Patricia Edmunds, Past President of the Ward of Cheap Club
A Chartered Secretary by profession, Patricia Day spent the majority of her career in the City as a company secretary for BT in their famous BT Centre at 81 Newgate Street, before it was sold in 2019. During that time, and more extensively since she retired, she has been committed to civic and charitable roles. Today, she brings her estimable skills and expertise to a number of organisations, not least The Ward of Cheap Club, The Lady Mico Trust, Glaziers Hall and The Worshipful Company of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators.
A Career in the Ward of Cheap
Patricia’s career (and her ‘retirement’ as it turns out), has been largely located around the Ward of Cheap, making her a proud advocate of everything it has to offer as well as one of the best people to speak to if there’s anything you want to know. She says:
“I was based for most of my career at the BT Centre in Newgate Street within the Ward of Cheap, looking after the board and shareholders at BT. Now I’m technically retired, but I still do various things including some part time work.”
When she says ‘various things’, Patricia is being characteristically understated. Her roles include providing company secretarial support to Glaziers Hall, as well as The Lady Mico Trust, which supports teacher training at the Mico University College in Kingston, Jamaica..
She has been Master (2015 to 2016) of The Worshipful Company of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators. Having been President of the Ward Club of Cheap from 2023 to 2024, she is now its Senior Vice President, working alongside current Ward Club President, Mark Magnacca.
Considering the City Community
Asked to what extent she sees the City and the Ward of Cheap as a community, Patricia is considerate in her response. She says:
“It’s a difficult one to answer. The City is a community and people who work here have some affiliation with one another. However, unless you join something like a Livery Company or a Ward Club, it can be quite hard to get to know people outside your organisation or professional network. Mark is working hard to bring people in the Ward of Cheap together. That is something I also worked towards as President, with business breakfasts and networking events to enable people to get to know one another. You have to remember however, when you’re organising these things that most people who work in the City are busy doing just that. Lots of them have family responsibilities and don’t have a great deal of time to devote to events like that, so it’s important to organise activities that they want to go to or that fit into their schedule.”
A Culture of Change
A leitmotif in our conversations with all our Past Presidents of the Ward of Cheap Club, is the way in which the City has changed over the course of their tenure. All note the shift to more remote working, and are mindful of the impact that has on the culture as well as the opportunities for young professionals to learn from their seniors.
Patricia says: “I think most people work from home part-time at least now. Certainly during my career that wasn’t a feature, and I found it enormously helpful being in an office with a team of people. It means that communications are very good and you have plenty of support. Also, when you’re younger and new to your job, you can learn an enormous amount from people sitting close to you.”
That’s not the only shift Patricia notes. In an evolving culture, both within the City and beyond, she acknowledges a change in the formality of the City as well as the way people connect with one another:
“When I first worked in the City, in the ’80s, there was more of a champagne lunch culture and that’s gone – people socialise in the evenings more now. Ward Clubs have occasional lunches, but as I mentioned, those are quite hard for working people to go to, so there’s a move towards more evening events. There’s also more diversity of people working in the City, which is good.”
Like Colin Hart (Ward Club President in 1995), she is struck by the changing formality of the City over the last forty years: “I think generally the atmosphere of the City is more informal than when I was first working. When I started at BT I addressed my boss as ‘Mr Argent’, which seems quite strange now. One always wore a suit to the office, and I remember (in my early days) when men used to walk around in top hats!”
On a personal note, she says: “I’m very sad to say that BT Centre has been sold and is being effectively rebuilt. That’s sad for me and my colleagues because it was such a significant building. For the Ward it’s also a big change because we had a lot of voters within BT.”
Hopes for the Future
Patricia is mindful of the economic challenges as well as how the changing world stage has impacted the City and how it operates:
“The City has had its ups and downs over the years – it seems to be a bit down at the moment. I remember the days when every company that wanted to raise funds would list in London and New York – that seems to have shifted at the moment. I’m not so close to it now, but I think that’s something the City is addressing. I would certainly like to see the City back in its leading position again, and I think that’s the aim of most of its leaders. I think that economic success within the City drives everything else, including success in other areas of the economy and across the UK.”
The Ward Club’s Contribution
It’s not just the City that changes and evolves over time, but the Ward of Cheap and the Ward of Cheap Club, especially in response to the wants and needs of the community. Patricia notes the Ward of Cheap’s prominent position, both geographically and with its high number of financial institutions and Livery Companies, saying: “It’s quite a powerhouse in that regard.”
Regarding the Ward Club’s evolution within the changing world around it, she notes the openness with which it embraces those who have an interest in the Ward, whether they work within its boundaries or not: “I think the Club is going in the right direction in attracting more people. It’s important that we do that by listening to what our members want, which seems to be a combination of networking opportunities, meetings and other activities – it’s a balance. If people are interested but don’t work in the Ward itself, then that’s ok – we’re very welcoming.”
She’s effusive about the Ward Club and its merits, noting in particular the attitude brought to it by its people: “Our Alderman, Robert Hughes-Penney takes a great interest in the Ward Club and comes to many meetings and events – that’s motivating for other members, especially the committee. We have a few traditions, which are not unique to the Club, but are very enjoyable, like our Civic lunch every year and our Installation dinner. It’s a very friendly Ward Club as well – it’s easy to get to know people and we always try to make people welcome. We are always open to new members and find it interesting to hear what they have to say or offer.”
The Benefits of Joining the Ward of Cheap Club
For those who are unsure of the role of the Ward Club, Patricia notes its official purpose – supporting the Alderman and Common Councilmen and arranging social functions – but also the resulting benefits of being part of it.
She says: “I think it’s quite important as a support network for businesses in the City. They go together – the Alderman has to get to know the people and businesses within the Ward, and it’s helpful for businesses to get to know the Alderman. The Ward Club provides a channel of communication.”
It’s that connectivity that Patricia cites as one of the most important reasons for joining the Club:
“I would say that for someone who is working in the Ward or living there, it’s a way of getting to know other people in a similar position. We have had quite a few people who have set up a new business in the Ward over time, who really want a bit of context. Meeting other business owners can be more difficult than you think, but if you go to the Ward Club events, you’re very likely to meet other people who run businesses and are working in the same area. You also get to know how the Ward works by going to meetings with the Alderman and hearing what the City of London Corporation is up to. For anyone else who’s simply interested in getting to know people, it’s an opportunity to find something that fits their schedule.”
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.