The Master for the year is Mr Giles Downes CVO.

Giles is an architect, having been educated at Wimbledon College and Kingston College of Art, where he gained a Diploma of Architecture. He started work at Foster Associates in 1969, and moved to Farrell Grimshaw Partnership in 1973 before joining Sidell Gibson Partnership in 1975, where he is now an Equity Partner.

Giles’ earlier work in housing won nine Housing Design awards and in 1994 he was selected as architect for the areas of new design in the fire restoration at Windsor Castle. His work at Windsor received many commendations including the Carpenters’ Special Award and the Europa Nostra Medal of Honor, and he was appointed CVO by Her Majesty The Queen in 1998. His recent work includes designs for Magistrates Courts, World Heritage Sites, Offices and Zero Carbon Housing and has won the British Council of Offices, The Civic Trust and the Chicago Athenaeum International Awards.

In 2000 Giles became a Liveryman and Governor of the Building Crafts College. He became Chairman of the Judges for the Wood Awards in 2003. Outside architecture his main interest is in sculpture, using ceramics and cast in bronze, and he has taken part in joint exhibitions over recent years.

The Senior Warden for the year is Mr Hugh Lancaster, the Middle Warden is Mr Martin Samuel and the Junior Warden is Mr Martin Mosley. The Company's Clerk is Brigadier Tim Gregson, MBE.