The Worshipful Company of Tax Advisers

WCTA: INSTALLATION DAY – TUESDAY 23RD SEPTEMBER 2025

On Tuesday 23rd September 2025, Richard Geldard completed his highly successful year as Master Tax Adviser. 

His successor Matthew Peppitt was duly installed as Master for the year 2025/26 at a meeting of Court held at Ironmongers’ Hall.  Company Wardens for the year were also installed: Caroline Turnbull-Hall as Upper Warden, Howard Ashmore as Middle Warden, and Michael Ashdown as Renter Warden.  Richard Geldard accepted Matthew’s invitation to serve as his Deputy Master. 

The new year also sees Past Master Michael Godbee stepping down from Court after ten years’ service, the departure of Assistant Vaughan Robinson (on a potentially temporary basis only), and the admission of Adrian Stevens as a new Court Assistant (with John Whitehead and George Duncan elected to follow suit, once they become available to be admitted at Court).  It also saw Middle Warden Howard Ashmore relinquish the appointment of Honorary Treasurer, and confirmation of Assistant Jeremy Coker as his successor. 

Details of Court and Committee members, and other Company officers, are on our website: The Worshipful Company of Tax Advisers | City of London 

The Court meeting also saw eight Freemen advancing to Livery, after gaining their Freedom of the City that morning, and the admission of three new Freemen. 

Photographs from Court, and from throughout the day, are available here: Gerald Sharp Photography | Tax Advisers  

From Ironmongers’ Hall, Court members processed to Great Saint Barts church for a Thanksgiving Service, officiated by the Honorary Chaplain, the Rev Marcus Walker.  The Master and Immediate Past Master both delivered readings, the Chaplain his sermon, the Choir several pieces including one from Handel’s Messiah, and the congregation hearty renditions of several hymns culminating in ‘Guide me, O thou my great Redeemer’.  An uplifting start to the new year. 

Returning to the Hall and joined by the Rt Hon Chris Philp MP and other Company guests, the new Master hosted his Installation Dinner in the Banqueting Hall.  In this wonderful setting, a splendid dinner was served, the Master took wine with new Liverymen and Freemen, Loving Cups were passed, and we were entertained by a highly dramatic, and wonderfully melodic, alphorn duo. 

The Renter Warden welcomed and toasted the guests, after which Chris Philp spoke enthusiastically in favour of entrepreneurship and enterprise being afforded a higher priority in political debate and in government policy.  The Master closed the dinner by thanking all those involved in its delivery, and he briefly outlined his ethos for the year ahead: Good Company for each other and for the City. 

The evening concluded with a convivial Stirrup Cup, and with shared promises to meet again at the Christmas Carol Service and Supper on Tuesday 16th December, if not before.