Business, ceremony and honour in our sector mixed in a single room. Final mile evening of the year. IOC Fellows' Gowning, Express logistics ceremonial of the year. The photo galleries are live, Photographer Warren Page has provided the formal mantelpiece pictures of gowning, Photographer Tiego Grenho captured the line walk images that are uniquely atmospheric. Then we have the shots of the evening network and natter for express final mile. Are you in the photo? Enjoy the links
The nomination detail for Services winner Louise O'Neil
Gallery of gowning photos – a college of IOC fellows' gowns.
The Masterclass news report for TfL commissioner IOC Hon fellow Andy Lord.
Walking the line gallery, photos by Tiego Grenho
New senior fellows comment...
Glenn Chambers from Cal Delivery, Warrington; ‘A truly special and humbling night for me and fantastic to share it with so many special people within our industry. All the speakers were brilliant, IOC held it all together perfectly. I have certainly walked away proud to be be a fellow, but most of all proud to be a part of our marvellous industry.
Steve Bescoby DX, 'It was a great honour to attend the UK House of Lords last night to be gowned as a Fellow of the Institute of Couriers (IOC), The reading made me really proud, met some great people from the industry.'
Rob Wilcock TVS SCS, 'A massive thanks to my colleagues past & present after being gowned as a Fellow of the Institute of Couriers this week. A proud moment I won't forget. Great to catch up with people I've not seen for a few years and going to the House of Lords was a great experience.'
Patrick Gallagher Addison Lee, ‘Costas new fellow, what a wonderful legacy you have achieved at Addison Lee. I was so pleased that you got to enjoy this moment with your family. I cannot think of a more deserving recipient. Congratulations.’
The must-attend was standing room only. Recognising the best of the best. A logistics event like no other, Ceremonial at its core, best of the best colleagues' recognition. More than quarter of a million final mile vans represented in the room; the room was express logistics. The event was IOC Fellows' Gowning 2026!
The prestigious fellows' gowning saw an ocean of final mile brands. The once-a-year event, hosted at the House of Lords by our President Lord Patrick McLoughlin CH former Sec of State for transport, lived up to its reputation, with sector alongside government, nationals alongside regionals, SMEs to trunking hub providers.
Former transport minister IOC Vice President, Sir John Hayes CBE delivered the new senior fellows' hoods. The unique event recognised two dozen senior fellows of 2026, individual success with a Who's Who guest list that builds the most formidable family of fellows in the last mile, final mile, express delivery sector. One pair of fellows from Smiths News were family - husband and wife Mr & Mrs McCall. An extract of the two dozen names includes Steve Bescoby from DX, Nick Dunn Royal Mail, Paula Dooley Whistl, Cindy Perkins Evri, Costas Gavriel Addison Lee, Chris Betts DPD. Grant Jones TVS SCS, Glenn Chambers, Carla Gifford Huxloe Logistics. Surf the web to the whole two dozen, meet the 2026 senior fellows, formal photos and line welcome shots. Closing the ceremony saw road-based recognition for 2025 National Courier Award winner, sector community ambassador Sham Singh Uppal from DPD Woodstock depot.
The 2026 IOC fellows' gowning masterclass was delivered by IOC hon fellow, TfL Commissioner Andy Lord, London, ‘Decarbonisation, de-congestion of traffic, road safety.’ The full masterclass keynote is on the IOC web link.
Our sector managers are going to Oxford. UWL Peter John CBE, the Vice Chancellor took to the lectern and announced Ruskin College Oxford is to receive the degree apprentice starts for Express Delivery Manger this Easter. ‘They will get the full Oxford experience’
For 2026, a Services to Industry gold hood was waiting. The recipient, who was named at last year's National Courier Awards, is Louise O'Neil, Whistl who is also the co-chair of the Skills England Education employer Trailblazer Group. It was a formidable list of fellows to welcome her by forming a ceremonial circle to pass the IOC hood of gold bar recognition. Simi Punn TVS SCS who took gold last year, Royal Mail CEO Alistair Cochrane, IOC Founding Fellow Jeffrey Ritterband and former FedEx SVP Trevor Hoyle.
Hon fellows in attendance for 2026 included TfL Commissioner Andy Lord, Traffic Commissioner Sarah Bell, City of London Alderman Alison Gowman, UWL Vice Chancellor Peter John. Network and natter was sector wide and on a grand scale. A breadth of government on the VIP list including DfT, DWP, DFE and DVSA and were joined by regional bodies from TfL to TfGM.
Business focus talk included worker status with Melanie Stancliffe. DfT age challenge at door for delivering retail sale of bladed goods and knives. The DfT road safety consultation chat was on zero tolerance for drink-drive, fellows asking, ‘how do you deal with the period between a positive breath test to the court decision?’
Expert on driver health, Bernie Stribling Assistant Director at NHS, ‘Delighted to be attending the IOC New Fellows’ Gowning, ‘It’s a real privilege to represent the SHIFT Programme — a behaviour change initiative supporting safer, more sustainable transport operations. Looking forward to celebrating the achievements of the new Fellows and connecting with others who are passionate about raising standards, driving professionalism, and creating positive impact across our sectors.’
Express Logistics, business and ceremonial, with bowl food that included fellows' favourite - fish and chip portions, devoured with gusto for final mile.
Surf to the gallery links of photos
The nomination detail for Services winner Louise O'Neil
Gallery of gowning photos – a college of IOC fellows' gowns.
The Masterclass news report for TfL commissioner IOC Hon fellow Andy Lord.
Walking the line gallery, photos by Tiego Grenho
Set your diary for next IOC roundtable at Guildhall City of London on afternoon July 7th
Headline photos
Louise O'Neil Whistl takes Gold services hood
TfL Commissioner Andy Lord delivers keynote
IOC President talks Royal Mail with CEO Alistair Cochrane
Mr & Mrs McCall
Sir John Hayes and IOC Chair Lomas hand out the 24 – Steve Bescoby DX
IOC CEO Dr Tracey Worth delivers the line of fellows 2026
Links
The nomination detail for Services winner Louise O'Neil
Gallery of gowning photos – a college of IOC fellows' gowns.
The Masterclass news report for TfL commissioner IOC Hon fellow Andy Lord.
Walking the line gallery, photos by Tiego Grenho
