Needlemakers Newsletter August 2023

FORWARD

This will be our first newsletter in a new format. We hope you will find it easier to read and navigate. A big thank you to Valerie Wilkins for doing all the hard work in getting to grips with the new technology.

In addition to the next episode in the very informative blog which our Master has given us this year we have in this issue an insight from his consort about her year. I am sure that the information John and Kim have provided will prove invaluable to their successors.

The livery programme for the year both in our Company and more generally seems to be showing that Livery has returned to normal after the problems caused by the Covid Pandemic.

As usual, our Newsletter contains links to items in the Members Area of the Company website. You will need to be logged into the website to access these.

MASTER’S BLOG

Photo by Kevin Zaouali

At first look this appears to be a quieter month after the very considerable activity of March. In part the reason for this is, I guess, that firstly a lot of us need a rest, and the Easter holiday weekend falls in the early part of the month.

Friday 21st April 2023

Court meeting and lunch at Trinity House. My second Court meeting of the year and happily all seems to be progressing well. Some excellent committee reports are submitted for consideration and approval, and I provide a brief resume of the Court's deliberations over lunch.

This is the first occasion that I have attended Trinity House and it is a most splendid building. There is so much to see and learn. Following the maritime theme, our guest of honour (in addition to entertaining the Master Gardener Mr John Gilbert and the Master Apothecary Dr Jonathan Holliday CVO) is Commander Tim Langford RN whonext week is to assume command of HMS Trent. He provides a fascinating insight into the role of the Navy in global security today and speaks briefly of his delight and honour at assuming command of HMS Trent. I look forward to hearing more of his exploits in the months that lie ahead.

Wednesday 26th April 2023

I am a guest of the Worshipful Company of Security Professionals at their Lord Imbert Annual Security Lecture. The lecture is given by Professor Alison Wakefield, the codirector of Cyber Security and Criminology at the University of West London. An interesting evening and an opportunity to catch up with fellow Masters.

Thursday 27th April 2023

I am honoured to be invited by the Royal College of Surgeons to their Hunterian Banquet. This banquet celebrates the long-anticipated reopening of the Hunterian Museum at the Royal College of Surgeons.

This museum is "state of the art" and provides the RCS with an opportunity to exhibit in the very best manner, the thousands of exhibits of Dr John Hunter collected by him, and which were the foundations of this unique museum.

I am delighted to find that PM George Borthwick and his charming wife Milly are also guests. A firstclass evening albeit curtailed to some extent by the existence of a train strike!

MASTER’S BLOG

I feel slightly rested after the less hectic April – probably my quietest month since taking office and feel ready for the onslaught of May! There is much to look forward to.

Tuesday 2nd May 2023

Only two engagements today. I join our learned clerk at Stationers Hall to undertake a “Freedom of the Company” ceremony for five aspiring Liverymen – Helen Tomkys, John Tillett, Will Anslow-Wilson, Chris Clark and Panos Lymperopolous. It is great to see so many taking their first step by obtaining the freedom of the Company, which will in turn enable them to become Liverymen. Hopefully I shall be able to admit at least some before I leave office in October.

My second event of the day takes Kim and me to the Spring Honours Dinner, given by Imperial College London at the Kimpton Fitzroy Hotel at Russell Square. This is the second offer of hospitality that Kim and I have been able to accept from this eminent institution this year.

We relax during the pre-dinner drinks secure in the knowledge that we are sitting on table 4.

Oh dear – what a mistake. Table 4 appears to be the top table of eight. Those joining us are no less than the President of Imperial Professor Hugh Brady, partnered for the evening by Dame Mary Archer (eminent in her own field) and amongst others by Dr Noubar Afyan and his wife Dr Afyan being the Co-founder and Board Chairman of Moderna responsible for the development and production of the Covid vaccine! He is to receive an honorary degree the following morning and has flown in from Japan with his wife earlier in the day! I like to think that Kim and I “held our own”, another wonderful evening representing the Company.

Wednesday 3rd May 2023

There is little time to reflect on the previous evening for today we are invited by his Majesty the King to the first garden party of his reign.

We celebrate prior to this occasion by joining seven other Masters and their consorts for lunch at the RAF Club, organised by the Master Plumber and the Master Weaver. A splendid lunch among those who are fast becoming our friends, prepares us for the afternoon.

The weather holds fair. Not too hot and all of the ladies looking magnificent and sporting their consorts’ jewels queue patiently with us as we seek admission to the Palace.

Once inside there is a certain amount of waiting to see the King process through the rows of his subjects, however he too is learning for it takes him a lot longer than his mother used to take to cover the same distance! We come within 6 feet of him and then a course correction occurs, and he veers to the other side of the allotted path! We have tea, we bump into Bishop Christopher (as I did the last time I attended when I was there as the guest of Ros) and we compare notes.

We tour the gardens, listen to the band and thoroughly enjoy the afternoon.

Sunday 7th May 2023

Today is the start of the Master’s Needlemakers holiday – “A Taste of Cornwall”

This is the great test! 16 months of planning have gone into organising hopefully 4 days of seamlessly efficient entertainment. The aim? To ensure no-one gets lost, no-one gets injured, and everyone stays in good spirits. The holiday is based at the Alverton Hotel in Truro. A central location. Everyone arrives without hitch on Sunday afternoon/evening, and we enjoy a welcome drink and supper.

Monday 8th May 2023

I am greatly relieved at approximately 9.50 a.m. to see the arrival of the coach that I have booked which will convey us on our various visits this week. As it pulls into the car park, driven expertly by “Dave” who will show off his inordinate expertise in negotiating narrow country lanes repeatedly through the week, a weight is lifted from my mind.

We enjoy a whole day visit to the Eden Project. Marred only by slightly overcast conditions and a deluge of biblical proportion which decides to descend upon us as we make our way back to the coach.

That evening in the hotel we enjoy our first formal dinner of the holiday with entertainment at the end of the evening provided by the Truro Male Voice Choir who sing us a selection of Cornish songs and shanties.

Tuesday 9th May 2023

Today the coach takes us to the National Trust Gardens at Trelissick. The gardens are lovely, there is a house to visit, art gallery, tearoom etc all very useful for it drizzles most of the morning! At the end of the morning, we are supposed to walk the length of the gardens to the pontoon on the river Fal where I have organised a launch to take us on a cruise up the Fal and then to St Mawes terminating at Falmouth. Well –we could have been on the bridge of a North Sea trawler! It chucked it down! I must thank the fortitude of my fellow travellers for their kindness in not throwing me overboard to assuage the Gods! All improves when we get to Falmouth, and everybody negotiates the slippery stone steps at Prince of Wales Quay. Dave is there with a lovely warm coach, and he conveys us across the town to the Princess Pavilions where we enjoy a traditional cream tea with Hevva Cake. The evening is “at leisure” (Kim and I escape to the Pizza Express).

Wednesday 10th May 2023

Today will be a long day. The coach takes us to Geevor where there is a mining museum and heritage centre. We spend a fascinating time there in the company of a former miner who gives us a tour of the works (frozen in time at the point that production ceased) and we also venture into a mine. Kim has arranged for everyone to have a Cornish Pasty lunch and most importantly the weather is kind to us.

After lunch we enjoy a scenic 9¼ mile run along the coast from Geevor to St Ives where everyone has a couple of hours to enjoy themselves (although it seems almost everybody decided to buy ice creams)!

At 5.45 p.m. we attend the Tate St Ives Art Gallery which I have arranged to open especially for us. We are entertained to an introductory talk about the gallery and its construction followed by an hour’s tour of the galleries themselves with the emphasis on Cornish art and artists. Thereafter we retire to the restaurant and its balcony for a drink overlooking the sea and an excellent “fish supper”. In collaboration with the gallery staff and the excellent “Dave” we are able to ensure that the coach positions itself on the rooftop car park and we leave after a splendid evening in the biggest goods lift I have ever seen, which conveys us to the roof and onto the coach.

Thursday 11th May 2023

This morning we attend Truro Cathedral and split into two groups, one having a tour of the building itself and the second the treasures of the Cathedral and we then switch about. It is an interesting morning in one of the smallest cities in the UK.

All is revealed when we arrive Caerhays Castle, the private home of Mr and Mrs Charles Williams. The damp ground prevents the champagne and canape reception from occurring outside, however they generously allow us full run of the ground floor of their magnificent home and Charles in particular is extremely entertaining. He joins us for dinner.

At approximately 5.30 p.m. after a glass of fizz at the hotel, we depart for the end of holiday formal dinner. Kim and I have kept the destination secret throughout the planning and the holiday, stating only that it will be held in a privately owned castle. Despite trying to do so and the asking of ridiculous probing questions, we survive the week with the destination intact.

Friday 12th May 2023

After breakfast everyone departs – some to visit friends, some to walk the coastline, some to break their return elsewhere. Kim and I can relax. It has been a wonderful experience to spend so much time in the company of each other. It is what we as Needlemakers do best. I like to reflect on the fact that we have achieved what we set out to do.

Tuesday 16th May 2023

I attend a very interesting discussion entitled “Your Eyes” hosted by the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers at St Thomas’ Hospital. Several addresses are given followed by a very interesting discussion and inevitably an element of socialising.

Wednesday 17th May 2023

I attend a meeting to interview those individuals who have expressed an interest and willingness in becoming Court Assistants of the Company. All the time that we have a steady stream of interesting and willing individuals who have a desire to assist the Company in its governance, we are going in the right direction. Today is absolutely no exception. There are two engagements today. The second is the Livery Concert held by the Mercers Company. It has been explained to me on several occasions that this is one of the years “hot tickets”! Although advised to save the date many months earlier, information has been sparse but on enquiry I finally ensure that we have “made the cut”.

Kim and I attend at the splendid hall that the Mercers maintain expecting some chamber music, perhaps a little Mozart etc. We are brought up short by when entering the Livery Hall we find spotlights, a drum kit, amplifiers etc. We are entertained in concert by Ruby Turner, one of the UK’s finest soul, jazz and R&B singers. This is a glorious illustration of the Livery. Here we are seated in one of the oldest halls of the premier Livery Company listening to Ruby Turner (who makes quite a noise). Almost everyone seems to enjoy the concert (possibly apart from whoever was seated behind Kim, who couldn’t seem to stay in her seat for very long!)

After the concert, we move into the Court Dining Room and the large Court Room where 18 tables accommodate a vast number of Livery Masters and their consorts. A truly wonderful evening and one I would venture to suggest to those that follow me, - not to be missed.

Monday 22nd May 2023

I attend the Royal Fusiliers Memorial Chapel Annual Memorial Lecture. This proves to be a fascinating and interesting evening in what I understand is the largest Parish Church in the city. There are only three or so Livery Masters present, including my good friend John May of the Paviors and it transpires that the Parish Priest doubles as Chaplin to the Fuellers – The Livery movement is never far away.

Saturday 27th May 2023

Kim and I are privileged to be invited to attend the Speech Day at Christ’s Hospital School. As a Company we present the Needlemakers prize for outstanding commitment in the study of art and design. Prizes are also given by six other Livery Companies, some of whose Masters are also present. We are warmly welcomed and made to feel very much at home. We enjoy coffee and then attend the Chapel service.

The Lord Mayor and Sheriffs also attend. The church service itself held in the Chapel is a wonderful celebration of music, but there is far more to come.

After we leave Chapel, we move out to the quadrangle where the famous Christ’s Hospital Band (often featured in the Lord Mayors’ Show), shows off its paces. The Lord Mayor and the Principal guests take their place at the saluting point whereupon the entire school by house march past and salute the Lord Mayor. When that has concluded, the band which has played stationary in the middle of the Quad, advances, wheels right, counter marches across the front of the saluting base, saluting the Lord Mayor, counter marches wheels right again and disappears towards the big school. The weather is wonderful, the sun shines and you could not be witnessing anything better.

We attend the prize giving in the big school and, to our delight, we see Isabella Marshall win the Needlemakers Prize. Lunch follows and we manage to be introduced to Isabella and her parents. Photographs are taken (hopefully already viewed elsewhere) and we accompany Isabella to the Art Department where she is able to show us her award-winning work.

We learn that she set her heart on winning this prize some two years ago and has worked tirelessly in its pursuit since then. A truly worthy winner and we wish her every success at the London College of Fashion where she starts in October. She has promised to stay in touch with the Company and we shall ensure that we stay in touch and monitor the work of this talented young woman.

Tuesday 30th May 2023

The Masters role does not always encompass eating and drinking. This afternoon there is a meeting held between me, Court Assistant Ben James and the Clerk to discuss the terms of a new Supplemental Charter, which it is hoped that the Company will apply for within the next 6 months, to ensure that those practices which we have in recent years adopted for the operation of the Company, are properly codified. (For example: e-mail communications etc did not exist in 1664). A very fruitful discussion ensues.

At the end of our meeting, I perform a Freedom Ceremony for a candidate introduced by Ben – Simon Sadinski.

MASTER’S BLOG

June 2023

Looking at the schedule it would seem there is another busy month in store.

Tuesday 6th June 2023

I attend the Worshipful Company of Distillers City Debate. Two opposing panels debate the motion “this house believes that the emergence of whiskey as a private investment asset is good for the growth of the wider global whiskey market”. It was decided that it wasn’t! Nonetheless, some 8 visiting Masters enjoyed a very pleasant evening among which was the newly installed Sam Chadd, the Master of the Young Freeman. The event was held at London Scottish House, the army reserve headquarters of the London Scottish and a building worthy of a visit in its own right.

Thursday

8th June2023

I am invited to a reception at Grocers Hall given by the City of London Livery Committee. Most of the Masters are present together with members of the Livery Committee and Sheriffs. A full and interesting evening learning more of the city’s attitude to the Livery and the enormous amount of work that goes on behind the scenes.

Friday

9th June 2023

Today sees the holding of the second of my series of Masters lunches at Watermans Hall. The Senior Warden co-hosted the lunch with me and eight of us enjoyed an extremely convivial lunch enabling those present to get to know each other better and for newer Liveryman to make those all-important connections. These are excellent good value lunches, and I shall hold another in July and one in September.

Wednesday 14th June 2023

Today is Committee Day! I attend hourly meetings of Finance and General Purposes; Masters Advisory Group; Charity; Functions; and Fellowship. These are long days. They are however invaluable for the Master to know as much as possible of what is going on; to monitor individuals’ contributions and to gauge the health of the company generally.

As gluttons for punishment, half an hour after the Committee Meeting ends I, Kim and the Senior and Junior Wardens all attend an evening at the Old Bailey organised by the Treloars Trust focusing

on the outstanding work undertaken by Treloars (and which I referred to in my Blog earlier in the year following the visit which I made to this wonderful school). The reception is punctuated by speeches, short films made by students, a magician and inevitably the opportunity to give money. The Grand Hall of the Old Bailey was an imposing venue for this very worthwhile cause.

Thursday 15th June 2023

Not everything takes place away from home. This afternoon I participate in a zoom meeting of the Governance Advisory Group. Over the last two or so years this company has examined and updated almost every aspect of its Corporate Governance. This has involved an enormous amount of time, drafting Terms of Reference for committees, procedures etc. It has involved an inordinate amount of time upon the part of many including several of my predecessors. The task is almost completed, however there will always be ongoing maintenance!

Later that day I attend the Worshipful Company of Broderers Election Dinner at Mercers Hall (and I am

grateful to the Immediate Past Master and his Consort for fulfilling a further engagement that evening that I am unable to accept!)

The Broderers and ourselves have a great deal in common, particularly our involvement with the Royal School of Needlework. Interestingly for an installation dinner, there is also an element of community singing. Finally, the Master sings a song to the assembled company -not an innovation to be introduced at Needlemakers!

Friday 16th June 2023 to

Sunday 18th June 2023

Kim and I travel to Glasgow to participate in the Masters Livery weekend. This is an event (traditionally held at Ironbridge in the West Midlands) at which all Masters in post at that weekend meet to form a “Past Masters Association” and to choose a name for it and a set of officers. It was decided for whatever reason that this year’s weekend should be held in Glasgow and organised by the Trades Guilds of Glasgow. It was certainly an experience!

Travelling by train we had a relatively trouble-free journey, others were not

so lucky with flights cancelled, luggage lost (yes even just as far as Glasgow) it is probably best to simply state that there was a gap in expectations of the parties involved. The expectation of those of us travelling from London was that the forming of the Past Masters Association would be a central aspect of the weekend, whilst our hosts were keen to extol the virtue of their Trades Hall. They did indeed organise some fascinating visits for us on the Saturday to a church designed by Charles Rennie Macintosh, to the world-renowned Burrell Collection and to a tall ship permanently at anchor on the Clyde.

The catering arrangements sadly left much to be desired. There was also a failure to find time in the programme to organise the meeting of Masters (together with the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs who attended the entire weekend) and we returned to London as possibly the only Masters group to ever go away and return nameless. At the point of my dictating this blog to you, a meeting has yet to be arranged for this purpose while a number of Masters have already left office!

Monday 19th June 2023

Kim and I are invited by the Master World Trader and his Consort to their annual service at All Hallows by the Tower and thereafter to their summer lunch at Trinity House. At Trinity House the table configuration is round tables, rather than the top table and sprigs which we utilised at our lunch in April. This is a historic and interesting venue to which I was pleased to return and as a guest had more time to explore. I very much hope that as a Company we shall visit Trinity House again in the future.

Wednesday 21st June 2023

I attend the Armed Forces flag raising ceremony held in the presence of the Lord Mayor and the Sheriffs together with Senior Service Officers in Guildhall Yard. It is extremely hot. At least one individual from one of the service contingents faints, Aldermen are seen in their robes (but having sensibly first removed their jackets) and I am privately delighted that the ceremony is not longer for it really is very hot indeed.

Afterwards we repair to the Old Library in Guildhall for a cup of tea, something to eat and an opportunity to discuss Glasgow!

Monday 26th June 2023

This promises to be a busy day with technically four engagements.

8.30 finds me at breakfast at Armourers Hall. Breakfast has been kindly laid on by the Cook and the Butler Event Company for Masters who intend to vote at the election of the Sheriffs which is to take place in Guildhall later in the morning. We saunter in over a 45-minute period or so, exchanging comments and wondering how hot it is going to be sitting in Guildhall as we shall be gowned for the ceremony!

By 11 a.m. I and with one or two exceptions, every other Livery Master is in the Crypt of Guildhall together with our respective Beadles as we all climb into our gowns and are shepherded by very patient City Corporation staff into the Order of Precedence – most junior at the front. This is indeed a massive exercise in herding cats however they have done it before and most of us behave ourselves. It is however very, very warm. It may be an immense privilege to wear ermine sitting in a cold church in October or November the honour is not quite so great in a very hot crypt in

June. In due time we process into Guildhall, are seated and the centuries old proceedings fall effortlessly into place. After an hour or so Alderman Bronek Masojada and Alderwoman Susan Langley are duly elected as Sheriffs for the coming year.

We process out and are thankful to be able to remove the gowns and chains. (Thank goodness I didn’t have to wear the bonnet as well!)

The Needlemakers contingent lunches at Armourers Hall. An enjoyable mix of past Masters, Wardens, Court Members, and Liverymen, and lively conversation is had. I would recommend to any member of the Company who has not attended either the election of the Sheriffs or the Lord Mayor to do so. It is a wonderful experience.

My day is not over. In the evening I accompany Pippa Rousselet to an event organised by the Museum of London, a discussion on the legacy of the Suffragette Movement held at the University Women’s Club in Audley Square. One of the delights of the Mastership is the width of

events one attends during the Master’s year, not something that perhaps I would have chosen but which I enjoyed very much.

Tuesday 27th June 2023

No peace for the wicked. Another “three event day” dawns.

At 11 a.m. Kim accompanies me to a service of Thanksgiving for the life of Sir Christopher Wren held at St Pauls Cathedral. This is the 300th year commemoration of the death of Sir Christopher, one of our foremost architects and a man responsible for the rebuilding of almost of all of the City of London following the Great Fire. A tasteful and well-planned service which takes place in his masterpiece Cathedral is a fitting tribute to an inordinately talented man. Following the service, we attend (in common with many other Masters and consorts) a lunch held at Plaisterers Hall. Many companies are represented (and indeed lunches are held in other halls in addition). Present at the lunch are direct descendants of Sir Christopher.

We have scarcely had time to digest our lunch when Kim and I

find ourselves (together with our excellent clerk) as the guests of the Master and Wardens of the Society of Apothecaries at their hall at a Guest Night.

Dinner. This very old hall (which largely escaped damage in the Second World War) is possessed of a courtyard and with the fine weather we are enjoying, full use is made of it for the pre-dinner reception. Again, we are in the company of four or five other Masters and their Consorts.

Thursday 29th June 2023

Today I am invited to attend the Leavers Ceremony held by City of London School for Girls for their 2023 Leavers Cohort. This is an afternoon event at which all the leavers are celebrated but importantly for me this includes our talented bursary student Toluwani Agbedu. Sound words of advice are provided both by Jenny

Brown the headmistress and by “Old Girls” who have made their mark in business since leaving the school. Afterwards in the “tea tent” I catch up with the Master Glover (the Glovers also sponsor a student); with members of the Governing body;

but most importantly with Tolu with whom I can have a good chat.

Meeting with those who are recipients of our charitable giving is possibly the very best part of being Master.

Friday 30th June 2023

Kim and I attend the Coronation Ball held by the Master of the Worshipful Company of Stationers. In essence, this is a Stationers event, however we are invited on the “Consorts Network” in the company of another number of other Masters whose Consorts have also seemingly found a way to attend. We dance the night away and the event finishes well after midnight. A wonderful end to yet another very busy month.

A CONSORT’S DIARY

Let me take you back to when your Master Needlemaker, John Mill, told me that he belonged to a City Livery Company and that he would become Master in October 2021, after holding the position of Junior and Senior Warden. John asked me if I would be his Consort. I agreed, without really knowing to what extent I might become involved. As we all know, it didn’t happen in that timescale due to Covid; it took an extra year for John to become Master.

I used that extra time to increase my knowledge of the Consort role and to learn what was expected of me. I joined an organisation called City Consorts’ Society. Established by former Mistresses/Consorts who had learnt the hard way, this proved to be an absolute blessing. Working through their 12 week ‘Jigsaw’ programme (now 6 weeks) of one hour Zoom sessions during lockdown, I learnt more about the City, the events to which we could be invited, the protocols within the Livery and, most importantly, the dress code, particularly for ladies. The latter being an area in which the Master definitely lacked knowledge! “Oh you can wear the same dress or evening gown to multiple functions” said John. Did he really understand women’s thinking on fashion at all? I quickly learn that the ladies keep a note of which outfit they wear to each different event and follow suit.

We are now only a couple of months away from finishing our year, so I thought you may like to know how your Master’s Consort has been promoting the Needlemakers Livery Company. By year end I will have attended c.87 events:

 6 City Consorts events during the current year -– 6 prior to Installation

 52 Livery Events with the Master

 23 Livery Consort Events

Past, present and future Livery Consorts attend City Consort events, so the exchange of experiences and knowledge is invaluable. We have met the Pikeman at the H.A.C, had a guided walking tour of Crutched Friars, visited Gunmakers Hall and Goldsmiths Hall and also enjoyed a very interesting guided tour of Dr Johnson’s House. As a result of meeting other Consorts prior to Installation, I was able to introduce the Master to other Livery Masters through my previous encounters with their Consort.

I was given some great advice leading up to Installation: make the most of every opportunity and hit the ground running. Consequently, when I started to receive invitations from other Livery Consorts to their personally organised event, I accepted as many as the diary permitted. These invitations have included but are not limited to:

 Lunch with a speaker at various Livery Halls

 Guided Charles Dickens and Samuel Pepys walk, around the City with the Mistress Farmer

 Visit to the Goldsmiths Centre to see the apprentices learning their trade

 A wood turning demonstration at the Dutch Church

 A walk around the Tower of London Jewels House - some items were missing due to the King’s impending coronation. Aside from the crowns etc, King Charles was practising walking the corridor of Buckingham Palace in his 20lb robe!

 Afternoon tea at the Chelsea Physic Garden with the Tobacco Pipe Makers

Butchers’ tour of Smithfield meat market (6am start time with breakfast included)

Visit to Hyde Park Barracks and lunch at Saddlers Hall with the Mistress Weaver

 Mudlarking lecture with lunch at Cutlers Hall

 Tour and lunch at the RAF Club with the Plumbers Consort

 Two champagne afternoon teas with the Lady Mayoress and Sheriffs’ Consorts at Guildhall

 Guided history walk of the taverns in the Square Mile and dinner with the Saddlers Consort

 Mudlarking on the Thames foreshore with the Water Conservators

 Private lunch with the Lady Mayoress at Mansion House

Having enjoyed the hospitality of a number of Consorts, I decided to hold my own event in May 2023. It seemed appropriate to have an activity that included the use of needles, and I knew of one lady who might just be able to help me. Past mistress and friend, Elizabeth Whitton is passionate about her crafting activities and is always keen for others to learn. Fortunately for me, Elizabeth kindly agreed to help and, after a false start with one activity that required far too much concentration, we decided on Sashiko (Japanese embroidery), with each Consort making a needle/pin cushion to take home with them. This was followed with a sparkling afternoon tea.

Having booked our venue, the Guildhall Club which holds up to 32 people, the invitation was sent. I waited with trepidation for responses. Would a crafting afternoon appeal to Consorts? The only other creative activity to which I had been invited was Basketmaking.

Imagine my delight when 30 Consorts from other Livery Companies accepted (and a waiting list formed should anyone withdraw). Many more reluctantly declined due to a diary clash. Some of these were Consorts whom I had not previously met, so we made new contacts and put the Needlemakers ‘out there’ for doing something different. Thank you, Elizabeth for doing the hard work and for making my event a success.

It has been an amazing and exciting year; one that will end all too quickly. I cannot deny that it has had its stressful moments, (e.g. planning the Needlemakers Cornwall holiday with the Master!) however the fun times have more than made up for them. It has been an honour and a privilege to be John’s Consort and to wear the beautiful Consort badge. I thank you all for accepting me so willingly into the role and for your continuous support and encouragement throughout our year.

Kim Riley

WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF WORLD TRADERS EVENT AT THE WOLDINGHAM GOLF COURSE IN

Past Master Geoffrey Lewis, Senior Warden Michael Foulkes, Liveryman Andrew Roast and Freeman Matthew Young represented the Needlemakers Company at the Worshipful Company of World Traders Golf Event at The Woldingham Golf Course in Surrey on Monday 22nd May, 2023.

Ten Livery Companies were represented at what was an excellent event. The weather was superb and after each of us had fairly lengthy drives to get to the golf course, the team breakfasted, had some practice on the putting green and headed out on to the course.

With a very impressive combined net score of 19 under par the Needlemakers Team were delighted to come second in the Team event – an excellent achievement and there was some very skilled golf played by all members of the Team.

As well as a team event, there were also individual prizes and the star of the day was our very own Freeman, Matthew Young, who not only won the longest drive with an enormous and very straight shot, he also won the individual event with an incredible net score of 10 under par –Matthew’s gross score of 77 (just six over par) was his lowest ever and he was clearly inspired by representing the Company which he hopes to join as a Liveryman in the future.

It was a truly excellent performance from a young Freeman who will hopefully be the mainstay of our golf teams for many years to come. It was a very enjoyable day for the team who all thoroughly enjoyed one another’s company.

Many congratulations to all of the team members. We believe that it may be the first time that a Needlemakers Team has secured honours at a Livery Golf Day.

Liveryman Andy Roast

Many congratulations to all of the team members. We believe that it may be the first time that a Needlemakers Team has secured honours at a Livery Golf Day.

Liveryman Andy Roast

THE VALUE OF FINE CELL WORK

Last year Fine Cell Work celebrated 25 years of producing beautiful handmade products in prison improving the stitcher’s self-worth and leading to training opportunities and employment. In our Battersea workshop the charity is now able to offer released stitchers support in a welcoming venue where accredited qualifications including upholstery and soft furnishing. Awards are highly motivating and reduce with a greatly reduce reoffending.

Volunteering to teach in prison is challenging, creative and rewarding when they express their experiences of stitching and acquiring skills and money behind bars. Here I share with you words from stitchers who have been on our courses:

“It takes my mind away from prison life when I’m stitching, I’m not thinking about where I am but where I could be”.

“I have to say that stitching has completely revolutionised my life, I use it to calm me and reboot my troubled mind. It motivates my creative juices to flow”

“I work hard to maintain a high quality so the customer will buy and be happy. To give a smile is a special thing”

“It’s the most positive thing I have in prison”.

“Having something constructive to do in cell helps with my mental health issues and restlessness”

“I can’t imagine not doing it now, it calms me and I forget where I am”

“I’d not done stitching before I came into prison. It hugely occupies my time and I’m lost in my stitches for hours”

“When someone buys a piece of work I see it as another bridge built back into life in the community”.

And from an apprentice in the post release Open Gate workshop “Fine Cell Work breaks the barriers when you leave custody, it has been a real stepping stone back into life after prison. I feel part of a community. It’s given me a purpose. There are so many opportunities across the charity, and they set me up with an inspiring mentor”

The charity has been very appreciative of Needlemakers support for many years. They really struggled during lockdown but in the last year with enthusiastic staff and volunteers they are now back in over 30 prisons and the Open Gate workshop to improve the future of offenders and sell their products online or sales around the country.

Liveryman Ginny Stobart

More information on Fine Cell Work can be found on their website www.finecellwork.co.uk.

INTER-LIVERY CROQUET AT THE SUSSEX CROQUET CLUB

On 10th June, 3 liverymen of the Needlemakers were joined by one of the Feltmakers for a most enjoyable day at the Inter-livery golf croquet event. There were over 60 croquet players from about 20 different livery companies, and it was almost non-stop action (this being made possible by the fact that the Sussex Croquet Club has 11 croquet greens and we were using most of them). The weather was fantastic, and lunch and refreshments were provided.

Whilst the team did not win any prizes (so, sorry, no cups to go on display at Needlemakers dinners!) it really was a lovely event. Each of us knew a few of the players from other livery companies and it was all very jolly.

The main event, the Glovers Cup, was won by the Leathersellers (who also won it last year).

This was the second year that Needlemakers have taken part and I do hope that the Company will enter the event again next year. I can thoroughly recommend it.

Liveryman Martin Miles

SHRIEVAL ELECTION

On 26th June I attended the Common Hall for the Election of Sheriffs. It was a most enjoyable morning and provided an opportunity to see a full procession of the Officers of the City and its Livery Companies and to be a part of one of the historic ceremonies in the City. The Needlemakers attending lunched afterwards in Armourers Hall. This was a superb venue, and I was lucky enough to be shown around by a past Clerk to the Company. There were relatively few of us at lunch and the dining was informal which gave a good opportunity to get to know other members of the Company better.

I had hoped to do this for several years, but diary clashes had prevented it. It was a most enjoyable day and one which I hope to repeat in the future. I would strongly commend it to Liverymen who have yet to attend.

The next Common Hall is on 29th September for the Election of the Lord Mayor followed by lunch at the Stationers Hall. This can be booked through the website.

Assistant Mick Scotchmer

NEW LIVERYMAN

At the July Court Meeting Liveryman Roy Hiatt was clothed.

USEFUL INFORMATION

Website news items

Current news items are to be found in the members area of the web site.

Recent additions include:

• A report from the Court meeting on 11th July in Court Meeting News in the News & Updates Section

• The 2022 Charity Accounts in the Charity Area of the Company Information Section

• The July 2023 Livery Briefing from the City of London with information on forthcoming events in Livery and City Briefings in the News and Updates Section

Company Email addresses

The Company Contact Details section in the Company section of the website members area contains the Email addresses for those with positions in the Company.

Future Events

Future events can be seen on the Events page of the website which gives an outline of each event and booking details.

Next Newsletter

Our next newsletter will be at the end of October 2023.