Z/Yen is delighted to report that our very own Michael Mainelli was elected Aldermanic Sheriff of the City of London on 24 June, to take office on 27 September 2019. The formal City of London Corporation announcement can be found by clicking here.

But despite Michael being three months away from assuming office, his services were called upon within days to assist the current sheriffs in an unusually fishy matter.

When attending a service in the Dutch Church to commemorate the Dutch eel trade, like you do, Michael encountered a delegation from the Frisian Islands. They came on the good ship eel barge Korneliske Ykes II, with greetings and gifts from the mayor of Súdwest-Fryslân to our Lord Mayor...

...and with 100kg of live eels (about 25) which they wanted to sell. It perhaps didn't occur to the visitors that their requests would have been a little bit easier had they given more advance notice of their wishes.

Michael conjured his many and varied skills, as Alderman of Broad Street Ward, as Past Master of World Traders and as co-author of The Price Of Fish. Within a few hours, Michael had assisted the current Sheriffs by organising a small reception delegation at the Guildhall to receive the visitors and their gifts. Michael also, impressively, found a catering company buyer for the live eels. So the story ended well for all concerned ... except for the eels ... and those who read Michael's longer-winded version.