Summer 2012 • No 7
Clothworker The
www.clothworkers.co.uk
City of London
Lord Mayor David Wootton, Fletcher and lawyer, has been elected the 684th Lord Mayor of London. He has enjoyed a 40 year career in the City, with over thirty years of it spent as partner of top international law firm Allen & Overy. The Lord Mayor was born in Bradford and attended Bradford Grammar School. He went on to graduate in law from Jesus College, Cambridge. He joined Allen & Overy as an assistant solicitor, rising to partner in 1979. During his year as Lord Mayor, he has been keen to
Cover photo of Katie Byers, one of the athletes supported by the Great Twelve Companies’ 2012 Athletics Fund, see page 4. Courtesy of Mark Shearman.
promote UK manufacturing including textiles and he has featured a series of UK textile designers in exhibitions at Mansion House.
David Wootton
Sheriffs Alan Yarrow has
Alan Yarrow and Wendy Mead
The Lord Mayor’s Appeal
been elected
The Lord Mayor’s Appeal 2012 has a
Aldermanic
theme of ‘Fit for the Future’, which aims
Sheriff for 2011/12
to promote better health
and Wendy Mead
opportunities for all. This includes
has been elected
the most disadvantaged parts of UK,
Lay Sheriff.
such as Tower Hamlets in London,
Alan Yarrow,
where 50% of local children live in
Alderman for the
poverty.
Ward of Bridge
The Appeal will support five charities:
and Bridge
■ Barts and The London Charity
Without, is a
■ Fields In Trust
Liveryman of
■ London Youth Rowing
The Fishmongers’
■ The Rowing Foundation
Company. He has
■ Futures for Kids
had a long and successful career in stockbroking and holds a of portfolio of non-
The Clothworkers’ Foundation has
executive directorships.
made a donation of £10,000 to the
Wendy Mead is a Court Assistant of the Glovers. She has run her own catering
Appeal. You can find out more about
company and is a keen charity campaigner.
it here: www.thelordmayorsappeal.org
Looking forward
2
Woolf for election in 2013/14.
Evans, Past Prime Warden of the
The election of Sheriffs will take
Shipwrights, is standing for
The Court of Aldermen is supp-
place on 25 June. There are only two
Aldermanic Sheriff and Nigel
orting Roger Gifford for election as
candidates this year; thus it will not
Pullman, Immediate Past Master of
Lord Mayor in 2012/13 and Fiona
be a contested election. Jeffery
the Leathersellers, for Lay Sheriff.
| THE CLOTHWORKER | Summer 2012
Trusteeship
Events and activities We have hosted a couple of member events around our common purpose, and have another planned for early July. Forum
Trustee Dinner
The successful seminar series, also
In November, the Company hosted a
On 4 July, we will be
mounted in conjunction with NPC,
supper for a small group of
holding a dinner at the
continues. Three events are being
Liverymen interested in the subject
Hall for Liverymen
held this Spring – the first two have
of trusteeship. Some excellent ideas
who are trustees of
focused on ‘Trustee leadership and
came out of the forum and these will
charities or governors
impact’ and ‘Improving financial
influence our thinking going forward.
of schools; they are
sustainability through social investment’ and the third seminar,
being asked to bring their Chairman as their guest.
to be held on 11 June, is on the issue of
The Junior Livery Dinner in February
Chris Jones, Director-General of City &
payment of trustees.
attracted some 35 members. We had
Guilds, the leader in vocational
Members are welcome to attend
a guest speaker, Lord Browne of
education, will be the guest speaker.
these events, which always feature
Junior Livery Dinner
leaders in their field as speakers.
Madingley, who talked during dinner about his pro bono experiences.
New Philanthropy Capital
Currently the Chairman of the Tate,
We have recently sponsored a
Better Governance
he has previously served on a number
publication by New Philanthropy
The Company continues to provide
of not-for-profit boards including the
Capital (NPC), entitled ‘The benefits of
funding to support better charity
British Museum, as well as having a
trusteeship’ Using a case study
governance generally. We have
distinguished career at BP. He spoke
approach (including one on Past
contributed to the cost of revising the
about how his involvement on charity
Master Christopher Jonas), it looks at
Code of Good Governance which helps
boards had broadened his skills and
the issue from the perspective of
charity boards work effectively, and
helped him in his corporate life, as
individuals, employers and charities.
are sponsoring the continuation of
well as allowing him to give
The free publication is available to
the Governance Forum, a group of
something back to the community.
download from our website.
influential experts in the area.
My experience of trusteeship Alex Nelson, Liveryman University College Durham Trust
Durham-Lesotho
I am a trustee of three charities. The first was founded in
The Durham-Lesotho Link works with the Anglican church in
the early 1990s as the University College Durham Trust,
Lesotho, Southern Africa, which has been devastated by
which provides facilities for students at my former College.
HIV-AIDS. We now work primarily with disadvantaged
I was invited to join the Trust to build up an endowment
youth and have an outdoor activity training centre in
fund. It meets twice a year, once in Durham and the other in Durham or London. www.dur.ac.uk/university. college.trust/
Maseru, the capital, and two outstations. We are raising money to work with child-headed households where young orphaned children are caring for their siblings and often sick grandparents too. I am Chair (for the second time) of this active charity, which carries a greater time commit-
Anker’s House Museum The second is the Anker’s House
ment (about 15 days a year), and have visited Lesotho six times since 1994. www.durham-lesotholink.org.uk/
Museum, which is a charitable trust. The small museum in Chester-leStreet was previously a house, where in the middle ages an anchorite (religious hermit) was walled up for life. The trustees are all local to our town, and we meet four times a year. www.maryandcuthbert.org.uk/ parish-church-/ankers-house/
Benefits of Trusteeship Trusteeship is inherently interesting, but the main benefit is the opportunity to work collaboratively with other people from the same or entirely different walks of life. Relationships can grow over many years, sometimes leading to further useful contacts. My first engagement with Lesotho was as a result of an exchange visit in 1994; I didn’t expect to be elected Chair of the Trustees.
Summer 2012 | THE CLOTHWORKER |
3
Supporting Good Causes
Great Twelve Companies’ 2012 As was reported in the last edition, The Company as one of the Great Twelve Livery Companies, is sponsoring a group of young athletes. Twenty-one athletes have been supported through the programme which is administrated through The Ron Pickering Memorial Fund, set up as a tribute to the late sports coach and broadcaster. Without our help these atheletes could not afford to dedicate themselves to the training needed to have a chance of being selected for the British Olympic Athletics team this summer.
Lawrence Okoye – Discus
Holly Bleasdale – Pole Vault
As they continue with their train-
“In a nutshell, I broke the British
“The funding I received has been so
ing, with the hope of being chosen
Record with a throw of 67.63m –
useful and I feel so lucky to have the
for Team GB, a few of the athletes
which was also a world-age best for a
funding for another year. It has
give a brief update on their last
19 year old – and I won the European
helped me cover costs I couldn’t
season’s training.
U23’s Championships in Ostrava,
afford before the grant. I had such an
We want to wish all the athletes a
Czech Republic.”
amazing season last year, I was so
great season, particularly those
happy to jump a new national record,
who have made selection to Team
and world record for a 19 year old!
GB. We look forward to cheering
4.70m was a massive improvement
you on!
for me and I’m just so excited for this year!”
Charlie Purdue – Endurance “I began the year with a good performance at the BUPA Great Edinburgh cross country, where I finished 4th against a strong Kenyan Courtesy of Mark Shearman.
presence. I then went on to dominate the national cross country season, being unbeaten domestically in every competition that I entered. Going forward I hope to run the qualifying times for both the 5,000m and 10,000m for the Olympic Games.”
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| THE CLOTHWORKER | Summer 2012
Supporting Good Causes
Athletics Fund
Sophie Hitchon – Hammer
Merv Luckwell – Javelin
Katie Byres – Pole Vault
“The season started great when I
“I finished off my season with an
Katie and her coach consider the
threw a personal best and British
Open meeting at Wrexham. I was
2011 athletic season a very
senior record of 69.43m, which was
feeling really good in warm up and
successful year.
also a B standard for World
achieved a personal best of 83.52m –
Katie finished her season in the top
Championships and Olympic Games.
the A standard for the London
five seniors in the UK, the leading
The next target was U23 European
Olympic Games. This puts me
U20 in the UK, just outside the top
Championships where I threw
number 1 in UK, and 22nd in the
five at U20 level in Europe and in the
another personal best of 69.59m
World Rankings.”
top ten in the world at U20 level. Plus
pushing the record further and I won
Katie has another year at U20 level in
the bronze medal. The British
2012!
Championships came shortly after, where I won gold.”
h Jump barz – Hig Robbie Gra l indoors started wel ior “My season in the Sen ished 2nd n fi I n e er h w the Europea alified for u q d n a ls Tria s, my first mpionship Indoor Cha eak of my vest. The p nal senior GB a new perso s jumping d season wa oor Worl Senior Outd best at the ird, giving finishing th Trials and alify for unity to qu rt o p p o n a egu, myself ships in Da Champion the World a.” South Kore
Jack Green – 400m Hurdles “I am currently training full-time with World Champion, Dai Greene. I have improved in every aspect of my training. My major indoor achievement has to be having the indoor national record and coming 1st in the 60m, and 3rd in the 200m. It was one of the best experiences ever, very enjoyable and a proud accomplishment for me.”
Summer 2012 | THE CLOTHWORKER |
5
The Foundation
Livery Fund 2012 Although the Livery Fund has been in existence since 2005, 2012 was only the second year in which Liverymen were able to nominate charities which they felt could benefit from a grant. Choosing which charities to support
Fund were then asked to vote for up
have their cheques presented to
The Livery Charity Committee gave
to three of the six charities, and the
them at the Election Dinner at which
careful consideration to all the nom-
three with the most votes were
Liverymen will be able to meet senior
inations before agreeing a final
awarded a grant.
representatives from each charity.
shortlist of six. The six charities
The Livery Fund charities for 2012
Grant amounts have yet to be
were then invited to submit formal
are LEAP (Local Employment Access
confirmed, but the three charities are
applications, following which
Projects), the MicroLoan Foundation
expected to receive at least ÂŁ20,000.
Foundation staff met with them to
and the Rainbow Centre for Cond-
The three charities have also been
discuss their work and projects.
uctive Education.
offered free use of the Hall for an
Those contributing to the Livery
As with last year, the charities will
event.
Rainbow Centre
a medical or paramedical one. It is a
Saturday Clubs
holistic approach which helps those
The Livery Fund grant will be used to
with motor impairments develop
run Saturday Clubs for children with
independence by helping them gain
cerebral palsy and other motor
control of their muscles. The focus is
impairment disabilities. The sessions
on the total development of the
will enable children in full-time
individual, and CE not only improves
education (from mainstream or
motor skills and function but also
special needs schools) to continue to
The Rainbow Centre supports up to
helps with social, emotional and
learn and implement physical and
60 children with cerebral palsy and
intellectual development. There is an
social skills previously learnt at the
25 adults with multiple sclerosis,
emphasis on building on what people
Centre prior to attending school.
Parkinson’s disease or who have
can do, rather than on what they are
suffered a stroke, and their families.
unable to, and on encouraging those
Beneficiaries
with motor disabilities to master
A total of 36 places will be available
Self development
their environment rather than adapt-
to children who have previously
Using a system of learning called
ing the environment to meet their
attended the Centre. There will be
Conductive Education (CE), the
needs.
two classes: one for the older, less able, children; and one for those who
Centre encourages and teaches beneficiaries to take an active role in
Life skills
are younger and more able. In
their own development. CE
The daily CE routine includes several
addition to enhancing skills, an
approaches motor disability from an
series of tasks carried out in different
important aim of the programme,
educational perspective, rather than
positions (e.g. lying, sitting and
which will be based on successful
standing-walking), with
pilots, is to let the children have fun!
the skills learned in
To find out more please visit:
these various positions
www.rainbowcentre.org
then applied to everyday life. The programme also provides opportunities to develop ageappropriate cognitive, social and emotional skills.
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| THE CLOTHWORKER | Summer 2012
The Foundation
MicroLoan Foundation
Loan schemes
A MicroLoan client
Since loans are unsecured,
with her profit
borrowers are not required to provide collateral and there
pictures designed to make
is no repossession of assets if
training more relevant
there is a default. Although
and interactive, thereby
the women develop their
maximising knowledge
own businesses, they must be
retention. Over 1,200
Business start ups
members of self-governing loan
women in Mchinji District, central
The MicroLoan Foundation supports
groups which are collectively
Malawi will benefit from the grant.
Malawian and Zambian women to
responsible for repayments. The loan
The area is one of extreme rural
help themselves out of poverty by
group acts as a communication
poverty, with 41% of the population
providing them with opportunities to
channel between borrowers and
living in absolute poverty. The
start small, sustainable businesses.
MicroLoan and as a support network
training aims to significantly improve
Set up in 2002, it now has 24 branches
for members, and facilitates
clients’ business success which should
across Malawi and Zambia, and has
repayments from women without
result in enhanced incomes.
helped over 120,000 women. To
collateral, business experience or
ensure sustainability most services
education.
Tried and tested
are delivered through local people.
In the past three years, MicroLoan’s
The project will be based on a
Using microloans (averaging
repayment rate has been 99%.
successful pilot where the training
£25-£65), women can start small
resulted in far greater knowledge
businesses to generate profits and
Training
retention in costing, profits and
savings. A small increase in the
The Livery Fund grant will be used to
pricing, and developing a business
financial resources from money
fund a project to increase knowledge
plan. The training also resulted in a
generated through these small
retention amongst women with little
better understanding of savings goals
businesses can improve a family’s
or no education, by delivering
and loan group dynamics.
food security, as well as access to
innovative adult-learning training.
To find out more please visit:
healthcare and education.
This will include role play, games and
www.microloanfoundation.org.uk
programme for the Scottish careers
LEAP
service, which has since been rolled out across the country.
Since it was set up in 1993, LEAP has provided
Pilot Programme
support and training for
The Livery Fund grant will enable
over 20,000 alienated
LEAP to run an outreach pilot
and disaffected young people and
programme for 16 disadvantaged
unemployed adults, with over 5,000
young adults who will receive
helped into employment. LEAP
key tools needed to escape from
customised support from a dedicated
supports them to overcome difficult
poverty. LEAP’s educational
advisor for up to six months. This
circumstances to fulfil their potential
programmes encourage the notion of
will include one-to-one careers
and play a fuller role in society
personal responsibility and a ‘can do’
advice sessions; mentoring sessions;
through education, employability
attitude. This is supplemented by a
participation in an employability
and community programmes.
support service to help people into
workshop or two-day training
sustained employment.
programme; and support into a work placement or similar work-related
Support The range of services offered includes
Employability Programme
opportunity.
outreach; employability skills training;
Having designed and delivered
Once participants are ready for work
one-to-one support; job placement;
employment-related training
experience, LEAP works with
and therapeutic counselling. All
programmes for many third sector
prospective employers to secure
services are aimed at raising self-
organisations in the UK, in 2009 LEAP
appropriate work-related opportunities.
esteem and motivation, and at
was commissioned to design a career
To find out more please visit:
providing beneficiaries with some
planning and employability
www.leap.org.uk
Summer 2012 | THE CLOTHWORKER |
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The Foundation
Chiltern Centre for Disabled Children The Chiltern Centre for Disabled Children provides short break respite care for children and young people aged 2 to 25 with physical and/or learning disabilities and complex health needs.
Lake District Calvert Trust
The charity was awarded £15,000 in 2010 towards an extension of
The Calvert Trust supports people
with the warmth of hydrotherapy to
the centre.
with disabilities to achieve their
provide a complete sensory
The new centre was opened by
potential through outdoor adventure
experience for its predominantly
television personality Philip Scho-
activities in the countryside.
disabled users.
field, a patron of the centre, last
There are three centres in
October. The ceremony was att-
Northumberland, Exmoor National
ended by the Mayor of Henley and
Park and the Lake District.
by the chairman of South Oxford-
In 2009 we awarded £100,000
shire District Council, who chose
towards a new water centre for
the centre as one of three char-
people with complex disabilities at
ities to support during his time in
the Lake District centre.
office.
HRH Countess of Wessex opened the
The extension will enable the
new £3.7 million centre (of which the
centre to offer more specialist
£1.6 million water centre is a part) in
care to many more children and
November last year.
young people.
The revolutionary new pool
ol therapy po New hydro
combines state-of-the-art technology
Charity visits programme – can you help? 2012 is the fifth year of the
We offer training for visitors and ask
Your help
Foundation’s charity visits
that they complete a standardised
We are always keen to add new
programme. It involves members of
report after their visit, which is used
visitors to the programme all over
the Livery and some members of the
by the Trustees to support them in
the country. If you are interested in
Freedom producing reports following
reaching a decision.
finding out more please contact
site visits to selected charities where
Nicola Birch, Grants Officer, at
we expect to make a potential grant.
nicolabirch@clothworkers.co.uk
“I really enjoy do ing the visits. I like meeting th run the charities e people who – they are carryi ng out several di roles in order to fferent keep costs low and services av are often doing ai la ble, and the best they ca n in challenging surroundings. It’ s always great to hear that the Fo has provided a undation big chunk of th e money needed project, which I fo r the know will make a real differenc it get off the grou e in helping nd”. Alice Syso n, Liverywoman
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| THE CLOTHWORKER | Summer 2012
Foundation for visits on behalf of the “I have been making y of charities d have visited a variet over five years now an Foundation. as supported by the covering all of the are er to the types to be a real eye-open While I have found it munity, I am t exist in the local com of social problems tha a few dedicated d by the results that constantly impresse but focused th the relatively small people can achieve wi , Liveryman. e.” James McDougall funding that we provid
Celebrations
Celebrations Celebrating The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee The Company will be celebrating The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee by taking part
Clerk will be joined on a table for ten
in several high profile and philanthropic events during the summer. It is an
by representatives and beneficiaries
exciting year for the United Kingdom, especially for London, and the Company
from charities and individuals the
is proud to be playing a role in giving thanks to Her Majesty for her service
Foundation and Company supports.
throughout her sixty-year reign. Queen Elizabeth II Fields project Royal Pageant
waterside audience of 1.5 million
And finally, the Company, with the
The Company will be taking part in a
people, and many more watching on
other Great Twelve Livery Companies
River Pageant on Sunday 3 June,
the television around the world.
is also supporting the charity Fields In Trust with a donation towards its’
which will be led by The Queen and will feature 1,000 boats sailing down
Royal Luncheon
‘Queen Elizabeth II Fields’ project.
the Thames. The Great Twelve
Following this, the Company will be
The £150,000 gift from the Great
Companies will be part of this
attending a luncheon given by the
Twelve will help to save and preserve
procession, having chartered a
City Livery Companies at
twelve playing fields and open spaces
passenger launch for the occasion.
Westminster Hall on Tuesday 5 June,
around London, for current and
It is an opportunity for London’s
for The Queen and The Duke of Edin-
greatest Livery Companies to display
burgh. The luncheon will hon-
their proud heritage
our Her Majesty and also
and continuing work in
celebrate philanthropic
front of an expected
future generations. We will report on these celebrations in the next edition of The Clothworker.
and charitable endeavour. The Master and
he Tw with the s upport of t nies elve Great Liver y Compa n of the d n City of Lo o
Westminster Hall
Summer 2012 | THE CLOTHWORKER | 9
Service Affiliations
HMS Dauntless HMS Dauntless, a T45 Destroyer, joined the Royal Navy’s fleet in November 2010. The Company was delighted to be able to take the opportunity to host a luncheon at the Hall for 100 of
Visit to the Scots Guards, Catterick
the Ship’s Company, whilst the Ship was in London for a major defence exhibition. A number of Liverymen and Freemen joined in the occasion. An award was
By Nick Horne, Assistant
made to Chief Petty Officer Visit
Robert Govier, for his
The latest visit to the
outstanding contribution to
Battalion by members of
the ‘moral component of
the Company provided an
operational capability on
opportunity for
the Ship’. The Company
Clothworkers to gain a
hopes to make a similar
perspective of a soldier’s
award each year.
life in Afghanistan, post the
The Master, Andrew Yonge and Nick Horne sailed on
Scots Guards’ six month
the Ship from Portsmouth
tour of duty in 2010.
up the Thames to George V Dock
The initial welcome from the Adjutant, Capt Hamish Barne
replied to by Richard Jonas, and
for its visit to London. Dauntless
and a very informative briefing from
followed by four Battalion pipers
has recently set sail for the South
Commanding Officer, Lt Col Rob
playing an assortment of powerful
Atlantic on her first operational
Howieson on the operational role of
music.
deployment.
the Battalion, provided a most useful insight into the complexities of the
Weapons Handling
Battalion structure and functional
Day 2 quickly immersed the
the Battalion were training in their
requirements.
Clothworker team into an
Warrior armoured fighting vehicles.
infantryman’s life on active service
In addition to watching the crews
Mess Dinner
with a detailed briefing on current
firing the Warrior main armaments,
Day 1 concluded with an extremely
weaponry and equipment being used
the team were introduced to the joys
enjoyable Dinner night in honour of
in Afghanistan. This included an
of travelling in the back of the
the Clothworker visit attended by all
introduction to weapon handling in
vehicle. Anyone suffering from
the officers on station dressed in their
the high tech simulated rifle range,
claustrophobia would struggle with
traditional red Mess Kit. The evening
where Richard Jonas excelled and
this aspect of an infantryman’s life,
was interspersed with speeches of
demonstrated his excellent shooting
particularly in the heat and battle
welcome from Lt Colonel Howieson,
prowess on the SA80 rifle!
situation in Afghanistan. This single issue brought home a little of the
Firing Ranges
reality of how vulnerable British
The final part
soldiers are to improvised explosive
of the visit
devices (IEDs) in Afghanistan.
involved a trip to the live firing ranges at Warcop where
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| THE CLOTHWORKER | Summer 2012
Collections and Exhibitions
Bookbinding We have acquired new display cases for the Entrance Hall, purpose-built to house our growing collection of bindings. Recently completed book-bindings include:
Ann Thornton’s double volume
Derek Hood’s binding of Death in the
The leather onlays and inlays on the
binding of the Company’s Charters
Loving Cup, a thriller based on the
covers represent loving cups and
and Ordinances, printed in 1881,
fictional Baizemakers’ Company by
cyanide pills, used by the killer in the
bound in a warm orange goatskin with
Tom Girtin, inspired by the art deco
story to dispatch his victim.
tooled and punched onlays in natural
themed Entrance Hall.
skin, giving the effect of wool.
2012 – a year of celebration To celebrate the Jubilee and Cultural Olympiad, a number of important
Maker exhibition at Guildhall Art Gallery, from 22 June to 23 September. The exhibition
exhibitions are being staged in
We have arranged a private evening viewing of this
will showcase 850 years of
exhibition on 10
London’s livery company
July for the Livery.
Butcher, Baker, Candlestick
treasures and we have
If you have any
Maker We are pleased to
agreed to lend a number of
queries or would
London this summer.
our most important pieces
announce our participation in the Butcher, Baker, Candlestick
including our Master’s badge.
Royal River: Power, Pageantry and the Thames
like to attend please contact events@clothworkers.co.uk
Gold: Power & Allure – 4,500 years of gold treasures from across Britain The Goldsmiths’ Company’s free summer exhibition Gold:
© National Maritime Museum
Power & Allure – 4,500 years of gold treasures from across Britain, takes place from 1 June – 28 July. Exhibits include the 4,000 year old Westminster gold torc (necklace) and the pictured gold mouse. We are lending our loving cup by Omar Ramsden, presented to the Company in 1928 by Sir William Edgar Horne, Master 1916-1917. www. thegoldsmiths.co.uk/ exhibitions-promotions/
We have lent our silver-gilt bargemaster’s badge by Henry Green, 1787 to the National Maritime Museum for their exhibition: Royal River: Power, Pageantry and the Thames, which runs until 9 September. The Master joined other Livery Company Masters at the opening. To find out more please visit www.rmg.co.uk/visit/ events/royal-river
Summer 2012 | THE CLOTHWORKER |
11
Our History
The Company’s Wealth This article describes some of the principal sources of the Company’s wealth, focusing on the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the period of greatest benevolence in our history. It draws on research commissioned by the Company from Dr Annaleigh Margey of
William Gardiner’s bequest
the Centre for Metropolitan History, part of the Institute of
Post Reformation
activity, and was channelled away
Historical Research at The
In the post-Reformation era the
from religious institutions towards
University of London.
nature of charity changed. Obits
secular bodies which were considered
were no longer permitted, but
to be secure and stable custodians at
Although the Company’s trade
memorialisation of benefactors
a time of religious turmoil.
activity in cloth finishing did
continued.
Many benefactors entrusted their
generate income, bequests provided
For example, in 1540 Oliver
money and properties to Livery
its prosperity. In the early days, such
Claymond, a former Master of The
Companies, with the income being
gifts generally came with conditions
Clothworkers’ Company, left several
distributed to charity. The donors
attached, and the surpluses arising
properties to the Company in Mark
would give specific instructions on
having met these requirements
Lane, Cornhill, Abchurch Lane and
how the rental income or money
contributed to the creation of much
St Nicholas Lane, requesting that the
should be distributed; these included
of the Company's wealth over the
Company fund a paschal light
upkeep of the property, payment of
centuries.
(candle) and 24 torches in the parish
annuities and endowments, charitable
church of All Hallows Staining in his
purposes and entertainment.
Pre Reformation
name.
The Companies were well rewarded
Before the Reformation in the early
Charity also became a more secular
for administering these bequests,
sixteenth century, and reflecting Catholic theological teaching, benefactors often made charitable donations for godly pursuits and for the salvation of their souls, and would stipulate that sermons or masses (obits) be given in their name. One such donor was William Gardiner, the earliest benefactor of property to the Company. In 1480 he bequeathed his property at Haywharf Lane (near Thames Street) to The Fullers’ Company. He left instructions that rental income be used for obits and masses in the Friary of St Augustine and the parish church of All Hallows, with the Company retaining any surpluses. Similarly James Finch, a wealthy merchant Shearman, in 1508 left a property, also in Haywharf Lane, to the Company in the expectation that a trust would be established to fund a Doctor of Divinity at Whittington College.
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19th Century Bishopsgate, City of London
Our History
firmly rejected. It is not known
with money granted to the Court for personal use and dinners.
whether these accomodations
Further, since distributions were
resulted in a positive return to the Company, but the amounts
generally fixed in amount, as
were unlikely to have been
income grew with rent increases
significant.
etc, surpluses would accrue to the
The Company also benefitted from
Company. Over time, this became a significant source of funds for
gifts of silver (see left); over the 150
Companies such as the Clothworkers’.
year period it received 51 bequests of plate. Few of these pieces survive today.
Benefactors and Property The cloth finishing trade which the
recipient of many smaller donations.
Company regulated did provide some
In the 150 years following the
Importance of Property
funds through quarterage and fines;
formation of The Clothworkers’
The Court Orders and other
however, it was property and
Company, the Court Orders record
documents in our archive contain an
monetary bequests which generated
over 120 monetary bequests and
impressive level of detail on bequests
much of the Company’s wealth, for
donations.
and gifts received over the centuries.
both its own use and charitable
Often there were conditions attach-
From these records, it is safe to
purposes.
ed, or the gifts were in recognition of
conclude that the most significant
Over a two hundred year period
services rendered by the Company.
source of prosperity was from
ending in 1688, 37 benefactors
A common occurrence was a
bequests of property. Although these
entrusted properties in over 40
payment in return for an individual’s
were generally made with specific
locations to the Company. The
body being accompanied to their
conditions attached (in the main
majority came to the Company by
burial by the Master and Wardens;
charitable), the distributions required
way of legacies and comprised
some members also left money for a
were fixed sums and the Company
mostly properties in the City of
dinner or entertainment at the Hall
benefitted from any surplus rental
London, with particular
following the funeral.
income. In some cases, the charitable
concentrations on Fenchurch Street,
Sums were also left to the Company
benefactions were increased to take
Billiter Lane and Upper Thames Street.
for its own purposes, including
account of this discrepancy. In others,
It was these property bequests which
maintenance of the organisation and
the Company kept the residue and we
seem to have created the most
for distribution at the discretion of
are aware of at least three instances
significant wealth for the Company.
the Master and Wardens.
in the late nineteenth century where
Of the 37 benefactors, 31 were
Members would seek to negotiate
the Company’s practice was criticised
Clothworkers, members of our
annuity arrangements with the
– in relation to the Hobby, Heron and
predecessor Companies or related to
Company, paying a capital sum in
Lese trusts – and two of these
members. The remainder were
exchange for receipt of an annual
resulted in Court cases.
members of other Companies or with
income. Again, this reflected a faith
Property rents and growth in the
no particular affiliation at all. Further,
and trust in the Company’s stability
capital value of our freehold sites
the majority of the Clothworker
and integrity. In 1652, Thomas
continue to be important to the
benefactors made their fortunes not
Galliely offered the Company £300 (c
Company, although the proportion of
from cloth finishing, but by trading
£22,500 today) in exchange for an
our assets in real estate is much lower
as merchants in cloth and other
annual payment of up to £24 to him,
than in the past. Our strategy is to
goods within the City and overseas.
his wife and daughter. The Company
seek to increase our land holdings
would presumably have taken a view
when a lease regearing and
Monetary Bequests
on the individual’s longevity in
redevelopment occur, and the most
Other sources of income received by
agreeing such an arrangement.
recent example of such a transaction
the Company included donations to
Indeed, in some instances, it resisted
is described on page 14. Prudent
establish loan schemes for young
requests if the terms were
management of our property
Clothworkers, or to provide poor
considered unfavourable. In 1610, Sir
portfolio should ensure that it
relief within nominated parishes or
Christopher Parkins offered the Com-
continues to represent an important
to specific groups.
pany £1,500 (c £146,000 today) if they
element in the Company’s wealth in
In addition, the Company was the
would pay him £150 a year – this was
the future.
Summer 2012 | THE CLOTHWORKER |
13
Our History
8 – 10 Moorgate At the end of 2011, the Company entered into a significant transaction on a site at 8 – 10 Moorgate. Part of the site had been bequeathed to The Clothworkers’ Company in 1580. Bequest Formerly land owned by Rewley Abbey, a Cistercian House in Oxford, property on Bell or Gough’s Alley in
1612 plan of EC2 properties given by William Lambe, pictured left
the parish of St Stephen Coleman
£2 19s 6d per annum
By the nineteenth century, the Bell
Street was left to the
(a modern day
Alley properties were known as 8-10
Company by William
equivalent would be
Telegraph Street. This freehold now
Lambe, Master 1569-
£440). However,
forms part of the northern boundary
70, along with much
property
of the current redevelopment of 8-10
other property in the
improvements and
Moorgate which will offer expanded
City and beyond, upon his death in
inflation enabled the Company to
office and retail, and residential
1580. By 1612, when Ralph Treswell
derive added value from their hold-
space, but will retain the existing
surveyed the Company’s portfolio, the
ings over time: in 1645
Moorgate façade of the
Moorgate Property comprised three
the Company levied a
building. The
tenancies, the largest with three
£100 (c £8,000) fine for a
redevelopment is
storeys, a cellar and a garret. There
new building lease and
scheduled for
was also a large garden and three
by 1649, rents had
completion in 2014.
communal privies in a shared yard.
risen to over six times
As a result of this
When this and two other properties
their original figure to
redevelopment, we have
in the same parish were bequeathed
£19 (£1,530) per
increased our freehold
by Lambe, their collective rents were
annum for example.
interest four fold, and once the development is fully let, the property is expected to generate some £500,000 in rental income each year, compared to the £10,000 at present. This is a good example of how ancient bequests have contributed to The Company’s wealth and continue to do so.
Artist’s impression of 8-10 Moorgate
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Textiles
Clothworkers’ prize winner’s designs featured by Marks & Spencer The designs of Toni Lake, recipient of The Cloth-
Bernat Klein samples
workers’ Company Printed Textile Design Prize at the
Visionary Textile Designer Collection
New Designers 2011 event, have been turned into clothing and bedding by national retailer
We have made a £30,000 grant to the
Marks & Spencer.
National Museums Scotland to allow them
Toni was also one of the
to catalogue and conserve the newly-
24 textile graduates
acquired archive of Bernat Klein.
selected for the Texprint
Klein was one of the most highly-regarded
programme 2011, which
textile designers of the twentieth century,
The Clothworkers’ also
producing work for leading fashion houses
supports. Texprint
such as Chanel, Dior and Yves
collaborated with Marks &
St Laurent, as well as for projects such as
Spencer to choose designs
the QE2 liner.
from one of the 24 recent
The collection includes
graduates, and turn them
garments, textile
into designs for both
samples and
clothing and furnishings.
photographs as
Toni’s designs were
well as
featured in the premium also as bedding. They were launched under the Marks & Spencer ‘Patterns of the Future’ banner during London Fashion week in February. Many congratulations to Toni.
catalogues, © Texprint
Autograph clothing range and
tapestries and press books. Our funding will allow this important archive to be made more accessible to the public. Bernat Klein ©National Museums Scotland
mohair tweed suit made for Gillian Klein Bernat Klein mohair tweed space-dyed brushed mohair and wool worsted
Summer 2012 | THE CLOTHWORKER |
15
News
New Staff Ruth Hallesy (l) has joined as PA to the Director of Finance & Administration; Melonie Blunt (c) is providing maternity cover in the Finance Department; and Abby Wright-Parkes (r) is our new Membership Communication Officer. Steve White is taking over from Penny Spencer as Director of Finance & Administration. He will join the Company in the summer, when he leaves his current role as Bursar of Royal Grammar School, Guildford. Steve spent most of his career in the Royal Navy in a variety of logistics roles.
New Company Tie We have designed a new Company tie which is available for purchase. Please
The Clothworker | Design by Chris Monk | Printing by Trident Printing | www.tridentprinting.co.uk
send a cheque for £16 (which includes
Just Married!
£2.50 postage) made payable to
Congratulations to Samantha Grimmett, Grants Officer, who
Ramteazle Ltd to
recently married Daniel Batt. She is
The Clothworkers’
now Samantha Grimmett Batt. They
Company, Dunster
had a small wedding in Burgess Hill,
Court, Mincing Lane, London
followed by a party for 120 guests.
EC3R 7AH. Please
On behalf of the all the Company we
include your postal
wish them a long and happy
address, so we can
marriage.
despatch your tie to you. We always welcome stories from members. Please contact our Membership Communications Officer abbywrightparkes@clothworkers.co.uk with your story ideas.
Dates for Your Diary Wednesday 13 June
Monday 1 October
Annual Meeting of Livery and
Election of Lord Mayor and Livery
Election Dinner
Lunch
Friday 15 and Saturday 16 June
Wednesday 3 October
Great Twelve Sailing Challenge,
Court and Livery Dinner
Seaview, Isle of Wight Wed 5 December Monday 18 June
Court and Livery Dinner
Young Freedom Reception Thursday 20 December Monday 25 June Election of Sheriffs and Livery Lunch
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St Thomas Eve and Freedom Lunch