The Lord Mayor of London’s Square Mile, Jeffrey Mountevans, has sent New Year wishes to British astronaut Tim Peake:

“Many of us in the City of London have followed Principia extremely closely and take a great deal of pride in your role on the International Space Station. I am sure that you can help to inspire a new generation of young people to enjoy science, technology, engineering and maths – as well as inspiring some of us slightly older children to look at the world with more curious eyes.”

The Lord Mayor’s own grandfather Edward Evans was also an explorer who participated in the taskforce which was sent to relieve Scott’s first expedition to the Antarctic. He was then second in command for Scott’s final expedition six years later.

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About the Lord Mayor of the City of London: The Lord Mayor is head of the Square Mile’s City of London authority for one year and the position is unpaid and apolitical. It is an exceptionally demanding role. The Lord Mayor spends some 90 days abroad and addresses some 10,000 people face-to-face each month (making around 800 speeches a year). The Lord Mayor represents City businesses and helps the City Corporation advise the Government of the day on what is needed to help the financial services sector to function well. The Lord Mayor frequently travels to represent the City; and travels overseas with the status of a Cabinet Minister. The Lord Mayor meets several international Heads of Government and Business each month to discuss financial services, often in conjunction with senior City business representatives. The Lord Mayor lives in the Mansion House for the Mayoral year.