Princess Anne open the Merchants Academy in Bristol last year
The Princess Royal has become the latest member of the Royal Family to receive honorary membership of Bristol’s Society of Merchant Venturers.
Since receiving its first royal charter from Edward VI in 1552, the group has extended honorary membership to 10 royals, most recently to Prince Charles and the Duke of Edinburgh.
David Marsh, master of the society, said: “The Merchants are honoured to present the Princess Royal with the freedom of the Society. Princess Anne is known for her extensive charitable work and her commitment to enhancing the lives of those less fortunate, very much in keeping with the Society’s own values.
“The Princess Royal has demonstrated a keen interest in greater Bristol over the years, having recently opened the M-Shed, visited the Alabaré Bristol Home for Veterans and toured and opened our own Merchants’ Academy in Withywood.”
The society comprises many of the city’s great and good, and describes itself as a group that “invests heavily in young people, education, enterprise and entrepreneurship and caring for the elderly”.
But it has faced criticism over the years, as an unaccountable organisation that exerts too much influence over the city.
The original Guild of Merchants was founded in the 13th century and by the 15th century was synonymous with the city’s administration. It funded John Cabot’s voyage of discovery to Newfoundland in 1497.
The society in its current form was established by a 1552 Royal Charter from Edward VI, granting the society a monopoly on Bristol’s sea trade. They remained in effective control of Bristol Docks until 1848.
The first royal to accept honorary membership was Prince Frederick of Wales in 1738.
The society is likely to contain our future mayor and our future police commissioner ! It certainly comprises may of those who are pushing the election of mayors and police commissioners.
For the first time in centuries, they will be running the city.
who is named as likely Police Commissioner? It seems that campaign will be too expensive for any mere mortal to run so it will be likely somebody with huge economic and political influence.
John Savage
http://merchantventurers.com/about-us/membership/…
arry
I think you'll find the Merchant Venturers have been running the city behind the scenes for centuries. The board of the University of Bristol (which was founded in the 16th century as the Merchant Venturers School) is stuffed with them, they helped fund the Clifton Suspension Bridge and Great Western Railway, they're on the Downs Committee that controls Clifton & Durdham Downs and they sponsor both the Merchants Academy in Withywood and Colston's Girl's School.
I know all that. And their people are all over GWEBusiness West, the Institute of Directors, The Local Enterpirse Partnership and lots more. And they are on the boards of most of the large charities. They control most of the business, private and voluntary sector.
But the Council and the Police force is a step further. They will be the State.
By the way, I have heard that George Fergs has resigned from the Venturers this week, so apparently he does not count anymore (like he isn't a LibDem anymore.
The society comprises many of the city’s great and good..
That's debatable.