Installation Dinner at Merchant Taylors' Hall 2026

The WCIB’s annual Installation Dinner will be held on Monday 12 October to celebrate the installation of our Master Elect, Ali Miraj, and of our three Wardens Elect, Jordan Buck, Peter Green and Jenny Knott. This year the event will be held once again at Merchant Taylors' Hall on Threadneedle Street.

We are delighted to welcome the Rt Hon Sir David Lidington as our principal guest speaker. We are also grateful to Rabobank for their sponsorship of this event.

Dress is black tie for men and either long or short evening dresses or evening trousers for ladies. Tickets cost £155 incl VAT.

**Bookings close on 20 September, after which no refunds will be given**

The evening will start with a reception at 6:30pm before we are called in to dinner at 7:15pm. After dinner (which will end around 10:15pm, a Stirrup Cup (post dinner drinks) will be offered and the evening will end at 11:15pm.

You are welcome to bring up to three guests – friends, family or work colleagues. Don’t forget to add their name(s) to your booking so they can be sent a ‘pour memoire’ and can be added to the seating plan. And don't forget that your guests need to be paid for. Please also fill in the relevant boxes if you have any dietary requirements or seating requests.

Thanks to the generosity of our sponsor, we have managed to reduce the ticket price to £155 per person.

An electronic 'pour memoire' will be sent for this event to the e-mail address(es) you used to book your ticket(s).

About our principal guest speaker: The Rt Hon Sir David Lidington

David Lidington is a Distinguished Fellow and former Chair (2020-2025) of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), the UK’s foremost Defence and Security Policy think tank. He is Honorary President of the Great Britain China Centre and UK Chair of the Konigswinter Conference (UK/Germany) and the Aurora Forum (UK/Nordics and Baltics). He also chairs the Buckinghamshire Historic Churches Trust.

David represented Aylesbury in the House of Commons from 1992 to 2019.

As Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, he served as deputy to Prime Minister Theresa May from January 2018 to July 2019, having previously served in the May governments as Leader of the House of Commons and as Justice Secretary.

David served as Minister for Europe throughout the coalition government and David Cameron’s Conservative government (2010-2016), the UK’s longest-serving holder of that post. He held responsibility for the UK’s relations with more than 50 countries in Europe and Central Asia and represented the UK at the EU, NATO, OSCE, Council of Europe and the UN Security Council.

After obtaining a History degree at Sidney Sussex College Cambridge, David achieved a PhD for a study of law enforcement under Elizabeth I, and in retirement is researching the political career of William Cecil, Lord Burghley. David captained Sidney Sussex College’s University Challenge team to win the series in 1979, and led the team again to win the “Champion of Champions” tournament to mark the show’s 40th anniversary in 2002. His interests include history, choral singing and mountain walking.

About our sponsor: Rabobank

Rabobank is a leading Dutch global cooperative bank, operating in 34 countries and employing approximately 50,000 colleagues worldwide. Operating on the basis of cooperative principles, Rabobank places clients’ interests and addressing global challenges at the heart of its activities.

Rabobank has built a strong international reputation in Food & Agriculture, the Energy Transition, and other sectors fundamental to Europe’s economy. With total assets of over €639 billion and a strong capital position, Rabobank is a trusted partner to corporates, financial sponsors and institutional clients, offering a comprehensive range of strategic, financing and banking solutions.

As a long-term partner of the food and energy transitions and a bank committed to supporting sustainable growth, Rabobank continues to play an important role in helping its clients navigate change and create long-term value. The Worshipful Company of International Bankers is delighted and grateful that Rabobank is acting as the Master’s Lead Sponsor for the coming year.