IT chiefs in cloaks and sashes gets Queen's mark of approval
Surrounded by men with pikes and muskets
Posted in Management, 18th June 2010 12:49 GMT
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The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists received its Royal Charter yesterday - its mark of approval from the Queen.
The Livery Companies were originally proto-trade unions or professional standards bodies, depending which you look at it, based in the City of London. The first, the Worshipful Company of Mercers, got its Royal Charter in 1394 but was in existence for an unknown time before that. Although some retain a regulatory role - assay marks to show the purity of gold and silver are still overseen by the Company of Goldsmiths - most are now social and charitable bodies.
Yesterday's ceremony was part of Evensong at London's most beautiful building, St Paul's Cathedral. The actual Royal Charter - a large vellum certificate - was blessed before freemen and livery men walked to Mansion House escorted by a ceremonial guard of Pikemen and Musketeers for a banquet with the Lord Mayor.
Charles Hughes, Master of the Company, told The Reg: "This is the culmination of three years' work. It is a great honour and prestige to be awarded the Royal Charter and recognition of the importance of what we do. I hope it will encourage us all in our endeavors."
The ceremonial guard awaits
Fearsome fellows
Master of the Company Charles Hughes, clutching the Royal Charter. To his right deputy master Jo Connell is talking to senior warden Ken Olisa.
The guard overtakes a bus while leading the company to Mansion House
The Information Technologists Company (ITC), established in 1985, works to promote the industry as a whole but is not a lobby group for specific issues. It is working with another company to set up a technology-focused school in Hammersmith and also works with Lilian Baylis Technology School in Lambeth.
The ITC set up the IT4Communities awards scheme now run by AbilityNet, which finds IT professionals to do pro-bono work for charities. It also runs IT4Arts, which provides a similar match-making service for theatres and other arts organisations.
Information Technologists Company members include Bill Gates and Tim Berners-Lee. It is supported by donations - the largest being £5m from Dame Stephanie Shirley, founder of F-International, now Xansa. ®
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COMMENTS
Vile toadies should be ashamed
Dressing up daft, going to church and grovelling to royalty -- these people have clearly taken leave of their senses. Have they no pride in current achievements? Must they look back to a fictionalised mediaeval past to validate today's success? It makes me feel sick and I despair of ever seeing grown up people acting rationally and intelligently in combination to improve the lot of others. Disgusting.
"Worshipful Company of Information Technologists"?
Sounds like something American steampunk enthusiasts would come up with for roleplay. The Society for Creative Anachronism figures out how to make iPads "in-period".
Sounds like something out of a Terry Pratchett book ...
I hope and expect the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists to tell Black Rod exactly where to stick it - employing appropriate open standard - and have a nice sounding electronic doorbell fitted to the Houses of Parliament.
@AC 14:08
You're quite right about members of the Company of Pikemen and Musketeers (part of the Honourable Artillery Company). Many of them have an impressive CV in, um, particular fields.
Oh goody!
And do the Worshipful Company enjoy the right to carry swords in the City of London? Brings new... intensity to Net Neutrality! Nine dead after committee meeting, etc. Equal THAT,BOFH!
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