CENTURIES OF TRADITION HONOURED IN HISTORIC ELECTION

In an historic ceremony stretching back more than four centuries, the Trades House of Glasgow has elected retired stockbroker J Michael Low as Deacon Convener, and retired chartered civil engineer, John R Steele (Jack), as Collector today (Wed 14 October 2009). 

Mr Low, who will hold office as Deacon Convener throughout this 404^th year of the Trades House, also takes on the role of Third Citizen of Glasgow for one year.   

Since it was established in 1605, the Trades House and its 14 Incorporated Trades have helped shape Glasgow into the city it is today by playing a pivotal and progressive role in training and benevolence, as well as fostering trade and industry in the past.  Each year, they elect members of the Trades House Platform, the organisation’s executive committee headed by the Deacon Convener of the Trades and including the Collector, Late Collector and Late Convener.  The Platform reports back to the Deacons of each Trade, a group known as the Chain Gang. 

In what is a very rare occasion, the bells of the Trades Hall in Glassford Street, home to the Trades House since 1794, will ring out immediately following the elections at 12 noon to welcome in the new office bearers.

Commenting on his appointment, Michael Low said:  “It is a great honour to have been elected to serve as the Deacon Convener of the Trades of Glasgow.  I would like to congratulate my predecessor, David Dobson, who has had a busy year greatly enhancing the reputation of the House in many ways throughout Glasgow and beyond.  

“Along with my Collector, Jack Steele, and the Chain Gang, we look forward to continuing the good work, not only promoting traditional craft skills through a wide variety of initiatives but also though our administration of trusts and legacies.  We currently manage funds in excess of £14 million and also devote considerable resources of around £400,000 each year to general benevolent work supporting many deserving causes and individuals but particularly schools, hospitals and the elderly.  We also look forward to welcoming new faces to our 14 Crafts, which currently have a 7,000-plus membership between them.”

Michael Low was a management trainee with Schweppes Group Ltd from 1961 before becoming a stockbroker in 1966 with Campbell Neill & Co, latterly as a Partner and Director.  When the firm was taken over by Tilney Investment Management in 1990, Michael went on to become Associate Director, retiring in January 1999.  A Deacon of the Incorporation of Gardeners 1991-92, he is former a Trustee and Director of the Tall Ship and Treasurer of the Trades House of Glasgow Lodge.  He has lived most of his life in Helensburgh and Shandon.

Educated at Shawlands Academy, Jack Steele studied at the Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde, qualifying as a Chartered Civil Engineer and later specialising in transportation planning of the strategic highway network with Strathclyde Regional Council.  From 1996, he was Managing Director of Jayress Consultants Limited prior to his retirement at the beginning of 2009.  In his role as Collector, he will support the Deacon Convener, backed by the 14 Deacons and Visitor of the Incorporated Trades.

Each year the Deacon Convener and his Chain Gang select a charity as the beneficiary of major fundraising events that form part of the busy Trades House calendar.   The chosen charity for this year is the Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS).  With a target of more than £30,000, funds will be raised for the charity’s Robin House hospice in Balloch through a variety of events including the annual Glasgow Ball on Saturday 8 May 2010.  Robin House supports up to 200 children and their families each year.