Articles - New Chief Commoner steps into office at the City of London

 Founding member of the Actuaries livery company, Deputy Kenneth Edwin Ayers MBE, the newly elected Chief Commoner of the City of London Corporation, steps into office this week (19 April).

 As Chief Commoner (and a former Sheriff of the City of London 1995-1996), Deputy Ayers occupies one of the most senior elected posts at the City of London Corporation, which acts as the local authority for the Square Mile global business district around St Paul’s.

 A Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries, the Pensions Management Institute and the Royal Statistical Society, Deputy Ayers has been a member of the City’s elected ‘Council’ (known as the Court of Common Council) since 1996 and is a founder Member of the Actuaries Livery Company and also a member of the Woolmen’s Livery Company. He has also chaired a number of key committees in the City of London Corporation, including Standards and Community & Children’s Services.

 Deputy Ayers, who is married to Anne and has two children, two stepchildren and six grandchildren/stepgrandchildren, was born in Hertfordshire and attended Sherrardswood School, Welwyn Garden City, before a wide and distinguished City career spanning half a century. His interests include motor sport and in 1982 he was British Sprint Champion, serving later on the Motor Sports Council for a decade.

 Speaking as he took office, Deputy Ayers said:

 ‘Apart from my family, my two great interests are the City and sport - and I can think of no greater honour than serving the City of London Corporation as its Chief Commoner during this Jubilee and Olympic year when we will honour Her Majesty the Queen - and also welcome to London the world’s greatest competitors.’