Guilds and the City
The Guild of Public Relations Practitioners is part of the modern City of London
Livery that is believed to have had its origins in this country before 1066.
Guilds (or mysteries, from
the Latin 'misterium', meaning professional skill) flourished throughout Europe
for many centuries. 'Livery' refers to uniform clothing as means of
identification. 'Guild' derives from the Saxon word for payment, since
membership of these fraternities was (and is) paid for.
The early companies were
the medieval equivalent of trading standards departments, checking quality of
goods and weights and measures. They also controlled imports, set wages and
working conditions and trained apprentices. After many years of fierce dispute,
an order of precedence for livery companies was finally settled in 1515,
starting with Mercers at number one. Today City street names - such as Milk
Street, Bread Street, Ironmonger Lane, Poultry, Cloth Fair and Mason's Avenue -
mark the sites where it all began.
Trade
and craft associations have flourished all over Europe for many centuries, but
the City of London companies, now collectively known as the Livery, are unique
in their survival, number and diversity.
The social and
economic conditions which gave birth to the original guilds have long since been
overtaken by the development of industry and commerce, but the livery companies
still flourish today as living institutions. Their survival has been achieved by
doing what they have always done: fostering their trade in a wide context,
serving the community, and embracing modern skills and professions.
Public
relations is an essential activity in the City of London and the UK is a world
leader in this profession, so it seemed entirely appropriate that public
relations professionals should take the first step towards creating their own
Livery Company. The Guild of Public Relations Practitioners was formed in June
2000.
As one of
the first City of London Guilds to be created in the 21st Century, it is
important that our Guild strikes the right balance between old and new:
promoting modem best practice in public relations while upholding the unique
spirit and values that have sustained the Livery over the centuries.
Our Guild’s
History
Masters of the
Guild
Each
Master serves the Guild from September for one year.
2000-1 Ric Gainsborough Foot CBE FCIPR
2001-2 Stephen Jolly FCIPR
2002-3 Sir Rowland Whitehead Bt
2003-4
Rosemary Brook FCIPR
2004-5 John F Gray
FCIPR
2005-6 Mike Granatt
FCIPR CB
2006-7 Carol Friend
FCIPR
2007-8 Philip
Dewhurst FCIPR, FRSA
In
1998, the late Ric Gainsborough Foot CBE, a leading figure in the electronics
world, a Fellow of the Institute of Public Relations and a Past Master of the
Worshipful Company of Information Technologists, set about with others to assess
the demand and the acceptability in the City of a new and dynamic Guild to
represent the public relations profession. His approach to the Institute of
Public Relations with the concept, in its own 50th anniversary year, was
wholeheartedly supported by its then President, Peter L Walker FCIPR.
It was
agreed that the lack of representation of public relations within the Livery was
bad for the profession and bad for the City. Public relations was already well
established and accepted as a critical business function.
A
submission to the Court of Aldermen, sponsored by Alderman Gavyn Arthur and
drafted in consultation with the then President and Director General of the
institute of Public Relations and other senior representatives of the
profession, was in due course accepted unanimously by the Lord Mayor and
Aldermen. The submission was accompanied by documentation including a
constitution meeting the requirements of the City.
Ric
became the first Master of the City of London Guild of Public Relations
Practitioners, which proudly took its place among the Livery companies,
Companies and Guilds of the City of London. The inaugural general meeting of
the Guild took place at Wax Chandler's Hall, London, in June 2000. Alison
Clarke FIPR, President of the Institute of Public Relations in that year, gave
the inaugural speech.
Since
its formation, the Guild of Public Relations Practitioners has taken an
increasingly active role in the City and, meanwhile, the Insitute of Public
Relations has achieved its Royal Charter.
