Charles Ledsam, Former President of Ward of Cheap Club
As the club’s 158th year, Charles Ledsam found himself, as did so many at the time, in the unique position of conducting much of his agenda by video call and on the phone, because of Covid. Following 39 years working in the City of London, perhaps it is fitting that he should have overseen a period that so typified change, resilience and adaptability in an area so synonymous with London’s heritage as well as its future.
Now retired, Charles worked as a Chartered Secretary (FCIS) within what was then HSBC Insurance Brokers, until 1998, followed by roles as HR Director and Director of Corporate Responsibility until 2008. Having joined The Worshipful Company of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (WCCSA) in 1993, he was Master in the year 2012 to 2013 at the end of which he oversaw the release of the book, A Very Modern Company, a history of the WCCSA; its Forty Years.
At that time, he joined the Ward of Cheap Club, and he remains an active member of the City community, not least as a Trustee of The Marshalls Charity, set up in 1631, for the restoration of churches and two schools in what was then Southwark and Lincolnshire.
He says: “Joining the Ward Club gave me insight into the perspectives of different Presidents, which I enjoy. I’m keen on charitable giving and music, and became involved in the City Music Foundation, where I have been mentoring a young Italian Classical guitarist. I am also an active member of the church. Many churches in the City provide beautiful music and there’s a wealth of history and culture of which it is wonderful to be a part.”
A Proactive Community
Like many who have been involved with the City, and in particular its governance, Charles sees it as a community made up of both the traditional sectors (such as insurance, shipping, law and banking) as well as newer spheres including technology services. He sees that connectivity both across industries, between people and thanks to a historic thread running through it all, as integral:
“It’s amazing, once you start talking to people, how many different networks you have in common. As an example, forty years ago I used to visit St Olave’s Church on Hart Street for lunchtime concerts and poetry readings. I occasionally meet people like our current President, Mark Magnacca who worships there now. These are not just places of spirituality. That’s the beauty of community. For example, St Stephen Walbrook was where the Samaritans began in 1953, founded by the then rector, Reverend Chad Varah. The first telephone used by them is still there, and now they have more than 200 branches across the UK and Republic of Ireland.”
Contemplating the benefits of that community, Charles highlights that it’s not just the big initiatives, buildings and ideas that the City contributes to through its charitable work and by bringing people together, but also an infrastructure of support for those who live and work there every day. He says:
“I think it provides calmness; a bit of balance from the frenetic nature of working life. You can go and sit quietly in a church, jog or walk around the City at lunchtime, there’s a mix of buildings and green areas now that you can visit. The physical structure informs that social use, and it’s important for collective wellbeing.”
Ongoing Evolution
With a perspective spanning more than 40 years, Charles is in a good position to contemplate how the City has changed, what’s remained the same, and perhaps what could do with a bit more consideration as we look towards the coming years.
“Flexible working is one big thing change since I stopped working and I think that’s very interesting. However, I do have concerns about it, especially for younger people. If you don’t meet your boss and your colleagues in person, get to know them and observe them in action there are some things you can’t learn, so I would like to see a better balance in that. I’m not good on technology but I think there are aspects of tech that are going to need to be reviewed over the next few years for good and bad. I also think there will probably be more integration again of businesses and working together across the City at some point, which I think would be a good thing.”
The Keys to City Success
Asked what he believes are the requirements for individual and company success in The City, he says:
“We were always taught to live and work by the motto Dictum Meum Pactum (my word is my bond), which appears on the London Stock Exchange’s coat of arms. In fact, the Worshipful Company of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators’ motto is ‘Service with Integrity’. I think that’s incredibly relevant today – it can get lost at times but it’s important to approach everything with those values. Inevitably some people do not rise to those standards, but I think if you don’t live by them then you won’t get very far over time.”
Charles also notes that in his HR role he often found himself listening to people as they talked about the stresses of working life. These frequently became intertwined with home pressures including debt, worries over their children and so forth. His approach was to ask open questions rather than to tell people what to do. He in turn valued conversations with a clinical psychologist from time to time and would sometimes refer staff there. He says:
“I used to feel like a soft sponge which became saturated with water! The clinical psychologist helped me to be ‘squeezed out’ before going back to work and absorbing other peoples’ challenges again. Talking in a space that was entirely confidential was important for keeping my own head clear. What I learned, and I think is important for people in any context, but in this case in the City, is to find effective people you trust to whom you can talk and know you have their support.”
Making a Difference
As with all 25 Wards within the City, the Ward of Cheap has its own unique attributes that help to define its purpose and its contribution. Charles believes that both the Ward’s heritage and its ongoing evolution provide valuable contributions for the City community.
“It’s a geographically interesting area because it includes several Livery Companies as well Guildhall, St Lawrence Jewry Church and Cheapside. Equally, the Club has adapted since I joined when most members were now retired and it seems much more dynamic. In my time as President, I felt it was vitally important that people who are actively working in the area’s businesses were involved in the Ward and its conversations, listening to the Alderman and the Common Councilmen, who are incredibly diligent, to contribute and understand the issues facing each area and what was being done about them. Now that is the case – our current Alderman, Robert Hughes-Penney is highly engaged, we have members from the likes of Investec and Lloyds Banking Group, and individuals like Common Councillor, Tijs Broeke, who’s extremely proactive when it comes to addressing homelessness in the Square Mile. We have a reputation for being quite an active and friendly Ward Club and I think that’s something to keep building on.”
Being Part of the Conversation
With that in mind, if one was to distil the reasons for joining the Ward of Cheap Club, what would they be?
“It’s an opportunity to meet some of the City’s interesting and important people in a less formal context, getting and expressing their views. I think it’s important to support the Alderman, who may be the Lord Mayor of London in six years’ time – there’s privilege in supporting them to be successful in their role because it benefits the whole community. By being involved, you get to hear about the things that are going on and be part of the conversation. I think that’s really valuable because we all need different perspectives, and we all have something to contribute.”
If you want to be more involved with the City’s business community and help contribute to its ongoing success and improvement, consider joining the Ward of Cheap Club and explore the website for more information.