The Master and Court
Our Master for 2020-2021 is Margaret Coates
Margaret is proud of being a member of the Worshipful Company of Plaisterers and its 3rd Lady Master in eight years, succeeding Alderman Alison Gowman. She became a Liveryman in 2009; a Court Assistant in 2015 and a Warden in 2018.
She served on the Membership Committee for six years helping develop the important and positive work that has over time produced a younger, more diverse and inclusive membership. As Upper Warden, she embarked on a Young Livery Group initiative, with the aim of giving younger members relevance, responsibility and purpose, which in time will produce freshness and innovation to progression within the Company.
Margaret was born in the London Borough of Lambeth; grew up in the London Borough of Southwark and educated in South London. In 1967 she commenced her long career in insurance, working for a company based then in Old Jewry, Cheapside, before relocating to Manchester in 1973. She remained in Manchester for 20 years, during which time she became the Chair of the Manchester Claims Management Association and an Associate with the Academy of Experts. In 1993 she returned to London, to take up the position of UK Claims Manager with an International Insurance Company. In 1997 she changed roles and moved to Lloyds of London, before retiring in 2009.
During her year as Master, she will be promoting her Charity, The Children’s Society and a challenging project linked to County Lines and children and young people trafficked for the purpose of criminal exploitation. The project will be based in the London Borough of Newham, an area of London where the Worshipful Company of Plaisterers has a strong connection through its affiliation with 282 (East Ham) Air Cadets. Margaret’s association with the Children’s Society stretches back to her Lambeth roots, raising funds for the orphanages run then by the Society.
She is delighted that her long-time colleague and friend, Geoffrey Tattersall, QC has agreed to be her Consort.
Since retiring, Margaret has embraced livery life; travelled widely, including three safaris in Namibia, Botswana and South Africa; several visits to Australia and New Zealand and many rail journeys throughout Europe and Scandinavia, crossing the Arctic Circle. She enjoys the theatre, the cultural life of London, good food and wine, full use of her National Trust and English Heritage memberships and the company of her family and friends.
The Court 2020-21
The Court
Master
Margaret Coates
Deputy Master
Alderman Alison Gowman*
Upper Warden
Stephen Gilbert
Renter Warden
Tim Stokes
Clerk
Colonel Garth Manger OBE
Honorary Chaplain
The Very Revd Charles Taylor
Assistant Clerk
Ali Mackey
Beadle
Jamie Wallis
Assistants
Robert Dalrymple*
J Hubert Lacey*
Peter Baker*
Gary Morley*
De Bradshaw*
Michael Jones*
Bill Mahony*
Terence Wright*
Richard Hanney*
Timothy Cooke OBE*
James Minett
John Telling
David Botley
Anthony Mitchell
David Hill-Kelly
Jon Randall
Rohit Nathaniel
Timothy Butcher (Additional)
Jon Riley (Additional)
*denotes Past Master
Past Masters Emeritus
Ronald Jordan*
Julian Dalrymple*
Hugh Kersey*
Ernest Pilgrim*
Bryan Lincoln*
Robert Faulkner* Christopher Towlson*
Peter Cook*
Reginald Denby*
Alan Turner*
Robin Doran*
Michael Lepper*
Michael Hall*
*denotes Past Master
Assistants Emeritus
Graham Withers
John Mills
Christopher Money
Andrew Popat
Phillip Holliday
Clerks Emeritus
Hilary Machtus
Nigel Bamping
Chief Steward
2019-
David Jarman
Stewards 2018-2021
Timothy Scott
Archin Talpade
Stewards 2019-2022
Richard Walker
Bill Welch
Andrew York
Stewards 2020-2023
Louise Laprun
Chris Mackey
Almoner
Richard Grove
Royal Liveryman
HRH The Duchess of Cornwall GCVO
Honorary Liverymen
Sir Francis McWilliams, GBE
Former Alderman of the Ward of Aldersgate,
Sheriff of London 1988-89,
Lord Mayor of London 1992-93
Nicholas Anstee
Alderman of the Ward of Aldersgate,
Sheriff of London 2003-04,
Lord Mayor of London 2009-10
Plaisterers Hall Limited
Directors
Robert Dalrymple (Chairman)
Tim Stokes
Timothy Cooke OBE
Terence Wright
Colonel Garth Manger OBE (Secretary)
From left to right:
MASTER Margaret Coates • UPPER WARDEN Stephen Gilbert • RENTER WARDEN Tim Stokes • DEPUTY MASTER Alison Gowman
