NEW MEMBERS

NEW MEMBERS (FREEDOM ADMISSIONS, JULY 2021)

Brigadier Harry Nickerson

Harry is the owner and managing director of Cour Ltd, a renewable energy, farming and property company in Argyll. Previously, he served in the Army, achieving the rank of Brigadier and appointment as Regimental Lieutenant Colonel of the Scots Guards. He has seen active service during tours of Northern Ireland, the first Gulf War, Afghanistan and Iraq. Harry commanded the 1st Battalion Scots Guards in Germany and Iraq, then 49 (East) Brigade in the East of England, and – finally – the Joint Air Land Organisation.

He was the Senior British Officer and head of operational planning in the Turkish-led, International Security and Assistance Force (Afghanistan). He coordinated all ceremonial operations in London as the Brigade Major of the Household Division, and worked in the Directorate of Operational Capability, for the Chief of the Defence Staff. Harry now serves as a chair and trustee on several charities, enjoys music as well as sailing, flying, shooting, and engineering.

Harry was admitted to the Freedom and became an Honorary member of the Livery on the same day.

Nelson Ahonsi

Nelson received a BSc in Quantity Surveying from the University of Westminster and is a Chartered Surveyor today. Before he became an Associate Director at Savills, he was an Associate who provided strategic capital allowances advice during transactions for investors, solicitors and accountants; valued capital allowances on acquisitions and capital expenditure projects for all commercial property use classes; and negotiated valuations with HMRC and Valuation Office Agency.

This September, Nelson moved to the US to begin a master’s in Real Estate Finance and Investment Banking at Cornell University. He enjoys travelling and food, and is also interested in real estate and mentoring.

Pranav Bhanot

Pranav is a solicitor at Meaby & Co Solicitors LLP and founder of the online legal platform, TheWeddingLawyer.co.uk. He is a co-founder and trustee of the charity Make It Beat and volunteers on numerous community projects.

He studied at University of Manchester, UCL, BPP University and trained in the City before becoming a solicitor. Pranav is a Parish and District Councillor in his local area and recently served as chair of Chigwell Parish Council. His interests include fitness, travelling and reading.

Cherica Haye

As an alumna of both the Royal College of Art and Central Saint Martins, Cherica has an eye for colours, materials and design. Her extensive experience in the areas of material construction and design has made her an ideal candidate for the fashion, automotive and sportswear industries. She has worked with Alexander McQueen, Audi, Jaguar, Land Rover, and LuluLemon brands. She has also spent time in Italy, working for Ratti spa textile mills developing current fabric designs and future forecasting for couture houses.

Cherica’s work takes inspiration from traditional techniques whilst drawing from newer material and/or processes. She has passion and creativity and appreciates design from all disciplines. She has transitioned from Rolls-Royce Motor Cars and currently works for McLaren Automotive as one of three Senior Colour and Material Designers showcasing super cars to McLaren’s Ultimate Series Clientele in their luxury customer journey department.

In 2021, she acted as a judge for The Clothworkers’ Company Associate Prize in Printed Textiles Design for New Designers.

Ian Maclean MBE

Ian is currently the Managing Director at John Smedley Ltd, Director and Vice-Chairman of UK Fashion Textiles, and a trustee at both The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust and John Smedley Archive Charitable Trust.

Ian was awarded an MBE in October 2020 for his service to the UK textiles industry. He is a grantee for two Royal Warrants, from Her Majesty The Queen and HRH The Prince of Wales.

Ian has an MBA from Open University and an MA from

Cambridge. In his free time, he enjoys sport (in particular rugby), art, music, literature, fishing, shooting and yoga.

Mark Rooney

Mark holds an ONC and HNC in Chemistry. Formerly the Group Managing Director at SIL Holdings, Mark is now the Divisional Managing Director at Premier Modular, one of the UK’s leading modular building specialists. With 15 years’ experience in leadership roles, 10 years were spent in the construction hire space. He is now responsible for Premier’s highly successful Hire Division, from business development and project delivery to managing and developing the company’s expanding fleet of modular buildings for hire. He enjoys keeping fit with sports like golf and walking, as well as travel.

Timothy Shields

Tim lives in London, where he works as a Paediatric hospital doctor. He trained at medical school in Devon.

Tim plays the violin in an amateur orchestra and enjoys attending pop and classical music concerts in London, including events at the Barbican and the Royal Albert Hall Proms.

He enjoys opera and theatre, as well as travelling, cycling, tennis, football, and skiing.

Matthew Adams

Currently a student, Matthew is studying Mathematics at Cambridge University.

A fifth-generation Clothworker, Matthew is the son of Christopher Adams, Livery member. The Adams connection goes back to 1867, when George Turner Adams, a silversmith, was admitted to the Freedom by Redemption.

Louise James

Now retired, Louise worked in marketing and sales as a Client Services Director. She currently volunteers her time with a number of local charities including Dogs for Good and as part of the acquisitions and exhibitions team at a local museum in Oxfordshire.

Louise is passionate about tennis, and also enjoys being a member of a walking group. She loves travel, particularly to Uganda, where she has done volunteer work.

She is a seventh-generation Clothworker, the daughter of Annabel James (née King). The King family connection dates back to 1792, when Thomas King, son of a carpenter, was apprenticed to John Yarnton, a packer in Coleman Street. Thomas (junior) was made Free in 1799.

Our July 2021 Freedom Admissions included seven Redemption candidates and two candidates who are continuing their families’ tradition by joining The Clothworkers’ Company.