveny.
“I would like to thank the livery membership for putting faith in me as the new Master. Together with my trusted senior and junior wardens, Amanda Waring and Brian Ahern, and the solid support from our court and clerk, I can promise to do my utmost to promote our industry, champion The Furniture Makers’ Company and burnish its reputation as a leading City livery company. Within my year, we will celebrate 70 years since the formation of the then Furniture Makers’ Guild and, in 2023, our charity marks its 120th anniversary. I therefore welcome our entire industry to join me throughout the year in these celebrations.”
In addition to commemorating the newly installed Master, the evening included an award ceremony for the Christopher Claxton Stevens Prize, praising the most outstanding design awarded a Bespoke Guild Mark in the prior livery year, and a Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Christopher Claxton Stevens Prize was presented to Fernanda Nuñez for the Guilloché Bedside Tables.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded to Peter Harrison, chief executive of Furniture Village.
The Master also presented a bonds of affiliation certificate to wing commander Timothy Simmons of 25 (Fighter) Squadron of the Royal Air Force to cement the new connection between the squadron and Company.
