The Livery Company is made up of a number of organisations and groups, some of which have formal status, others are social groups. Here are some of the important committees and groups, with their main organiser. Some of these roles change frequently, others rotate every few years. In 2024, Tim Stocks takes over the running of the Livery Society and a new group, Working Milliners is being set up by Nigel Macdonald.

Chair of Trustees of the Feltmakers Charitable Foundation – Peter Simeons

Peter says…… a Feltmaker since 1989, I soon became a member of the Livery Society Committee.  I arranged the Luton lunch for four years, and organised annual Cricket activities. I was elected to the Court in 2004. My Father, Charles Simeons, was Master of the Company in 1987. I am also a Freeman of the Grocers` Company.

As Master in 2015, I sought to develop our Charitable Fundraising capabilities. This initiative resulted in the creation of the Charity Committee, on which I served for four years. In 2021, I became Chairman of our Charitable Foundation.

I was born in Luton, educated at Oundle School and qualified as a Chartered Accountant after serving Articles in London. While seeking to use my language abilities, I moved into commerce working for Bunge, an international trading house based in Antwerp, Belgium. I undertook a number of senior financial roles in the UK and Europe. I am a fellow of the Association of Corporate Treasurers and sit on their Membership team. I continue to work for Bunge in the UK and Northern Europe.

I played Rugby at senior club and county level, and have been a member of the Marylebone Cricket Club for over 50 years. I am married to Irene, and we live in Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire, have two married daughters and four grandchildren.

Chair of the Charity Committee – Louisa Vincent

Hello, I am Louisa, and after a 35-year career in global financial services, I am now a non-executive director for a listed investment trust investing in renewable energy.  I also chair Fight For Sight/Vision Foundation, the UK’s leading independent eye research charity. 

Growing up in Wales, I initially worked in London before going on a belated gap year.  I fell in love with Australia, staying for 20 years, building a career in investment management, married an Englishman, had two daughters and completed an MBA.

In 2004, State Street Global Advisors transferred me to its London office.  In 2007, I joined Lazard Asset Management Ltd to head its institutional client business.  In 2018, I left to develop a portfolio career as a board director.

I became a Feltmaker in 2016 and was delighted to join the Charity Committee to help identify our first nominated charity partner. Now as chair, I am truly proud that Brain Tumour Research has been selected as our new Nominated Charity and I look forward to a fruitful relationship between us.

I have two adult daughters and lives in rural Oxfordshire with my husband and an assortment of horses, dogs & cats. And of course, I take every opportunity to wear a hat, of which I have a substantial (but still growing) collection…

Chairman of the Livery Society – Tim Stocks

My early years were spent in West Yorkshire and University in Liverpool. A City I enjoyed and spent a further two years as an articled clerk in the city. Having qualified as a solicitor in 1983 I pursued a legal career in private practice both in London and Hong Kong. I retired from private practice in 2015 when head of Corporate Finance at Taylor Wessing LLP. Retire is probably the wrong term as I set-up an independent corporate finance firm, “James Stocks & Co” whose name references the Yorkshire heritage of the family. Having sold the firm late in 2020, I am a partner with London based merchant bank, Cameron Barney LLP specialising in real estate finance including affordable housing.

Married and with a wonderful grown-up daughter, we have lived in Hertfordshire for 35 years. I can be seen during the summer in the garden or at the cricket with my Panama hat and in the winter with my brown Stetson hat.

I was delighted to join the Livery in 2016 and have made many Livery friends. The highlight parading through the City of London for the Lord Mayor’s Show. I am a trustee of The Feltmakers’ Charitable Foundation.

Chair of the Historical Committee – Susan Wood

Editor of the Feltmaker Magazine – Rebecca Nelson

Following a 30 year career in financial PR, encompassing award-winning consultancies and some of the world’s leading investment banks, I established my eponymous consultancy in 2019, representing an eclectic portfolio of clients. I am also a Committee Member of the England China Business Forum which aims to foster better Sino-British relations, and an active member of St. Teresa’s Church, Beaconsfield, where I have served on the Parish Council for the past six years. I recently started as a weekly volunteer at a local Thames Hospice shop.

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. 

Chair of Working Milliners – Nigel Macdonald

If you have interest to join any of these committees and societies, and especially if you have time and expertise to share, we would welcome your involvement. In the first instance, please share this with the Clerk, and we will come back to you.