The Clothworker No.8

Winter 2013 • No 8

Clothworker The

www.clothworkers.co.uk

Welcome

The Master Having been installed in July, the Master traditionally has a couple of months over the summer to get to grips with the demands of the office.

This year, however, we had the fantastic spectacle of the Olympics and Paralympics which showed the nation at its best. We also had the pleasure of seeing nine of the young athletes we have supported featuring in Team GB and the fantastic medal success of Robbie Grabarz; we hear from him directly on page 8.

Since mid September, the pace has increased dramatically and I have had a number of official engagements every week, ranging from dinners around the City, through to civic engagements in support of the Lord Mayor, to charityrelated events where the Foundation

Robin Booth

has made a grant. In addition, we

Cover photo: Portrait of Sir Robert Beachcroft, attributed to Richard van Bleeck, c1711.

have of course held a number of successful and well-attended events

such a good start, and it completes

Legacies

for members at the Hall.

our family of affiliations very

The new Lord Mayor has issued a

satisfactorily. You can read about this

challenge to all Livery Companies to

on page 15.

build up their capital through

Textiles

legacies to increase the amount of

One of the highlights of my year has been the Textile Conference we

Trusteeship

good they already do. We will be

organised in early November at the

I am pleased that our Trusteeship

giving thought to a potential

Hall in conjunction with the Dyers

initiative continues to develop well.

Clothworkers’ legacy campaign later

and the Weavers. The subject of the

As you will know, this is the Company’s

in 2013.

conference was rebuilding UK textile

common purpose and our intention is

manufacturing, a topical theme and

that over time all our Liverymen

It seems barely credible I am almost

one close to our hearts. You can read

should be directly involved in such

half-way through my year as Master;

more about this on page 11.

pro bono work. Michael Howell has

I have a full diary over the next few

taken over as champion of this

months representing the Company,

Service Affiliations

important initiative and I am sure he

including two important events at

Our affiliations with the Armed

will be in contact with many of you.

the Hall – our new dinner for Masters

Forces are very important to us, and I

The Court is keen that members

and Clerks of other Livery Companies

have been privileged to have taken

should participate in the Company’s

in March and the Civic Dinner in

part in several events, including

charitable activity, effectively putting

April. I look forward to seeing many

attending the Royal Edinburgh

something back. I am pleased that

of you at these occasions, and thank

Military Tattoo with the Scots Guards

over two-thirds of the Livery now

all members for their support over

and dining on board HMS Dauntless

contribute to the Livery Fund and

the last six months, which has made

with the Captain and his Senior

hope that those of you who have yet

my role all the more enjoyable and

Officers. We are delighted that our

to do so, will reconsider. You can read

rewarding.

newest link, with No. 47 Squadron of

more about the Livery Fund and the

the Royal Air Force, has got off to

causes it supports on page 14.

2 | THE CLOTHWORKER | Winter 2013

Robin Booth, Master

@C.Totman

City of London

Sheriffs Jeffrey Evans has been elected Aldermanic Sheriff for 2012/13.

A Liveryman of the Shipwrights, he has been a shipbroker with Clarksons all his working life.

Nigel Pullman has been elected Lay Sheriff. He is Immediate Past Master of the Leathersellers and former Clerk to the World Traders.

Lord Mayor’s Appeal Roger Gifford

The theme of the appeal ‘The City in Society’ reflects the City of London’s major contribution and wide-ranging commitment to the society it serves

Lord Mayor Roger Gifford, Cordwainer and

Trinity College, Oxford. He started his

in the 21st century.

banker, has been elected the 685th

career in banking when he joined

The appeal will support:

Lord Mayor of London. He has

S.G.Warburg & Co.

■ City Music Foundation

enjoyed a long career in the banking

With his experience in this sector,

■ Futures for Kids

industry, latterly as Country Head for

the Lord Mayor hopes to use his year

■ Gifford Wood Appeal

Skandinaviska Enskilda Bank since

to help remind the financial services

■ The Harold Samuel Collection

2000.

industry, which has been damaged

■ The Lord Mayor’s Scholarship

Born in St Andrews, Scotland, he

by negative publicity over the past

attended New Park School in St

few years, of their role in serving

You can find out more here

Andrews and went on to study at

society.

www.thelordmayorsappeal.org

Programme

Looking forward The Court of Aldermen is

2013 Fiona Woolf

Sir Paul Judge is a Liveryman and Honorary

supporting the following for

2014 Alan Yarrow

Assistant of the Clothworkers and Alderman of

election for Lord Mayor over the

2015 Jeffrey Evans

Tower Ward and is expected to be elected Sheriff

next few years:

2016 Paul Judge

in June 2013.

Winter 2013 | THE CLOTHWORKER | 3

Trusteeship

The Company continues to encourage members to engage in pro bono activities.

Events

Reach/Prospectus pilot. This session

participate in this initiative, please

We held an informal Trustees dinner

was also attended by members of the

contact katietapponnier@

on 4 July with Chris Jones, Director

new Trusteeship Sub Committee, and

clothworkers.co.uk

General of City & Guilds, as the guest

involved a lively discussion on how

We are also circulating to the Livery

speaker. Twenty Clothworkers

boards operate and what individuals

trustee opportunities we become aware

attended, each bringing the

can bring to such bodies.

of; Alice Syson, Liveryman, asked us to

Chairman or a fellow trustee of their

circulate details of a Treasurer vacancy

charity. We plan to hold a similar

Reach/Prospectus Pilot

at a charity she is involved with. As a

event annually.

As reported previously we are working

result, a Clothworker has been

In September, David Gold, the

with Reach, a volunteering charity,

appointed to the role.

Chairman of Prospectus, chaired an

and Prospectus, a third sector-focused

event at the Hall for the six

recruitment company, on a pilot

New appointments

Liverymen participating in the

programme to match Clothworkers

We are delighted that the following

to charities seeking Trustees; the first

Liverymen have recently secured

Liveryman has taken on a role

trustee roles:

through this route and we expect

■ Tim Hindley, Treasurer, MS

more to follow.

National Therapy Centres ■ Scarlet Oliver, Trustee, Texprint

Opportunities Prospectus work with an individual to customise their CV for a charity trustee role, and help people clarify what is best suited to their skill set and interests.

If any Liveryman would like to

■ Amy McVittie, Trustee, The Society for Promoting Training of Women ■ Hugo Robinson, Trustee, The St Giles-in-the-Fields and William Shelton’s Educational Charity ■ Tom Stoddart-Scott, Trustee, The Harrow Club

My experience of trusteeship Robert Hirst, Liveryman: in Europe. The association produces for its

I am also a Governor of my local Church

Robert

members a quarterly journal and, at

of England primary school, where I chair

Hirst

about annual intervals, a book about

the resources committee dealing with a

books and book collecting – typical works

progressively tighter budget. It is a

have been about Ardizzone, the

small school with only 90 or so children,

illustrator, and Bertram Rota, the well-

which means that one is very much in

known London bookseller. As Treasurer I

contact with everyday running and

am responsible for ensuring

events. The full

that there are enough funds

governors’ board meet a

available to cover future

couple of times a term,

magazine and book production,

and the resources

“Not all charities are concerned with

and for the annual submission

committee once or twice

helping less advantaged people. I am the

of audited accounts to the

a term.

Honorary Treasurer and a trustee of the

Charity Commission. This is not

My own children all

Private Libraries Association which is

a particularly onerous task, but

attended this school

an international society of book

it enables me to participate in

many years ago, so it is

collectors, with members in the UK,

an activity in which I have

good to contribute

USA, Canada, Australia and elsewhere

always been interested.

something in return.”

4 | THE CLOTHWORKER | Winter 2013

New Members

Honorary Livery Paul Johnson Paul Johnson was awarded the Honorary Livery for his experience in the textile industry. He is Managing Director of W T Johnson & Sons, dyers and finishers of worsted and worsted blend fabric. The fabric they produce is exported to luxury markets all over the world and used by almost every major luxury brand. They also produce a range of other textiles including scarves, throws, interiors products and technical textiles. He is the fourth generation of this family-owned company.

Freedom

Patrimony

Charlotte Brooks

Phoebe Broome

Hannah Lewis

Fiona Lewis

Daughter of Caroline

Daughter of Susannah

Daughter of Peter Lewis,

Daughter of Peter Lewis,

Brooks (née Purefoy),

Broome (née Yonge),

Freeman. Degree in

Freeman, and sister of

Freewoman. Educated at

Freewoman. Educated at

Biology from University of

Hannah. Degree in

Maris Convent and

La Sagisse School,

Bath and MSc in Nutrition

Fashion Design from

University of Leeds. She is

Newcastle and Newcastle

from Kings College,

London College of

a broadcast journalist.

College.

London. Currently reading

Fashion. Currently works

for a PhD in Biological

at Holly Fulton,

Sciences.

womenswear designers, as a Fashion Studio Manager.

Andrew Mort

Patrimonial Redemption

Son of Philippa Mort,

Sarah Churton

Freewoman. Educated at

(née Godwin)

Manchester Grammar

Daughter of Shelagh

School, then Oxford

Godwin, Freewoman. Her

University and the

grandfather, ‘Gus’ Claxton,

Institute of Education. He

was a former Chaplain to

is a teacher at a primary

the Company. Educated at

school in Dagenham on a

Godalming College and

placement through Teach

Brasenose College, Oxford.

First whilst working

A qualified Chartered

towards a Post Graduate

Accountant, she is

Certificate in Education in

Director at Ernst & Young,

his spare time.

and is currently working in their New York Office.

Winter 2013 | THE CLOTHWORKER | 5

Members

Clothworker recognised in Evening Standard’s London’s 1,000 most influential people 2012 Congratulations to Clothworker Will

talent never fulfill their potential. Future

Haggard who featured in the

Forward therefore aims to address

Evening Standard newspaper’s

current inequalities amongst young

London’s 1,000 most influential people

people who are leaving education and

students who are already bi or tri-

2012 as a Philanthropist and Leader.

seeking to enter a professional or

lingual, many students do not appreciate

He was included in the list as he

vocational career.

that their language skills put them at a

founded Future Forward, a not-for-

The project started its pilot phase in

distinct advantage in applying for public

profit enterprise. Here he talks about

Paddington Academy in 2008 and now

international organisations and NGOs.

the organisation:

operates in Pimlico, Paddington, Lambeth,

Recently, Future Forward has been

“In 2008 I founded and now co-direct

Victoria and Brixton. Talks have ranged

working on forging partnerships with

Future Forward, a not-for-profit social

from acting to engineering, online

businesses across the UK economy. By

enterprise connecting young professionals

advertising to business enterprise. Key to

partnering with a large high-street

with London Academies to inspire and

the success of the talks has been

retailer, City law firm, London

inform students through talks and

ensuring that they are tailored to the

architecture practice and seven other

workshops. Whilst some young

specific needs and interest of students

businesses in the Capital, Future

professionals have had the guidance,

within a small-group environment where

Forward aims to develop strong ties

contacts and resources to start their

students feel comfortable to ask

between businesses and schools. If you

careers on the right footing, too many

questions and interact with speakers.

would like to find out more about what

have never had these advantages

A recent talk on languages revealed that,

we do and the latest news, please visit

meaning that students of significant

like so many of London’s inner city

our website at www.futureforward.org”.

Reverend Adam Boulter, Liveryman talks about moving to Jordan In April last year we packed up our

on the welfare of the sailors has to

scale incident we

house into a shipping container, sold

be done at high speed. Their needs

are on hand to

off everything superfluous and got

are very real, they are generally on

support and

on a plane to Jordan in order to start

six month to one year contracts in

assist the sailors.

a new chapter in our lives with my

which they are away from family and

At the moment,

working for the Mission to Seafarers

friends, and much of what we do is

we have an entire

in the port of Aqaba, and my wife

concentrated on helping the sailors

crew of a Turkish

Beth working remotely as a

maintain contact with their wives

ship under arrest

development consultant. We were

and children back in their home

and on bail, following a fire on their

leaving behind a lovely parish in

countries.

ship, so we have been providing food

zone two of London where I had been

and accommodation and support for

the curate and for Beth a well paid

Providing Support

job as an economist; it was a leap

The other common stress is sailing

into the dark, or more accurately a

past the pirates of the Horn of Africa

Contrast

leap into the blinding light of the

– many have experienced attacks

The work and the country are both

desert.

and bear the psychological scars.

very different from a South London

Aqaba is on the easterly tip of the

Then we are here if there is a crisis, if

parish, but are hugely rewarding, and

Red Sea and from the port you can

a sailor is ill or arrested he will be

a more beautiful and friendly country

see Egypt, Israel, and Saudi Arabia.

left behind when the ship sails, so we

you could not hope for. If any of you

As a result, it is a tightly controlled

are the only people on hand to visit

are over in Jordan do come and visit

port with the ships having fast turn

them and keep their families

and see for yourselves.

around times, so my job of checking

informed. Then if there is a large-

adamboulter@me.com

6 | THE CLOTHWORKER | Winter 2013

them while their case is processed.

Communication

Clothworkers’ website As you may be aware, last year we launched the new website of the Company and Foundation. Since then, we have been working on a significant upgrade of the secure Members’ Only area. The site will be ■ You will be asked to click on a

going live in early 2013.

upload other information which will

This secure part of the site offers

be of interest to your fellow

website page link within the email

some interactive elements which

Clothworkers, particularly a

■ This will take you to a page on the

should enhance your connection

photograph. As an inducement we will

Clothworkers site. On this web

with the Clothworkers, in addition to

be running a prize draw to encourage

page you will be able to accept

providing regular news from other

you all to update your details.

your own booking and also add a

members and the Company and

guest if relevant ■ Once you have saved the booking,

Foundation.

‘Member Search’

We are writing to all members by

We have created a member search

post with their new logon details

function to help members connect

and an easy-to-follow user’s guide

with each other. The search is heavily

to the new members’ area.

reliant on members updating their

of the card invitations which we

More details about some of the

‘My Details’ section, so please ensure

have sent in the past, including

sections are below:

you update your information.

one for you to print and forward

‘My Details’

Electronic event acceptance

This section allows you to update

As previously advised, the Court has

your main Clothworker contact

decided that we should move to

details. We have also introduced a

electronic acceptance of events

As you will appreciate, it is vital that

number of fields for you to list your

henceforth. In addition to reducing

you ensure we have your up-to-date

interests and your profession. We

cost and dependence on an

email address. If we don’t have your

want to ensure that this information

increasingly unreliable postal

email address please contact

is current, so we have not transferred

system, many of our members now

enquiries@clothworkers.co.uk and

historical information across from

use email as their standard means of

we will update the system.

our internal database. It would be

communication.

We have endeavoured to make the

very helpful if you updated these

The new system will work as follows:

system as user friendly as possible.

fields, as they perform an important

■ The Clothworkers events team

The events team will be able to deal

part of the Member Search function;

email you a message about the

with any problems and we request

in addition, we encourage you to

forthcoming event

your cooperation as we migrate to

a PDF document confirming your place will be emailed back to you ■ This will act as a paper equivalent

to your guest if relevant ■ We will send you an email reminder about the event a week or so ahead of the date

this new system.

Queries?

If you have any queries about using the Members’ Only section please contact Abby Wright-Parkes, Membership and Communications Officer on 020 7397 4130 or abbywrightparkes@clothworkers.co.uk If you have any queries about our events please contact the events team on 020 7623 7041 ext 206 or events@clothworkers.co.uk

Winter 2013 | THE CLOTHWORKER | 7

The Olympics

How did you feel your heats went?

My heats went perfectly. I qualified in first place, only taking three jumps to get myself into the final.

Talk us through the final when you secured your bronze medal.

Robbie Grabarz

The final was similar to my qualifying, except by the time I got to the medal guaranteeing height I got

As reported in the last edition, the Clothworkers along with the rest of the

slightly too excited and didn’t clear

Great Twelve supported a number of young athletes who were hoping to

the bar. I had to wait for another

qualify for Team GB in the Olympics. Robbie Grabarz, high jumper, secured a

athlete to fail the bar before I knew I

bronze medal. He provides a personal perspective on his first Games.

was guaranteed my bronze.

How did the funding from the Great

When did you arrive at the Olympic

What was the atmosphere like at

Twelve help during your preparation

Park ready for the Games?

the Olympic Park?

for the Olympics?

The whole team were on a training

In one word, electric!

Without the funding from the Great

camp in Portugal for ten days before

Twelve, my Olympic journey would

the athletics actually started. I flew

How did you celebrate your win?

have been an uphill struggle; the

into London four days before my

I spent the evening with my close

support enabled me to train full-

qualifying round, leaving me enough

family drinking champagne, a night I

time, instead of needing a part-time

time to prepare perfectly.

will never forget, although media

job, which in turn allowed me to

commitments at 7.30am the

train at a world class level and get

What was it like being in the

following morning were quite

the results I knew I was capable of. I

Athletes’ Village?

difficult to wake up for!

was able to prepare to the best of my

The Athletes’ Village was great fun,

ability – without the support I would

with thousands of athletes all there

How has life changed since your

have been greatly hindered.

with their own sports to compete in.

medal win?

We were given the option of 24 hour

Since winning my medal life has

food and a great variety of dishes.

been very different, mainly due to

What were the last few months like

people recognising me in situations

for you, in the run up the Olympics?

The run up to the Olympics for me

How much training and practice

other than athletic ones. Also I’m so

was busy; between competitions,

were you doing in between heats?

busy my feet barely touch the

training and media commitments I

Between my qualifying round and

ground, but everything I’m doing is

had little time to worry about the

final I did one flexibility session and

with a large grin on my face. I’m

forthcoming Games. This played

took a lot of rest.

already several weeks deep into my winter training ahead

directly into my hands, allowing me to concentrate on the things that

of an exciting 2013

matter in order for me to succeed.

season.

Are you hoping to achieve the same success in Brazil in 2016?

I’m expecting to achieve greater things in Rio than I achieved in London; I am certainly training for the gold medal.

8 | THE CLOTHWORKER | Winter 2013

8-10 Moorgate

Roman finds at Clothworkers’ development site Ahead of the redevelopment of the Company’s land at 8 – 10 Moorgate, Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) was given access to the site for archaeological excavation.

Jet bracelet Here, David Divers, Project Manager, talks about the excavation and finds.

“MOLA has completed the main excavation in the central part of the site and the discoveries have proven to be even more exciting than our initial investigations in 2010! The redevelopment of the site by Stanhope and Mitsui Fudosan has provided MOLA with a good opportunity to investigate a large area on the banks of the Walbrook stream, a tributary of the Thames that flowed through the heart of the Roman City.

Aerial view of the site

A number of finds suggest aspects of

walled buildings, dating to the early

wealth in this part of the City, where

medieval period (11th-12th centuries).

activities such as glass-making, pottery

Their survival is rare in London and their

production, metal-working and leather-

presence exciting for all concerned.

working would have been conducted.

The final phase of the excavation will be

In what appears to be a ritual burial at

an area believed to be over the “lost”

the bottom of a timber well, a human

Walbrook stream itself. Here the Roman

skeleton with two near complete pots was

levels of the site, which may include more

The buildings uncovered date from the

found. There is also evidence of carefully

timber revetments or perhaps even a

1st century (the time when the Roman

placed pots in one area (over several

bridge or a mill, will be preserved.

City was founded) to the 3rd century and

years) suggesting an enduring element of

When MOLA collates all the information

include both masonry, and clay and timber

ceremony or religion at the site.

from both the Roman and the medieval

buildings as well as circular wattle structures, thought to be animal pens.

Above the Roman remains were turf-

periods, it will provide a fascinating glimpse into life in the Moorgate area

In addition to the main buildings,

across the centuries.”

fences, gravel alleyways and wells have been discovered, creating a vivid picture of a community living and working at the eastern edge of the Walbrook stream.

Cosmetic grinder

Winter 2013 | THE CLOTHWORKER | 9

Textiles

The National Archives We awarded a £50,000 Conservation Research Fellowship to The National Archives in 2009 to allow them to explore possible ways of opening up access to the Board of Trade Design Register.

The Register, which covers the period 1839 to 1991, is a unique resource comprising 10,000 large volumes containing nearly three million designs submitted to the Government office for registration and copyright.

The designs are in many forms –

An open volume

drawings, tracings, photographs and samples of objects – and many are textiles – shawls, yarns, printed

public to consult them. Further,

different perspectives into a single 3D

fabrics, upholstery, damasks and

digitisation of the designs would, in

effect image, and a ‘haptic console’

lace.

the case of textiles, give no sense of

which gives the user a feeling of the

the feel or texture.

topography of an object.

The research project by Dr Dinah Eastop, formerly a lecturer at the Textile Conservation Centre, investigated ways of realising the potential of the Register in terms of research, education and Consultation event in progress, showing a design registered

by Morris & Co.

inspiration for designers.

Her work included looking at recent technological developments, such as

The volumes represent a huge

polynomial texture mapping

challenge in terms of access (some

of textiles, which brings

weigh more than 25 kgs) and, due to

together a large number of

their fragility, it is not possible for the

images of an object taken from

Design registered in 1885 for a printed cotton kerchief with portraits of the Presidents of the Lancashire Football Association As a result of the findings of the research funded by the Clothworkers, The National Archives secured a grant from the Arts & Humanities Research Council to transcribe a number of registers from the mid nineteenth century, taking this mammoth project a further step forward.

A typical volume in the Register

10 | THE CLOTHWORKER | Winter 2013

Textiles

Textile Conference We hosted a major industry conference at the Hall in November entitled ‘A New Dawn: Rebuilding UK textile manufacturing”.

Organised in conjunction with the Weavers and Dyers, the conference was opened by the Lord Mayor and featured a keynote speech by Vince Cable, Business Secretary. A strong roster of presenters from industry and academia included the eminent chain logistics.

provided me with some great

Over 260 delegates

commercial opportunities; I secured

attended the conference,

three new contracts with well-known

for which there was a long

high street brands. A worthwhile day

waiting list, and there was

out of the office!”

extensive media coverage

This was an important initiative for

of the issue as a result,

the Clothworkers and an excellent

from the Financial Times, Daily Mail and Independent through to the designer, Sir Paul Smith,

ith ul Sm Sir Pa

and representatives from retailers like Margaret Howell and Brooks Brothers, and manufacturers such as Camira Fabrics.

Professor Chris Carr from Manchester University presented the findings of

trade press.

In addition to the formal learning the conference offered through the main programme, a number of delegates found the opportunity to

example of cooperation with fellow

network with peers very

Livery Companies with common

useful. As Toby Gaddum,

research into the UK’s relative

Director of Gaddum and

competitiveness and Martin

Gaddum Ltd, a family-run

Christopher from Cranfield talked

textiles business, said: “The

about the crucial impact of supply

conference provided a chance

roots.

to reRt Hon Vince Cable

connect with peers in the industry and it also

FT article

Winter 2013 | THE CLOTHWORKER | 11

The Foundation

£100m awarded since 1977 Since the Foundation was set up in 1977, charitable grants totalling over £100m have been awarded.

This is an important milestone in our modern giving, although as you can read on page 20, our support of charity goes back centuries.

■ the Small

Income came initially from a

Grants

leasehold interest in 1 Angel Court in

Programme

the City, with subsequent Company

in 2006, a

funding coming from Deeds of

‘mini’ version

Covenant and Gift Aid, together with

of the

the sale of the Angel Court leasehold

reactive

in 1994.

capital Main

By 2011, the Foundation’s assets had

Grants

grown to almost £85m, invested in

Programme

stocks and shares. All grants

with grants

awarded by the Foundation come

of up to

from the income on these

£10,000

investments together with Company

available to charities with an

approval rate (57% in 2012 to date,

donations.

income of less than £250,000; and

compared to 17% in 2004); a new

The last 35 years have seen a

■ the Proactive Grants Programme in

professional website with clear

considerable increase in funds

2007, which involved a radical

information and guidance for

awarded by the Foundation, from

change in approach to some of the

potential applicants and other

£100,000 in 1980, rising to around the

Foundation’s grant-making. The

interested parties; and the option to

£5m mark in recent years.

first proactive initiatives, in

submit applications by email.

The Foundation also administers

Mathematics Education and

Importantly, to maintain links with

three Trusts, rationalised over the

Autism, have now ended, with

its roots, the Foundation continues to

years from 107 initially, to 17 by 2001,

Conservation extended to 2015.

support the UK textiles sector,

to the current Charity for Education,

A new proactive overseas

including via its longstanding

Charity for Relief in Need and Charity

programme has resulted in a

relationship with the University of

for Welfare of the Blind.

major grant being awarded to

Leeds.

There have also been a number of

Vision Aid Overseas for work in

The last 35 years have seen the

major changes in the Foundation’s

Sierra Leone. Two further proactive

Foundation develop into a modern

approach to giving since the 1970s,

programmes, each with a budget of

funder – more focused and

including the introduction of:

£1.25million over five years, are

professional in outlook and

12 | THE CLOTHWORKER | Winter 2013

currently being

approach. It continues to deliver

researched.

significant benefit in carefully

Other

selected areas of need, whether by

developments

supporting disadvantaged people

include: more

and/or communities via the reactive

focused categories

capital grants programmes on the

and stricter

one hand, or addressing ‘at risk’

eligibility criteria

skills shortages via the proactive

for the reactive

conservation programme on the

capital grants

other.

programmes,

Please look out for a more detailed

which has resulted

feature on the Foundation’s £100m

in a significant

milestone in the next Annual Review,

increase in the

due for publication in the spring.

The Foundation

Sustainable Tree Harvesting in Brazil Ten years ago, we made a £101,000 grant to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew towards a fuelwood project in Brazil.

North-east Brazil is home to the caatinga, a seasonally-dry deciduous forest and one of the world’s most glorious ecosystems, with flora and fauna that are found nowhere else on the planet.

50% shrinkage The local people rely on its trees for fuelwood, but there is concern that over-exploitation may end up destroying the landscape, and the

A red-cowled cardinal, which

caatinga has shrunk by half in

live in the caatinga.

modern times.

Kew specialists have been working with

the work as widely as possible to

Brazilian ecologists

academics, government officials

and foresters to find

and conservationists. Illustrated

out the best way to

posters have been produced for

harvest wood from

villagers who make use of the

the caatinga to

caatinga for fuelwood; these use

ensure sustainability.

eye-catching drawings that show

The tree experts

the contrasting volumes of harvest

suspected the

and tree survival following wet and

different species

dry season cutting for each of the

might best be

species.

harvested in different

Kew believe that the work done over

ways and initiated a

Poincianella pyramidalis is one of four free species

research project to

in the study.

@Peter Gasson/RGB Kew & ©David Cutler/RBG Kew

provide the necessary

the last decade, largely funded by The Clothworkers’ Foundation, will mean that the future of the caatinga

evidence to convince the locals.

pollarding was the most productive

It required a period of ten years to

approach with some

produce the results. Some 5,000

species, whereas

mature trees of four native species

crown thinning

were selected and different

worked best for

approaches taken – cutting in the

others. The project

wet and dry seasons, and using a

also drew on Kew’s

range of harvesting techniques – to

experience in wood

find out which was more successful

anatomy, which

for each species in terms of the rate

found that with

of re-growth.

certain species, the

is now looking a bit brighter.

regenerated wood was Findings

particularly good for

The study found that different

charcoal and fuel use.

species responded in different ways –

The researchers have

Kew staff help Brazilian colleagues to monitor and weigh

for example, coppicing and

shared the findings of

the amount of wood that has regrown after each harvest.

Winter 2013 | THE CLOTHWORKER | 13

Livery Fund

Livery Fund 2013 Although over 65% of the Livery are

January to review them, and decided

will be awarded at least £20,000.

now donating to the Livery Fund, we

on a shortlist of six charities.

The charities will also be offered free

hope that even more members will

In March, members will be asked to

use of the Hall for an event. This can

decide to contribute during 2013 to

vote for their ‘top three’ which will

provide a valuable additional boost to

this fund which has awarded grants

then be asked to submit applications

our support, as shown in the

totalling almost £475,000 (including

and meet with Foundation staff.

following examples.

matched donations from the

The three successful charities will be

To donate to the Livery Fund, visit

Company) to 27 charities since it was

invited to the Election Dinner on 12

the Members’ Only area of the

launched in 2005.

June, at which they will be presented

website, or contact katietapponnier

The nominations for potential

with cheques by the Master; although

@clothworkers.co.uk for the relevant

recipients of one of three available

we do not yet know the exact

paperwork. It does not take long to

Livery Fund grants for 2013 are in;

amounts, the likelihood is that, based

set up a standing order!

the Livery Charity Committee met in

on previous experience, each charity

The Children’s Trust Tadworth The charity received a £24,250 grant from the Livery Fund in 2011. Based in Surrey, but with a national remit, the charity works with children with acquired brain injury, multiple disabilities and complex health needs. It offers a range of care and

Afghan Action

support services such as specialist residential

A UK-registered charity, it provides

rehabilitation, home-based palliative

In June the Trust held a wine tasting

literacy, numeracy and IT training

care and short breaks to enable the

evening for 110 invited guests at the

for young carpet weavers in Kabul.

children and their families to live the

Hall. It was primarily an opportunity

Carpets made by trainees are sold

best life possible.

to reach new, potentially high-value,

in the UK to raise funds.

Our grant enabled them to

donors, and was also used as a

They also run a sewing and

commission New Philanthropy

stewardship event. Although

clothing project which offers

Capital to research the long-term

fundraising was not the primary aim,

training and education to young

benefits of their residential

the event did generate almost £3,000

unemployed needleworkers and

rehabilitation provision.

from activities and donations on the

tailors to help them become self

night. It also gave

sufficient and develop their own

them the

enterprises. Our £26,250 Livery

opportunity to pilot

Fund grant in 2011 was towards

a new event, Wine-

this initiative.

Lovers’ Call My Bluff,

An event to raise the profile of

which proved so

their work, attended by 90 invited

popular with guests

guests, was held at the Hall in

that it was repeated

June. Carpets made in their Kabul

at a different venue

factory were on display, and one

in December.

was auctioned.

The charity raised almost £15,000 as a result of the event.

14 | THE CLOTHWORKER | Winter 2013

Service Affiliations

New Service Affiliation – RAF 47 Squadron

maintaining immediate readiness to support Defence’s requirements

Further events and visits are being planned for 2013.

Wing Commander Graeme Gault,

The Company has for a number of

worldwide. In addition to the

who now commands 47 Squadron,

years held service affiliations across

aforementioned Battle Honours, over

said of the affiliation:

the armed forces, but we had never

the past two decades the Squadron

“The Squadron is delighted to

had a link with the RAF. Accordingly,

has also been involved in operations

become an affiliate of the

in 2011 we made an approach to the

in the Balkans, Sierra Leone,

Clothworkers. We feel that both

Royal Air Force, who suggested an

Afghanistan and Libya. The

parties will benefit from this

affiliation with 47 Squadron.

Squadron currently operates two

relationship and are always keen to

variants of the Lockheed

raise the profile of what we do

Martin C130 Hercules

outside the armed forces.

aircraft and moved from

The nature of our work means

its long-time home at

families are often apart for long

RAF Lyneham, in

periods and we know that bringing

Wiltshire, to RAF Brize

families together through social

Norton, near Oxford, in

activities helps to develop the sense

2011.

of community and boost morale.

Our own budget for these types of

The affiliation

events is very modest, hence the

The relationship has

support we are receiving from the

started well, with the

Clothworkers means we can offer

History of 47 Squadron

Master and Clerk visiting the

more substantive events to a wider

No 47 Squadron was officially

Squadron in May 2012, where they

group of families. It is already

formed at Beverley, Yorkshire in 1916

were invited to explore a Hercules on

making a difference and is hugely

as a home defence squadron.

the ground. The Squadron

appreciated by the entire Squadron.

However, the unit was soon

Commander also provided them

We are looking forward to the next

transferred to duty in Northern

with an insight into their survival

year as our affiliation develops and

Greece, supporting the Allied Forces

training and a tour of the base. The

both organisations find out more

against the Bulgarians.

Master and Clerk then attended the

about each other.”

The Squadron has received Battle

annual Squadron

Honours for: Macedonia 1916-1918,

Reception in late

East Africa 1940–1941, Egypt and

May and were made

Libya 1942, Mediterranean 1942–

to feel most

1943, Burma 1945, South Atlantic

welcome.

1982, Gulf 1991 and Iraq 2003.

The Company was

Current role

representatives of

The Squadron is responsible for

the Squadron

providing all Tactical Air Transport

attended the

capability (aerial delivery of both

December 2012

personnel and equipment) to UK

Livery Dinner.

Defence in support of planned and

The Company are

contingency operations, both in the

contributing to

UK and overseas.

Squadron family

47 Squadron’s crews are currently

outings and towards

operating in Afghanistan and the

the Annual

Falkland Islands as well as

Squadron Dinner.

@Crown copyright

delighted when

Winter 2013 | THE CLOTHWORKER | 15

Notable Clothworkers

Sir Robert Beachcroft 2012 marks the three hundred year

Master

anniversary of Sir Robert

In 1700, Beachcroft

Beachcroft’s term as Lord Mayor of

became Master of

the City of London, 1711-1712.

The Clothworkers’ Company and a

Background

Sheriff of the City

Sir Robert Beachcroft was born

of London. During

c1649, the son of Daniel Beachcroft, a

his shrievalty, he

yeoman farmer of Derby. In

was one of a party

September 1668 he travelled to

of Aldermen and

London to take up an apprenticeship

Sheriffs who

with Thomas Paulfreyman,

travelled by coach

Clothworker, and on 5 October 1675,

to Hampton Court

he became a Freeman of The

to welcome King

Sir Robert Beachcroft

William III on his

Clothworkers’ Company.

safe return from

Little is known of Beachcroft’s early career but it is assumed he acquired

trade from medieval times until the

Holland. As a mark of royal honour,

a thorough knowledge of the cloth

nineteenth century.

Beachcroft and his companions were

trade from his former master, who

Traditionally, provincial

knighted by the monarch on the

was a clothworker by trade based in

manufacturers and clothiers came to

same day.

Mark Lane, close to Clothworkers’

Blackwell Hall to display and sell

He was a Common Councilman of

Hall.

their woollen cloth to merchants and

Tower Ward between 1699 and 1701

drapers. In the mid-seventeenth

and an Alderman in Lime Street

Blackwell Hall

century, factors or agents were

Ward from 1703. In 1711, he was

Later, Beachcroft was recorded as a

introduced, charging a fee to handle

elected to the Mayoralty of the City.

factor at London’s Blackwell Hall, the

goods. By the 1690s, they had almost

At his inauguration, The City Poet,

centre of England’s wool and cloth

completely taken over the market,

Elkanah Settle, presented Beachcroft

acquiring significant wealth in the

with a congratulatory address, bound

process as cloth remained the

in a dark green leather and gold

primary commodity traded in

tooled armorial binding, now in the

England at this time.

Company’s collections. In this, Settle

As such, Beachcroft was able to

cited the importance of the cloth

purchase the extensive More Hall

trade, in recognition of Beachcroft’s

estate (formerly the home of Sir

career and his Company’s craft:

Thomas More, and

Congratulatory address to Sir Robert as Lord Mayor

16 | THE CLOTHWORKER | Winter 2013

also known as

Augusta Triumphans

Gubbins or Gobions

When up to her Great SONS of INDUSTRY,

House) near North

The fair AUGUSTA lifts her well-pleas’d Eye;

Mimms,

And her Rang’d CITY WORTHIES on each side,

Hertfordshire in

Do’s into Twelve Chief COMPANIES divide:

1697. He sold the

Oh! Why, in these Distinctions Classes Plac’d,

property in 1708, but

The MERCERS First, and CLOTHWORKERS the Last?

also owned a

All a mistake! Ill marshall’d Herauldry!

country house at

Look up to their Great LABOURS, and there see

Low Leyton in Essex,

Their sweating Brows Unequall’d GLORIES shine.

all the time retaining

Who but thy CLOTHWORKERS, proud ALBION, layd

a town house in the

Ev’n thy Foundation of COMMERCE and TRADE?

City for business.

Notable Clothworkers

Estate Despite marrying twice, Beachcroft

became

had no children, and upon his death

Clothworkers by

on 27 May 1721 he left an estate

servitude,

valued at almost £20,000 (in excess

redemption and

of £1.6 million today), including

later patrimony so

significant stock in the South Sea

that the

Company, of which he was Director,

Beachcroft

1711-1712.

connection with

He bequeathed his lands in Preston,

The Clothworkers’

Suffolk and elsewhere to his nephew

Company

Samuel Beachcroft, Clothworker, his

continues over

principal heir, and the residue of his

three centuries on

estate was shared between the same

to the present

and another nephew, Joseph

day. There have

Beachcroft. Both were executors to

now been four

his will.

Beachcroft

Amongst numerous bequests to

Masters, the most

siblings, cousins, nieces and

recent being

nephews, Beachcroft bequeathed

Major (Philip)

£100 each to Christ’s and St Thomas’

Maurice

Hospitals, £200 to the Corporation of

Beachcroft,

the Poor in Bishopsgate and small

Master 1945-

legacies for the benefit of poor

1946.

householders in Low Leyton,

His daughter,

Hackney and Shoreditch. He was

Mary, Free

buried at St Mary’s, Low Leyton,

woman, was the

where a monument to his memory

historian of the

still stands.

family and preserved a

Sir Robert’s inventory

Family connections

number of

Although Sir Robert had no children,

important documents relating to the

have recently been gifted to the

descendants of his nephew Samuel

family during her lifetime. These

Company’s Archive by her executors (one of whom is Carolyn Boulter, Assistant), following her death in January 2010. They include an original inventory of Sir Robert’s possessions, dated 17 June 1721, Clothworker apprenticeship indentures and Freedom certificates, 1767-1938, an early twentieth century rolled pedigree and several volumes of Major Maurice Beachcroft’s Clothworker-related papers, including letters, photographs, invitations, dinner menus and speeches from his year as Master. The papers have recently been catalogued and are now available for study.

Major Maurice Beachcroft speaking at Mary Datchelor prize day 1961

Winter 2013 | THE CLOTHWORKER | 17

Collections and Archives

Bookbinding 2012 marks our sixth year of support

who argued for

for the Design Bookbinders’ Annual

universal male suffrage

Competition. We sponsor the first

at the Debates in 1647.

and second prizes in the ‘Open

Second prize went to

Choice’ category of the competition,

Kate Holland for her

where practitioners bind a work of

elegant gold tooled

their own choice for submission.

binding of “Lysistrata”,

ate Holland Binding by K

a play by Aristophanes.

Winners

The bindings

This year, first prize went to Jeanette

submitted to the

Koch for her binding of “The Putney

Competition were on

Debates”, a play by Jack Emery. The

display at John Rylands

binding features the famous words

Library at the

‘the poorest hee that is in England

University of

hath a life to live, as the greatest hee’

Manchester up to the

spoken by Thomas Rainsborough,

end of January. anette Koch Binding by Je

Dr Peter Turner and St Olave’s A seventeenth century alabaster memorial bust of Dr Peter

was spotted by a Museum of London curator. Dreweatts

Turner, a distinguished physician and botanist, has become

the auctioneers froze the sale while the Art Loss Register,

a temporary addition to our collections.

acting on behalf of the church, negotiated for its return to

Dr Turner practised at St Bart’s and is known to have

its rightful home.

attended Sir Walter Raleigh during his imprisonment in

St Olave’s were reunited with the bust last year, some 70

the Tower of London. His father, William Turner, also a

years after it had first disappeared, and we agreed to place

physician and former Dean of Wells Cathedral, is

it in our Archive vault for safekeeping whilst its proper

renowned as the author of the first

reinstatement in the church is planned.

herbal in English and the first printed book on ornithology.

Conservation The Clothworkers’ Foundation makes

Missing The bust of Dr Peter

annual grants to the

Turner previously

Friends of St Olave’s

stood in St Olave’s, Hart Street, our guild church, but went missing from the

towards the cost of maintaining the fabric of this historic church and we are pleased that our 2012 grant

bombed

will be used towards

ruins on

the conservation and

17 April 1941.

It resurfaced at

reinstallation of the bust.

auction in

It is hoped that it will

2010,

be back on display this

where it

year, ahead of the fourhundred year

The bust – with shipping documents!

18 | THE CLOTHWORKER | Winter 2013

anniversary of Turner’s death in 2014.

19th century illustration of the monument in situ

Obituary Nigel William Seville Yonge Master excused service 2002-2003

regatta in support of the Sea Cadets,

On 12 August 2012, aged 85

sailing in a Livery Company boat. He also added skydiving and parachuting

Nigel Yonge was born on 12 September

(over 1,067 jumps) and bungee

1926, one of six children. His mother

jumping to his repertoire.

had been a lady in waiting to HRH

He wrote doggerel verse and

Marie Louise de Bourbon, Duchess of

presented the Company with a

Seville, and as the Duchess agreed to

compilation of his poetry, ‘Jest

be his godmother, Nigel was given the

Hossing Around’, in 2000.

third name Seville.

Other interests included squash and beagling. He was also Chairman of

Background

the Royal British Legion Sussex

After early schooling by governesses,

Wealden Branch.

Nigel was educated at prep school in Reigate before going to Downside,

Clothworkers’ Career

near Bath, which he loved. In 1944, he

the terrorist group IZL, led by Ezer

Nigel joined The Clothworkers’

volunteered for the army, and served

Weizman, a future president of Israel.

Company by Redemption in 1960,

with 60th Rifles (King’s Royal Rifle

He suffered many painful eye

upon the nomination of his father-in-

Corps) until 1949. He saw action in

operations as a result and would

law, Sir Rupert Brickwood, Master

the Middle East, Tripoli, Egypt and

often find shrapnel in the wound

excused service 1965. He was elected

Palestine where he was wounded by

decades later.

to the Livery the following year and

In civilian life, Nigel went into

became a Junior Warden in 1990 and

insurance, working for Scottish

an Assistant in 1992. He was excused

Deaths

Provident, Sedgwick Collins and later

service as Master in 2002, and later

Trade Indemnity Co. Ltd, of which he

became an Assistant Emeritus. He

Alison Studer, Freewoman

was London Branch Manager.

was primarily interested in the charitable work of the Foundation.

January 2012 John Whalley, Liveryman

Family

He was a committed member of the

July 2012

In 1956, he married Sally Brickwood,

Grants Committee and particularly

Frank Hutchins, Freeman

Freewoman, with whom he had four

enjoyed visiting the many charities

September 2012

children. He was for many years a

that the Foundation had helped to

Sue Bousfield, Freewoman

member of the London Bach Choir.

support.

October 2012

He was also a member of several

He is survived by Sally, his four

Jenifer Coombe-Tennant,

yachting clubs, including the Royal

children – three of whom are

Freewoman, November 2012

Corinthian. At the age of 70, he took

Clothworkers – and eight

Margaret Forrester, Freewoman

part in the fifth leg of the Clipper

grandchildren. He will be fondly

Date unknown

Round the World Race, in 1997, and

remembered by his Clothworker

two years later participated in a

colleagues.

New Silver Commission The Company has commissioned a

jewellery quarter to view her progress

new piece of silver from the up and

on the piece, which promises to be a

coming silversmith Theresa

dazzling addition to our important

Nguyen.

collection of plate. As well as

Theresa is making a silver

demonstrating her techniques,

centrepiece based on a starburst-

Theresa put the Master through his

shaped foliage design for display at

paces – here he can be seen

Company lunches and dinners.

hammering a silver bowl!

Recently the Master, Peter Langley

Theresa plans to enter the

(Chair of the Works of Art

centrepiece into the Goldsmiths’

Committee) and Archivist visited

Craft and Design Council

anticipate taking delivery of the

Theresa’s studio in Birmingham’s

Competition this month and we

finished piece in March.

Winter 2013 | THE CLOTHWORKER | 19

Early Charitable Giving

Silver cup commemorating John Bayworth

Our History and Wardens. In 1628, Samuel

This article looks at the origins of the Company’s support of charity. It draws on research undertaken by Dr Annaleigh Margey of the Centre for

Middlemore gave the Company

Metropolitan History at The University of London, specifically her paper

£800 (c£71,000 today) to purchase

entitled ‘People, Property and Charity: The Clothworkers’ Company,

land for pious and charitable uses.

1500 – 1688’.

Several benefactors wished In the first few centuries of its

dependants, but also to

to provide clothing to the

existence, most of the Company’s

outside bodies such as the

needy. William Lambe was

benevolence related to the

City parishes. Support for

discharging of conditions attached to

members included relief for those

instructing the Company to provide

gifts and bequests received. As the

who had fallen on hard times,

gowns, shirts, smocks and shoes for

Company’s prosperity grew, it was

pensions to widows, benevolence to

twelve poor men and twelve poor

able to use its own funds to make

prisoners and grants for those

women who would be present at an

charitable grants, initially largely to

travelling to the New World.

annual church service in his memory.

help its own members but

Most significant benefactors to the

The practice of donating shoes

progressively to broader

Company included some charitable

continued until 1986 and an annual

constituencies, leading to the

provision in the terms of the

service is held by the Master and

important philanthropic role which

donation – these ranged from small

Wardens in Lambe’s memory to this

the Clothworkers plays today,

sums towards Company member

day.

primarily through the Foundation.

relief, to parish poor relief, and to the

Thomasine Evans, the widow of John

building of almshouses for the

Evans, Citizen and Clothworker,

Company poor.

directed the Company in 1596 to

Origins

one such philanthropist,

provide two cart-loads of coal to the

Following the Reformation in the early sixteenth century, City Livery

Poor Relief

poor of St Katherine Coleman and St

Companies became an important

Following the Reformation, there was

Mary Abchurch parishes from the

component in the administration

a greater emphasis amongst

rents from her properties in

and distribution of charity to the

benefactors to direct their funds

Crutched Friars.

poor. At a time of religious upheaval,

towards parish and Company poor

Giving was not confined to the City

many wealthy Londoners entrusted

relief rather than sermons and

of London. Many Clothworkers had

their money and the rental income

masses for the salvation of the soul

come from around the country to

from their properties to Livery

(known as obits) as had previously

serve their apprenticeships and carry

Companies in order that it be given

been popular. In 1555 for example,

on their trade in London, but

over time to charity.

John Rogers stipulated that rents

retained strong associations with

These bequests, along with some of

from the property he gave to the

their roots. William Franckland

their own funds, were used to

Company be distributed among the

stipulated in 1574 that amounts

provide charitable relief, primarily to

poor within its membership.

should be paid each year to the poor

the Companies’ own members and

John Watson in the same year gave

in his home parish of Skipton in

their families, although specific

detailed instructions that 20s be paid

Yorkshire. Similarly, John Bayworth in

conditions often applied.

to the parish of St Mary Aldermary

1622 requested that money be paid to

and the residue of income from his

the poor of the almshouses of

The Clothworkers and Charity

property to the poorest Freemen in

Farnham in Surrey, as well as for

The Company administered

the Company.

repairs to the church and school

numerous trusts where specified

In 1622, Sir Thomas and Dame

there.

amounts were distributed to a range

Frances Trevor gave what was at the

of charitable causes. Over and above

time one of the largest donations to

Loan Schemes

such requirements, the Company

the Company for poor relief, £100

It was common amongst Livery

used a portion of the surplus income

(c£9,600 today), to allow annual

Companies after the Reformation to

to provide charitable relief, primarily

payments of £6 to six poor women of

establish loan schemes to provide

for its own members and their

the Company, selected by the Master

capital to young Freemen to set up

20 | THE CLOTHWORKER | Winter 2013

Early Charitable Giving

business. The loans were generally

to the Company and asked that rents

interest-free and required two

be used to support a free school at

guarantors.

Peel on the Isle of Man, with the

The earliest scheme was endowed by

money to be used to pay the school

a Past Master and Alderman,

master and go towards books and

Augustine Hynde, in 1556, and

stationery.

provided for four three-year loans of

In 1569, Sir Rowland Heyward, Past

£25 to young Clothworkers.

Master and Alderman, gave the

In his will of 1585, John Lute, a Past

Company £200 (c£34,800 today) on

psychiatric facilities, medical

Master, granted £100 (c£14,000 today)

condition that it pay £12 per annum

hospitals and even prisons.

to five young Freemen for a three-

to support a free school that he

Several Clothworker benefactors,

year term. Samuel Lese instructed

established.

including James Trussell, John Hobby

the Company in 1634 to set up a loan

Many benefactors, including Edward

and Thomas Dixon, gave money and

scheme in his name, and part of the

Pilsworth, William Heron and John

property to the Company, the income

income from Thomas Ormeston’s

Heath, provided support for university

from which went to Christ’s Hospital.

bequest in 1556 was used for a

scholars, and annual exhibitions at

In 1599, William Hewett established

similar purpose. Such schemes

various Oxford and Cambridge

annuities through the Company to

continued into the late seventeenth

colleges supported several students

Bart’s, St Thomas’s and Christ’s

century with James Burkin, Past

each year.

Hospitals.

£100 to provide five interest-free

Almshouses and Hospitals

Relief of Prisoners

loans of 10s each to Freemen of the

Endowments were also left towards

In the early modern period, most of

Company.

almshouses and hospitals in London.

the City’s prisoners lived in squalid,

Margaret, Countess of Kent, was the

overcrowded conditions, and many

Education

daughter of a Clothworker, James

had been imprisoned for failure to

Income from many of the properties

Finch, and an important benefactor.

pay their debts.

left to the Company funded schools

She gave the Company control of her

A number of benefactors left

and university bursaries, as did

almshouse at Whitefriars (in what is

endowments to the Company to

monetary donations.

now EC4) and property to provide

ensure that such inmates could be

William Lambe requested the

income to support seven poor

provided with food and other

Company to provide income from

women resident there. Later, in 1679,

necessities.

some of his properties to the school

Sir John Robinson left a total of £300

For example, in her 1596 will,

he founded in Sutton Valence in

(c£25,000 today) for maintenance of

Margaret Holligrave provided

Kent. This precipitated a long

the almswomen.

annuities to four prisons – Newgate,

association with the school up to the

In 1640, John Heath gave money to

Ludgate and the two compters (small

twentieth century.

the Company on condition that some

prisons for civil offences).

Philip Christian in 1653 left property

of it be used to erect five tenements

Artist’s reconstruction of Whitefriars’ Almshouse

Master and Alderman, bequeathing

to serve as almshouses for ten poor

Company Benevolence

Clothworkers, with the balance to

As the Company’s wealth and

generate an income which would

disposable income grew, it was able

support the residents. The almshouses

to provide support and benevolence

were built in Islington and were

to Company members and

maintained by the Company up to

petitioners from its own resources.

the twentieth century.

Such philanthropy included

The City’s hospitals, including Christ’s,

pensions, poor box relief, clothing

St Thomas’s, St Bartholomew’s and

and benevolence payments,

Bethlehem (or Bedlam), served

including support during periods of

various functions during their

illness or for losses sustained during

history, including as schools,

fire and rebellion.

In the sixteenth and seventeenth

Portrait of Philip Christian,

centuries, pensions were a common

Clothworker and benefactor

means of the Company providing

Winter 2013 | THE CLOTHWORKER | 21

Early Charitable Giving

benevolence. During this period over

received £5 for relief ‘having been

700 pensioners received money from

exposed to want and misery by the

the Clothworkers. Recipients

Irish rebels”.

included members, their widows and

The Company made numerous

former employees, with amounts

payments to prisoners and their

ranging from 20s to £5 a year. At

families. It was particularly

times, the demand was such that a

supportive of Clothworkers

survived up to the end of the

restriction needed to be placed on

imprisoned for little more than non-

twentieth century in trusts

the number of beneficiaries.

payment of debts, and would pay to

administered by the Company and

Many pensioners were described as

help secure their release. Its support

subsequently the Foundation.

the ‘poor of the Company’ and in

could also extend overseas, with two

However, the size of most of the

some cases conditions were attached

payments recorded in the seventeenth

trusts was such that they were

(for example, payment would cease

century to obtain the release of men

uneconomic. This led to several

should a widow remarry); many were

in Algiers, one a ransom, the other

waves of rationalisation, whereby

paid to the surviving spouse and, on

redemption out of slavery.

individual charities were merged,

occasion, payment was terminated

The Company’s benevolence also

allowing the maximum level of

(for example an almswoman in 1577

extended to broader causes. Money

income to be distributed to good

lost her entitlement due to ‘lewd

was given to help individuals

causes, rather than be absorbed by

behaviour and demeanour’ with a

following a fire: in 1630, Mr Grace, a

regulatory costs.

porter at Whitefriars).

Clothworker, received 40s after a fire

Today, the Clothworkers’ charitable

In addition to pensions, the Company

destroyed his property. Young

giving is undertaken through The

would also make one-off payments

Clothworkers also received money

Clothworkers’ Foundation and three

to petitioners in need. Most were to

towards their travel to the New

subsidiary trusts for visual

members of the Company who had

World: in 1639, Jeremiah Norcross

impairment, relief in need and

fallen ill or on hard times.

was given £10 towards his travel to

education.

In 1624, for example, the Company

New England, where he probably

The emphasis is now on support for

gave a Mr Pennington 20s so that he

intended to ply his trade.

institutions rather than individuals,

could travel to Bath where he hoped

Support also extended to Court

and there are clear grant-making

to recover from injury to his limbs. In

members and Liverymen who had

policies and rigorous assessment

1637, a Mr Morris received a similar

financial problems, and sought

processes which guide our giving and

amount, as plague had visited his

return of their Livery fines.

seek to ensure the funds are

Nineteenth century pensioner’s ticket

distributed effectively.

house.

Small sums were paid for immediate

Foundations of Modern Giving

The Company remains a vital source

relief from poverty, whether from

Most of the early charity distributed

of funds for our charitable giving,

Company funds or the poor box, and

by the Clothworkers went directly to

since its surpluses are transferred

also to assist with the burial costs of

individuals, initially largely funded by

each year to the Foundation which

former members.

donations from members and other

distributes grants to charities.

The Company also supported

benefactors, but increasingly using

Reflecting our long tradition of

foreigners coming to London to flee

corporate funds as the Company’s

supporting individuals in need or

political turbulence in their country.

prosperity increased.

difficulty, we continue this activity

In 1633 a Mr Messinge, a burgess and

The names of some early benefactors

through a small number of charities

councillor of Magdeburg in Germany

who are geared up to help such

received £5 towards the relief of him

people in a way we could not. These

and his five children after they had

charities, which include Friends of

escaped the siege of the city.

the Elderly, Blind Aid and the Buttle

Similarly, the Company supported

Trust, receive a block grant each year

numerous protestant families fleeing

which they use to make small but

Ireland in the aftermath of the 1641

essential donations to individuals in

Catholic rebellion. Two former

need.

ministers in Ireland, Mr Smith and Mr Browne, each were granted 10s,

Miserable female paupers

and a Mr Cox and his seven children

at Bridewell Hospital, c.1808

22 | THE CLOTHWORKER | Winter 2013

Hall Natalie Williams

Hall Lettings As you may be aware, the Hall is

variety of corporate events from

often ‘lent’ commercially to

awards to Annual General Meetings.

external parties, and the revenue

We have recently started to

from this activity contributes to the

accommodate wedding receptions

considerable upkeep of the Hall.

commercially and were privileged

The autumn was a particularly busy

that Michael and Emily chose the

period for the Hall. We were pleased

Hall to celebrate their nuptials. After

to host a number of functions for

a reception and formal dinner the

do admire the seasonal blooms if

other Livery Companies and also

guests enjoyed dancing to a live

you are visiting the Hall.

City firms who used the Hall for a

band. Michael said of the event:

We are also working on plans to re-

“We will certainly recommend

develop the rarely-used ground

Clothworkers’ Hall and Chester

floor flat into additional meeting

Boyd to our friends. Please pass on

space. It is felt that the addition of

our thanks to all the team for a job

more meeting rooms will help when

well done. We were really pleased to

marketing the venue to commercial

be the first wedding at

clients and provide extra space

Clothworkers’!”

when the Company needs to hold internal meetings.

@Copyright Steve Bernard

Development

Michael and Emily

Each year we close the Hall over the

New staff for Chester Boyd

summer for essential

Our catering company, Chester Boyd,

refurbishment and maintenance.

has recently welcomed Natalie

This year amongst the

Williams to cover for Jo Westerbeek

improvements was the installation

who is on maternity leave; and

of window boxes on the ground

Andrew Bapniah is returning to the

floor exterior to improve our facade;

Hall to be front of house.

Staff New and returning staff Stacy Brooks, Senior Finance Assistant, has returned from maternity leave after having her son. We will be wishing her maternity cover Melonie Blunt farewell shortly. Victoria King joined as Events and Administration Officer, replacing Paula Eastop who retired over the summer. We wish

Victoria King

Kathryn Rooke

Mike and Abby

Paula a long and happy retirement.

Jessica Collins, Archivist, is expecting her first child in early 2013, and we

Just Married!

wish her well. Her position will be

Michael Drummond, the Beadle,

On behalf of all the Company we

covered by Kathryn Rooke who joins

married Abigail Hazel at an intimate

wish them a long and happy

us on a maternity leave contract in

ceremony in September. They

marriage.

February.

honeymooned in Devon and Italy.

Winter 2013 | THE CLOTHWORKER | 23

Social Events It has been another full social calendar for the Company since the last edition of the Clothworker.

Great Twelve Sailing Challenge Victory was sweet for the Clothworkers in the Great Twelve Sailing Challenge at the Isle of Wight over the summer.

Our teams won the senior race and also the combined ranking due to the junior boat’s success in third place.

Congratulations to everybody who was involved. These beautiful decanters awarded to the teams are now at the Hall.

John and Annie on board the William B

Jubilee The Jubilee offered a number of extraordinary social events including the Great Twelve taking part in the River Pageant and, despite the weather, a great time was had by all.

We always welcome stories from members.

Please contact our Membership Communications Officer abbywrightparkes@clothworkers.co.uk with your story ideas.

Dates for Your Diary Masters and Clerks Dinner

Wine Tasting Supper

(by invitation only)

Tuesday 7 May 2013

Wednesday 6 March 2013 Annual Meeting of the Livery United Guilds Service and Lunch

and Election Dinner

Friday 15 March 2013

Wednesday 12 June 2013

Civic Dinner

Election of Sheriffs and Lunch

Thursday 11 April 2013

Monday 24 June 2013

24 | THE CLOTHWORKER | Winter 2013

The Great Twelve barge, the William B

Š Christopher Jonas: www.cwjpix.org

The Clothworker | Design by Chris Monk | Printing by Trident Printing | www.tridentprinting.co.uk

Stoddart-Scott