The Inst of Couriers presented the sector of express logistics to the City Square Mile in July for the ancient transport ceremony of trade vehicle taxation in Guildhall Yard. ‘A payment of five shillings for trade tax to cart a delivery in the City of London'. It was a sector showcase of key worker, critical infrastructure at the heart of the City. IOC 'cart' entry was the Iconic City of London courier motorcycle, it returned to the historic freight vehicle parade across Guildhall Yard in a heatwave, and delivered a final mile parcel to the Lady Mayor, in the process, our sector trade taxed in the most ancient ceremony.

The ceremonial entry came with support, walking across Guildhall Yard with the delivery motorcycle was IOC hon fellow, Corporation of London Alderman, Alison Gowman in a Golden Motorcycle helmet.

The Master Fueller Ashutosh Shastri joined the team and ceremonially topped up the green unleaded fuel so the courier motorcycle could complete the delivery.

Adding to the pageantry, IOC Board member and Past livery master of the Glaziers, David Stringer-Lamarre sorted the glass with a polish of the mirrors for best possible direct vision standard.

Dr Tracey Worth IOC CEO was in University gown to add education to mix.

Fuelled with a green can of unleaded and ready to go, the water cooled V-Twin running well in the heat as it has done all its working life, fresh from the NEC, Multimodal and e-Dx trade shows, half a million items delivered across one hundred and thirty thousand City miles. This was half a decade of courier history for half a millennium of transport ceremony, with five hundred City guests celebrating transport in the City of London Square Mile.

IOC chairman Carl Lomas, ‘a touch hot below his high vis, rode the 1978 Series One Honda CX-500 courier bike dressed in the brands of the eighties same day delivery companies - Pony Express, Delta, Security Despatch, Mercury and GLH. A vehicle ambassador for our sector, ‘we deliver rain or shine’ the courier bike was recognised for delivery of freight by the Worshipful Livery of Carmen, Master Carman Andy Miles and the Lady Mayor, insurer, Dame Susan. The Lady Mayor, using gloves provided by Master glover, took a red-hot branding iron in hand and tax-marked the courier bike for the conduct of trade in the City of London as her predecessors would have done five hundred years ago to the oak carts delivering goods in the City Square Mile.

‘The Lady Mayor smiled to see there was a delivery on board, a silver photo frame of the City ceremony of two-wheel delivery presented at Mansion House during the Pageant show in November..’

Alderman Alison Gowman comments, ‘The City of London relies on goods deliveries and so with the Lady Mayor's theme of "Unsquaring” the Square Mile: Connecting People with Opportunity’, the courier industry is key to delivering to people. Tremendous for the IOC to take part and celebrate the success of the final mile express sector on such an iconic motorcycle.’

History of Cartmarking - The transport livery of Carmen's Cartmarking is believed to be the oldest vehicle taxation for trade in the world; five hundred years ago, oak carts moving goods from the Thames Wharfs to the city had to enter Guildhall Yard each year, they were brand marked with a year registration making them legal to work in the City. Today is ceremonial, the motorcycle adorned with an oak branding board The master Carmen places a hot iron to mark a letter of the alphabet for the tax year. (2026 was H) The brand mark is valid for one year to ply transport trade in the City of London.

Lomas explains the iconic courier motorcycle, ‘by modern motorbike standards, the bike is big, heavy and scary to ride! Particularly double careful today on cross-ply tyres. But iconic for our sector, a bit of living history, almost fifty years old. The water-cooled, shaft-driven V-twin had an enviable record for reliability. Today I am focused on the cobbled yard ahead.Sand on the cobbles of Guildhall Yard helps the horse freight entries but runs a little scary on two wheels!’

The headline photos

IOC team for Carmen Livery Cartmarking

IOC Chair Carl Lomas in High Vis, Alderman Alison Gowman aboard the Honda, Past Master Glazier David Stringer-Lamarre, Master Fueller Ashutosh Shastri with the green un-leaded top up, IOC CEO Dr Tracey Worth in academic gown.

Master of livery of fuellers takes green can of unleaded to refuel the IOC courier bike

IOC Chair Carl Lomas checks the motorbike with former traffic Commissioner Beverley Bell

IOC security panel chair checks the locks on the courier bike with Dr Tracey Worth

Gallery