This year, we are joined by 2 new Assistants to the Court, James de Broë-Ferguson and Rebecca Nelson, as well as 2 newly appointed Stewards, Mark Williams and Chris Horsburgh

James de Broë-Ferguson, Charity Committee and Investment Committee Member

I became a Feltmaker in 2017 having started in The City in 1988 after a short spell at Sandhurst.  First as a Lloyd’s Marine Insurance Broker moving into investment management 25 years ago, previously a Fund Manager at Ruffer then Singer & Friedlander and Williams de Broë, I now work in private client investment management at Rathbones. The son of a soldier I was born in Brecon and grew up in Scotland, where my family originates from and various foreign postings including Cyprus, Gibraltar and Germany.

I have in the past been involved with the London branch of the National Trust for Scotland, the Dulwich Picture Gallery fundraising committee – particularly for Rembrandt’s 400^th Birthday, and The Guild of The Nineteen Lubricators – a Guild originally formed by oil traders in the 1930’s “to help the lame dog over the stile”.  A member of Brooks’s I have been on a number of Club committees, including Chairman of the House Committee.

As an Old Harrovian, I have remained keenly involved with the school and have recently stepped down as Treasurer, charity trustee and board member of The Harrow Association.  Apart from Feltmaker duties I am a committee member of The Gull’s Eggs City Luncheon which is held annually in aid of Cure Parkinson’s Trust, an honorary member of The Black Watch Association and a Ceremonial Member of The Royal Company of Archers – as well as the ceremonial duties I also take an active part in the toxopholy side of things. My wife Maria and I have two grown up children and live in Somerset where I enthusiastically support Exeter Chiefs when the opportunity presents itself.  Hats have been a staple throughout my life and I have always remembered the phrase “if you want to get ahead, get a hat” the first half is still work in progress.

Rebecca Nelson – Editor of the Feltmaker magazine & Lord Mayor’s Show Committee

Rebecca is well known in the Livery for her work as a member of the Lord Mayor’s Show team, and her huge involvement in curating the Red Cross Fayre in November, not to mention editing the Feltmaker.

She says….I became a Feltmaker in 2013 and have had the privilege to edit the Feltmaker magazine since 2017, during which time we covered the Lord Mayor’s Show, Lockdown and the loss of our esteemed Clerk, Major Jollyon Coombs.  I am proud of what has been achieved thus far and look forward to updating and enhancing the look and feel of our “in-house” publication.

I live in a small Buckinghamshire village where I am known in the community for my penchant for wearing hats, although I refrain from headwear when doing Pilates, TRX and Barre.