Where I serve in the City
I am a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Coopers and one of the City's four Ale-Conners. I speak for neither the Company nor the City of London Corporation.
The livery
The Worshipful Company of Coopers
The Coopers are one of the livery companies of the City of London, chartered by Henry VII in 1501. I was apprenticed to the Master Cooper in 2011, admitted to the Freedom of the Company in 2016, and clothed in the Livery in 2019.
The Company appoints a Liveryman to serve as Warden for two years and then return to the Livery. I served as President of the Coopers' Society, then as Under Warden (2024 to 2025) and Upper Warden (2025 to 2026). I hold no Court office now. I am a Director of the Coopers' Livery Housing Fund and sit on several of the Company's committees.
Working with the Court and the Society, I drafted the Company's Code of Conduct for adoption by the Court and co-authored its framework for appointing members of the Court. Together we modernised the Company's events, ticketing, payment and membership systems.
City London News spoke to me for ‘When trade meets tradition: inside London's ancient livery companies’, 24 February 2026.
Inter-livery
The Coopers' Cask Race
I co-founded and chair the Coopers' Cask Race, an annual inter-livery event in Guildhall Yard. Teams roll full-size casks through a timed course, and the public can watch free of charge. The first race was in 2022, and 32 teams took part in 2026.
Details of the next race are at caskrace.com. Londonist has written about the race.
The drinks trade
The Cask Group
I helped convene the Cask Group, which brings together six livery companies of the drinks trade: the Brewers, Coopers, Distillers, Glass Sellers, Innholders and Vintners. Working with members from across the group, we set up a governance framework, a shared calendar of events and a joint float in the Lord Mayor's Show.
Common Hall
Ale-Conner of the City of London
The office of Ale-Conner dates from the thirteenth-century Assize of Bread and Ale, and London has elected four Ale-Conners since at least the fourteenth century. Historically they tested that the City's ale was wholesome and fairly sold. The Liverymen of the City elect them at Common Hall each June.
I was elected on 24 June 2026. I speak as one Ale-Conner, not for the others or for the City of London Corporation. I write about the history of the office and the City's pubs at The Office of Ale-Conner.
Visit aleconner.beer