Someone has to arrange the disposition of 3,500 manhole covers*, 4,000 grandstand seats, 6,300 galvanised crowd barriers and 43 tons of sand*, and that's before we get the day itself and the 6000 people, 180 vehicles and 21 marching bands who all need to be waiting in the right order and ready to set off down Cheapside at exactly 11.02am. Where would you even put 21 marching bands?
When you see the Pageantmaster he'll be standing in the back of a ceremonial Land Rover. He'll pass you shortly before before the Lord Mayor himself, wearing the traditional black uniform and looking calm and probably a bit relieved. What you won't see his year of hard work, culminating in three months of furious preparation in the autumn. The Pageantmaster's role is a long way from being a ceremonial one.
Dominic Reid trained as an architect, but in 1993 he took over the role of Pageantmaster of the Lord Mayor's Show from his father. He manages every aspect of the Show, from allowing enough space for each float and band to feeding 6,000 people in the 45 minute gap between the outward and return legs of the procession. He is responsible for security, preparation, execution and entertainment, for liaison with the police, the Livery Companies, the City and everyone who's taking part in the Show.
* Every manhole cover on the processional route is lifted, inspected and sealed before the day of the Show, and the sand is scattered on the route to protect the horses' hooves.