Clothworker 13 by The Clothworkers' Company

Clothworker Autumn 2015 â&#x20AC;˘ No 13

The

www.clothworkers.co.uk

Master’s Welcome It is an enormous privilege to be

Fund and grants. Promoting

elected your 496th Master. As a third

innovation, textile related skills and

generation Clothworker, I follow in

manufacturing capability has been at

the footsteps of my father Hugh,

the heart of our involvement since

Master 1973, and my maternal great

1874; and is now helping to revitalise

grandfather Richard Adam Ellis,

those parts of the industry with high

Master 1936. The election of my son

value added potential.

William to the Livery brings a fourth generation into play but that still

Trusteeship and the Civic City

makes our family relative

The number of Clothworkers

newcomers to the fold!

becoming trustees continues to

Front cover: Carving of Apollo, detail from fireplace in Drawing Room, Clothworkers’Hall

increase and I am keen to encourage The year ahead

all those who can find the time to use

The stewardship of property and

their knowledge and experience to

investment assets is fundamental to

serve the community in trustee capacities.

the future of our charitable giving. As

Service Affiliations

the Lord Mayor observed upon taking

Coming from a family with strong

office in 2014 “if you do not make

ties to the Royal Navy through my

I am also keen to encourage a fuller

it…you cannot give it away!” At

father, a WW2 submarine

understanding within the Clothworker

Clothworkers, we nurture our assets

commander and my grandfather

family of the workings of the

carefully with the aim of preserving

Chief of the Submarine Service and

Corporation of London and its elected

their real value over time – a field I

Fourth Sea Lord, I am keen to develop

offices. We have a leadership role as a

have taken a close interest in through

our links with all our service

Great XII Livery Company that

chairmanship of the Finance and

affiliations. To that end, I am

requires those coming up through

Property committees over the period

delighted that Admiral Sir James

our ranks to appreciate the traditions

2010-14. The year ahead opens with a

Burnell-Nugent, a former Second Sea

that enable Clothworkers to serve

review of our investment strategy

Lord, has agreed to speak at our

this most ancient of Local Authorities.

and John Wake is taking this

December dinner. HMS Dauntless’s

important work forward.

overseas commitments have meant

Salvete and Valete

that we have not seen as much of her

I extend a warm welcome to Jocelyn

To underline the importance of this

in 2014-15 as we would have liked

Stuart-Grumbar who took up office

area, I am delighted that Lord Smith

and hopefully we will be able to make

on 1 August 2015. He joins us with a

of Kelvin, Chairman of the Green

up for this in 2015-16.

wealth of commercial and

Investment Bank has agreed to speak

managerial experience that can be

at the October dinner and, as a

Architecture

readily applied to both the asset

member of the bank’s initial Advisory

New buildings spring up in the City in

management and grant-giving sides

Group, it will be a particular pleasure

all shapes and sizes. Hardly a year

of the Group’s expanding business.

for me to welcome him to the Hall.

passes without a new adornment on

I look forward to us working together:

the skyline. To help us take an

two new boys in our respective roles!

The Foundation

informed interest in structures

To our retiring Clerk, I extend thanks

Michael Howell took an active interest

appearing all around us, I am

for fourteen years of energetic service

in the field of impact investing and

delighted that Brian Waters,

during which time the Company’s

venture philanthropy and I am keen

Chairman of the London Planning &

fortunes have prospered greatly.

that we continue to explore these

Development Forum and a Past

trends. The forthcoming review of the

Master of the Worshipful Company of

Tamara and I are embracing this year

Foundation’s grant giving under

Chartered Architects, has agreed to

with enthusiasm. I look forward to

Michael Jarvis’s chairmanship provides

speak at the March 2016 dinner. Let’s

hearing from any of you during the

an appropriate moment to research

hear it from an architect!

course of the year and can be reached at master2015@

new areas and, given the need to keep abreast of such developments, I am

Support for the Textile industry

clothworkers.co.uk. Your involvement

delighted that Patrick Crawford, Chief

and innovation

is essential to the vitality of the

Executive of Charity Bank, has agreed

I am greatly encouraged by research

Company.

to speak at the July dinner in 2016.

work the Company supports at Leeds

Melville Haggard

University through the Innovation

Master

2 | THE CLOTHWORKER | Autumn 2015

St Thomas’ Eve carol I have commissioned a carol to be sung at the St Thomas’ Eve service in December. The inspiration came from a desire to draw together three entities of importance to me: The Clothworkers’ Company, St Olave’s Church and my alma mater, St John’s College, Cambridge. Music and a text seemed to be the best medium to achieve this – a flux that solders three strands. Inspiration is one thing;

to be told: a celebration of the

implementation is quite another! It

work of St Thomas the Apostle

soon became clear that the starting

in southern India and the

point for the project was a text

Clothworkers’ tradition of

followed by a score – not the other

alms giving at Christmas time.

way around. Through Andrew Nethsingha, Director of Music at St

In less than six weeks Father

John’s, I was put in touch with Jamie

Hugh composed eight scholarly

Burton, a former music scholar and

verses in iambic tetrameters,

We are almost there! The carol will

composer. Who then could help

complete with an English translation.

be sung at the Clothworkers’ carol

procure a text?

A few days later, I received an

service in December and again at the

apologetic note saying that, in his

Epiphany service at St John’s College,

Through the encyclopaedic reach of

haste, he had included a double

Cambridge.

Father Antony Alexander in London,

accusative in the final stanza and

Melville Haggard

I was put in touch with Father Hugh

that a replacement was on its way.

Master

Barbour, Prior of St Michael’s Abbey,

A final text now awaits a score, due

Orange County, California to whom

from Jamie in September.

I explained the essence of the story Lord

Civic City

Mountevans

Alderman Charles

Dr Christine

Bowman

Rigden

Lord Mayor

Sheriffs

On 29 September Alderman The

On 24 June 2015 at Common Hall,

Dr Christine Rigden

Lord Mountevans is expected to be

Alderman Charles Bowman and

A former university lecturer and

elected Lord Mayor for 2015-16.

Dr Christine Rigden were elected

consulting engineering geologist,

Sheriffs for 2015-16.

Christine also has a portfolio of

Lord Mountevans is director of gas

public and voluntary positions

chartering at Clarkson plc and a

Charles Bowman

outside the City. She is a Past Master

member of the Baltic Exchange. He is

Charles has over 30 years of business

of the Constructors’ Company, a

a past Prime Warden of the

experience with PwC. He is a

Liveryman of the Masons’ and Tylers’

Shipwrights’ Company and also

member of the Grocers’ Company

and Bricklayers’ Companies, and a

a Liveryman of the Goldsmiths’

and of the Chartered Accountants’

Freeman of the Educators’ Company.

and World Traders’ Companies.

Company and was elected Alderman of Lime Street in 2013.

Autumn 2015 | THE CLOTHWORKER | 3

New Members Freedom

Kate Bain Daughter of Lord Howell of Guildford, Liveryman retired to Freedom. Kate works as a Parish Clerk for a number of Parishes across West Sussex and runs a small secretarial business. She enjoys travel, food, charitable work and the local community.

David Brown Son of William Walter Brown, Liveryman, and great grandson of Walter Pothecary, Clerk 19331950 and Master 1952-53. David recently graduated from Oxford with an MEng in Engineering Science. He is interested in agriculture and also enjoys sport, particularly rugby and squash.

Venetia Foster Daughter of Neil Foster, Master 2009-10. Venetia is a student at Exeter University reading French. She spent the past year working in Paris and has just returned to Exeter for her final year. Her interests include horseriding, tennis, travel, skiing and French culture.

4 | THE CLOTHWORKER | Autumn 2015

Letty Butler Daughter of Philippa Howell, Freewoman. After graduating from the University of Leeds, Letty attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and now works as a selfemployed actress. Her other interests include theatre, film, cookery, yoga, walking, running and writing.

Nicholas Gibbs Grandson of Colonel Arthur Howard Eckford Howell, Liveryman. Nicholas was educated at Harrow School and went on to study at Grenoble University in France. He is an artist and historian and his interests include archaeology, history, genealogy and bibliography.

Jennifer Deighton Daughter of Susan Ann Deighton (nĂŠe Nicholls), Freewoman, and granddaughter of Denise Mary Nicholls (nĂŠe Weldon), Freewoman. Jennifer is a local government Senior Administrative Assistant. Her interests include baking and photography.

Louisa Guyon Daughter of David Guyon, Liveryman. Louisa recently graduated from Pembroke College, Cambridge. Her interests include badminton and photography.

Terrence Harvey Grandson of Thomas William Harvey, Freeman. The family connection began in 1759 when George Harvey was made Free by Servitude. Terry is a Civil Servant and in his spare time a football referee.

Andrew Howell Son of Michael Howell, Master 2014-15. Andrew is a tennis professional, living and working in the US, and in his spare time enjoys travel, sport, film, music, theatre and cuisine.

Anna Howell Daughter of Michael Howell, Master 2014-15. Anna is a self-employed beautician and currently a student at The London Music School.

Bruce Kirkpatrick Grandson of Evelyn Michael Thomas Howell, Liveryman. Bruce lives with his family in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. He is a real estate broker and in his spare time enjoys sporting, parenting and travelling.

Scott Kirkpatrick Grandson of Evelyn Michael Thomas Howell, Liveryman. Scott lives with his family in Jackson, Wyoming. He is a Financier at Teton Capital Advisors and in his spare time enjoys skiing, biking and travelling.

Chris Mastin Son of Brian Mastin, Freeman, and grandson of Ivy Clara Mastin (nĂŠe Martin), Freewoman. Chris is a Company Director and runs his own business in hotel representation. In his spare time he enjoys travel, rugby, cricket, football and wine.

Josh Mastin Son of Brian Mastin, Freeman, and grandson of Ivy Clara Mastin (nĂŠe Martin), Freewoman. Josh is an IT Business Analyst with Legal & General Investment Management. He enjoys football, cricket and family activities.

Autumn 2015 | THE CLOTHWORKER | 5

John Portal Son of Sir Jonathan Portal Bt and grandson of Sir Francis Spencer Portal Bt, Master 197071. Having recently graduated from Exeter University with a degree in Philosophy and Economics, John will be starting a graduate traineeship at Aon, the global insurance company. His interests include football, music and enterprise.

William Strang Son of Miranda Strang (nĂŠe Francis), Freewoman, and Andrew Strang, Liveryman. William graduated from Exeter University with a degree in Geography and went on to do a Masters in Real Estate at Reading. He is a

Caroline Powney Daughter of Evelyn Michael Thomas Howell, Liveryman. Caroline works as a Policy Officer for Cumbria County Council. In her spare time she serves as a Special Constable with Cumbria Constabulary.

Eliane Spiess Daughter of Susan Elizabeth Spiess, Freewoman. Eliane lives in Switzerland and works as a physiotherapist. She enjoys outdoor activities including mountaineering, rock climbing and ski-touring and travels extensively.

Tina Spiess Daughter of Susan Elizabeth Spiess, Freewoman. Tina lives in Switzerland and works as Group Controller at Staubli International AG. In her spare time she enjoys mountain biking and running.

Honorary Assistant

Surveyor with Strutt & Parker. He regularly plays tennis, golf and squash and also enjoys skiing, sailing and cycling.

Jocelyn Stuart-Grumbar

Andrew Blessley

Having retired at the end of July after 14 years as Clerk, Andrew Blessley has been made an Honorary Assistant. His successor, Jocelyn Stuart-Grumbar, officially took the helm on 1 August. 6 | THE CLOTHWORKER | Autumn 2015

New Designers 2015 The winner of this year’s New Designers Clothworkers’ Associate Prize in Printed Textiles is Emma McCluskey with her work ‘Unnatural Botanicals’. Emma graduated this year from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, Dundee University, with a First Class Honours Degree in Textile Design.

Past Master Christopher McLean May, Liveryman Scarlet Oliver and Honorary Liveryman Adrian Brook judged the entries and presented Emma with the award.

beautiful hand-

collection has excellent use of colour

They commented that

drawn floral

and scale.” Emma will be presented

“Emma was inspired by

designs which were

with a cheque for the £1,000 prize at

the Botanical Gardens of

then developed on

our Alumni Dinner to be held in

Dundee; she showed

the computer. Her

September.

Past success Emily May, winner of the New

Pentland Brands design pool. There

and for the never-ending excitement of

Designers Printed Textiles award in

she has worked on projects with Red

where it might lead to next.”

2014 recently wrote to us with an

or Dead and Ellesse, done artwork for

update on her activities over the

KangaROOs footwear, designed prints

It is always gratifying to hear that our

past year.

for Speedo, produced drawings for

support has made a difference to

Lacoste magazine and most recently

people at an early stage of their career.

Whilst at university she had

designed illustrations for the Pentland

struggled with wanting to be an

stand at New Designers 2015!

individual and for her work to have a

Emily May’s Churchill

narrative. With little self-confidence,

In addition she set herself a project to

and having been told by her tutor at

produce a new print

Falmouth University “not to get her

or illustration every

hopes up”, she exhibited at New

day for a year and

Designers last year and on the first

shares her progress

day “was so overwhelmed by the

online at

amazing standard of work and so

http://www.

worried that mine was so very different”.

artsthread.com/

scarf design

profile/emily-may/. To be awarded the Clothworkers’ prize for Printed Textiles was

Emily concludes:

therefore a real confidence booster,

“being given the

so much so that Emily went on to

Clothworkers’ Award

enter The Winston Churchill Design

taught me that I

Competition with a silk scarf design.

should never be afraid to be myself, that

“I was lucky enough to be shortlisted and

being capable of

was invited to the awards dinner where I

incredible things is

met Boris Johnson, Robert Hardy, Julian

easy when you have

Fellows, and Churchill’s grandchildren.”

the strength to believe in yourself. Thank you

Emily won second prize and was

for starting this

subsequently offered a job on

amazing journey,

Autumn 2015 | THE CLOTHWORKER | 7

City and Guilds The City & Guilds of London Institute was formed in 1878 by sixteen Livery Companies, including the Clothworkers. Over the years, we have maintained a close relationship with the Institute, now the leading skills development organisation worldwide. Several Clothworkers have chaired the charity, Michael Howell being the most recent, and we have a nominated representative on the Council, Geoffrey Gestetner, Liveryman. The Foundation provided grants to

conservation, which has been an

the Institute over many years, but

area of focus for the Foundation for

The Art School is the principal

both parties agreed a few years ago

some seven years. To date, we have

provider of education in stone and

that, as a business with annual

provided £30,000 and supported 13

wood conservation in the UK.

turnover well in excess of £100m, it

young conservators in their studies.

Students taking the BA in Conservation

no longer needed charitable support.

Studies course develop a practical understanding of the materials,

Accordingly, in 2008 we agreed that

working alongside art students, as

we would make an annual grant to

well as learning chemistry and

the Institute which it would then

material science aspects.

match and pass to the independent City & Guilds of London Art School

We have recently agreed a further

to be distributed as bursaries to

grant of £35,000 to continue our

students in conservation.

bursary support at the Art School over the next five years, with a

This mechanism allows us to

matching sum to be provided by the

maintain the link with City &

Institute, thereby allowing us to

Guilds, and leverage their support

continue the 137 year connection.

to provide funding for

On the Frontline In May 2013, I joined a small group of enthusiastic pioneers entering into the

In year one we received 17 applications

shifting landscape of children’s social work. Frontline is a new charity with a bold

to every place and over 20% of the

mission – to transform the lives of vulnerable children by recruiting and developing

intake were Oxbridge graduates

outstanding individuals to be leaders in social work and broader society.

(70% Russell Group). In ten months the 101 individuals have worked with

Only six percent of children in care

process, these high calibre individuals

over 800 families and have been

make it to university and a quarter of

have started an innovative, two-year,

positively received in local

the adult prison population were in

on-the-job, supervised training

authorities. The heart-warming

care at some point in their lives. In

programme, working in local

stories are growing and the road is

short, if your family circumstances

authorities across Greater London

paved for the next 124 brilliant

are challenging and you are a child in

and Greater Manchester.

participants who have just started.

need, the odds are against you. The most important guardian is the corporate guardian; the State. A responsible adult. A social worker. As Frontline’s Recruitment Director and working alongside social work professionals and colleagues, we have started to challenge perceptions of social work and attracted a diverse group of graduates and career changers. After a rigorous selection

8 | THE CLOTHWORKER | Autumn 2015

Trusteeship Leadership Programme We have teamed up with Cause4, a social enterprise which provides developmental support to charities, and Close Brothers, the leading merchant bank, to run a programme which delivers trustee training and a charity matching service for people interested in taking on a role. It consists of five inspiring evening

London from 6.30pm to 8.30pm over

modules covering different aspects of

a ten week period. Each session

being a trustee. Its aim is for

includes Q & As and networking

participants to be ‘board ready’ by

opportunities, and the presenters are

the end of the programme, at which

leading figures in the sector, including

point they meet a number of

Sir Vernon Ellis, Sir Tom Hughes-

charities looking to recruit trustees.

Hallett and Elizabeth Rantzen.

The programme has been piloted

There is a series running from

of participants from general

successfully over the past eighteen

September to November, to which a

professions and financial services.

months and of the cohort who

number of Clothworkers have been

completed their training in June, ten

invited. This cohort includes a number

Places are limited, but any member

have already secured trustee roles.

of people from the Civil Service.

who would like details of the upcoming series should contact

The five modules are delivered at

The next series will start in January

Katie Tapponnier at

Close Brothers’ offices in the City of

and is expected to include a number

katietapponnier@clothworkers.co.uk.

However we cannot rest on our

Governance Awards

laurels –

Katie Purser

there are

As part of the Company’s commitment to

Trusteeship, we will be mounting an annual

children to

awards event at the Hall next spring to

support, more locations to work in

celebrate good charity governance. This is a

and more outstanding individuals

joint initiative in conjunction with Prospectus,

needed to develop and lead in one of

New Philanthropy Capital and Reach.

Britain’s toughest yet most rewarding careers.

The event will be held on 12 May 2016 and will Katie Purser, Liveryman

take the form of an evening drinks reception. There will be a number of award categories and full details of these, together with the procedure

Katie is the granddaughter of

and opening date for nominations, will be

Betty Brown, Freewoman, who

announced in due course.

sadly passed away in July at the age of 94. A former hospital almoner, Betty was particularly interested in Katie’s role in social work.

Autumn 2015 | THE CLOTHWORKER | 9

Notable Clothworker Angela Burdett-Coutts

Company. She would later go on

Dame Angela Burdett-Coutts was

to present new church bells to the

Angela Burdett-Coutts

a renowned nineteenth century

parish of St James’ Islington, a

philanthropist and heiress. Born

Clothworker church. George

Angela Georgina Burdett in 1814,

Peabody and Sir Sydney Waterlow,

she was the daughter of Sir

both of whom also pioneered

Francis Burdett Bt and Sophia

similar social housing schemes,

Coutts, and the granddaughter of

were also notable new

Thomas Coutts, founder of the

Clothworkers in this period.

banking house Coutts & Co. Burdett-Coutts received many In 1837, she inherited her

offers of marriage, on account of

grandfather’s fortune, making her

her wealth; however, her elevated

one of the wealthiest women in

status perhaps left her somewhat

England. In recognition of this

lonely and it was she who

legacy, she changed her surname

proposed to her close friend the

to Burdett-Coutts by royal licence.

Duke of Wellington despite a significant age difference. The

Despite being a subject of public

aged Duke gently declined her

curiosity due to her wealth and

offer but in a turnaround of

status, Burdett-Coutts was no idle

affairs, Burdett-Coutts would later

heiress. She spent the majority of

go on to marry her American secretary, William Lehman

her wealth on a wide range of National Portrait Gallery

charitable and social causes,

Ashmead Bartlett (who would

notably the establishment, with her

and funding the conversion of the

take her name), some 38 years her

close friend the writer Charles

City’s oldest burial grounds into safe

junior in 1881. However, the marriage

Dickens (his novel Martin Chuzzlewit

playgrounds for children. However,

was a happy one and Bartlett later

was dedicated to her), of Urania

her activities were not limited to

became an MP.

Cottage in Shepherd’s Bush, a refuge

London or England alone. In 1880 she

for fallen young women who had

advanced £250,000 to Ireland to

Baroness Burdett-Coutts died from

‘turned to a life of immorality’. She

supply seed potatoes to

acute bronchitis in December 1906

also founded Columbia Road Market

impoverished tenants and helped

and was honoured with a burial in

in Bethnal Green, a covered food

promote the development of the Irish

Westminster Abbey. By her death it

market with 400 stalls, which opened

fishing industry. She also supported

was estimated that she had donated

in 1869. Local traders preferred

organisations helping the aboriginal

in excess of £3 million to charitable

selling their wares outdoors however

peoples of South Australia.

causes. King Edward VII is reported

and the market would close in 1886.

In recognition of her generosity,

to have described her thus: “After my

Burdett-Coutts also purchased many

Queen Victoria conferred upon her a

mother (Queen Victoria), the most

of the worst local tenement buildings

peerage in 1871 and the following

remarkable woman in the kingdom.”

in the area and erected in their stead

year, Baroness Burdett-Coutts of

Columbia Dwellings, providing clean

Highgate and

homes for 200 families with low

Brookfield in the

weekly rents. A similar scheme for

County of Middlesex

social housing was pioneered at

received the Freedom

Holly Village, in the grounds of her

of the City of London

estate in Highgate.

by presentation, the first woman to have

Other philanthropic endeavours

ever been so

included establishing a sewing

honoured. On 16 July

school for women in Spitalfields

1873, Baroness

following the decline of the silk

Burdett-Coutts was

trade; providing significant donations

presented with the

to the Ragged School Union which

Honorary Freedom of

provided schools for destitute youth

The Clothworkers’

10 | THE CLOTHWORKER | Autumn 2015

Baroness Burdett-Coutts being made a Freeman of the City

Rae Adam Ellis

War Memorial The Company recently commissioned a war memorial to honour those Clothworkers who fought and lost their lives in battle during the First and Second World Wars. The memorial has been carved in

beyond the Hindenburg Line in the

slate by the artist Lucy Haugh and

final phase of the First World War.

mounted on an oak plinth by Colin

Sadly he died of his wounds just weeks

Bowles Limited in the main entrance

before the cessation of hostilities. He

to St Olave, Hart Street, our guild

is buried at Doingt, near Peronne. His

church. It was installed in time for

father Richard Ellis, Master excused

last year’s centenary of Armistice

service 1936, had already lost his first

Day, upon which the Master, Wardens

son to enteric fever in Africa before

Clothworkers fought in the Great

and Clerk attended a short dedication

the War and it was because he had

War, an example of the huge impact

service to remember our Clothworker

no heir that he introduced his

the conflict had on those involved,

forebears who fell in battle.

grandson, Commander Hugh

their families and society as a whole.

Haggard, Master 1973 – and father of Below a fine carved and gilded

the present Master – to the Company.

The Company also recently purchased eighteen of the red

representation of the Company’s coat of arms the memorial records the

Although only the names of

ceramic poppies – one for each

names of Liverymen of the Company

Liverymen are specifically recorded,

Liveryman lost – featured in the

whose deaths in both Wars were

the memorial also honours the

Tower of London’s poignant

reported to the Court. Among those

Freemen and staff of the Company

installation ‘Blood swept lands and

recorded are Captain Rae Adam Ellis,

who gave their lives in service,

seas of red’. We intend to commission

of the 25th (Montgomeryshire and

although sadly our records do not

a specially designed wreath for

Welsh Horse Yeomanry) Battalion, who

contain a full listing of those lost. It is

permanent display in St Olave’s

was injured during the Hundred Days

believed however that at least 186

alongside the memorial, subject to

Offensive, forcing the German retreat

Clothworkers and sons of

diocesan agreement, in due course.

Wardens chits The Company has recently digitised its series of eighteenth century Wardens’

https://www.flickr.com/photos/

Chits. The Wardens’ Chits (or Bills) are an extensive and fascinating series of

130787746@N02/albums and we plan

itemised invoices and receipts documenting the Company’s expenditure on

to make further updates each month.

charity, building and refurbishment work on the Hall, work undertaken by artists and craftsmen, and services and supplies provided by carpenters,

A small group of dedicated volunteers

silversmiths and gardeners to name but a few, over a vast swathe of the

from the membership have kindly

Clothworkers’ history. There are also a number of rare ephemeral survivals

given their time to help begin

such as early trade cards and engraved bill heads.

transcribing some of the Chits; however, we wish to grow our pool of

The Chits have considerable research

largely untouched due to the extent

potential but have up to now been

(in excess of 50,000 items) and

five minutes every week or two to help

uncatalogued nature of the series.

us, and wish to gain some hands-on

Through digitisation we hope to

experience of transcribing historical

make them accessible to a wider

documents, please get in touch with

audience and prompt new lines of

the Archivist for instructions

historical enquiry into patterns of

(jessicacollins@clothworkers.co.uk).

Citizen Archivists! If you can spare

consumption and networks of supply over a period of great social change

Any assistance you can give us will

for example.

help open up this important series of records and help develop our

We are very pleased to announce that

understanding of and stimulate new

a selection of the digitised Chits can

research into the Company and its

now be accessed freely online at

history.

Autumn 2015 | THE CLOTHWORKER | 11

New Bookbinding We have recently taken a delivery of a new bookbinding by the well-known designer bookbinder Flora Ginn. Flora has bound a copy of Wilberforce Jenkinson’s London Churches before the Great Fire (1917) in full black goatskin with red goatskin on-laid lettering and areas of gold tooling representing floating pieces of cloth. The red and gold flame-like end

Fire, whilst the latter also includes a

papers and charcoal coloured fore-

blind tooled imprint of a teasel

edges of the book are inspired by the

representing the Company – readers

detail of fore edge with teasel imprint

will of course be aware that the third Clothworkers’ Hall was completely destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666.

Royal School of Needlework Kneelers This year the Company selected two winning designs in its annual church

The first kneeler was stitched in time

kneeler competition and commission with the Royal School of Needlework.

for the annual Pepys Commemoration Service in St Olave’s in late May, and

The RSN’s Future Tutors were asked

of the design binding of Pepys’ diaries

the second is expected this Autumn.

to design and stitch a kneeler

in the Clothworkers’ bookbinding

The Company is pleased to have

inspired by Samuel Pepys, Master of

collection and the embroidered

commissioned a total of nine kneelers

the Clothworkers for the year 1677-78 and a former parishioner of St Olave’s, Hart Street, where he is also buried. The first design was by Auburn Lucas and was inspired by the monument to Pepys and the gilded decoration of his prayer book, both found in the church. The side panels contain Pepys’ motto ‘As is the mind so is the man’ embroidered in the secret code Pepys employed for writing his diaries. The second design was by Sara-Jane Dennis and features a bold representation of the three skulls above the entrance to St Olave’s Churchyard together with depictions

12 | THE CLOTHWORKER | Autumn 2015

phrase ‘our own church’ – how Pepys fondly referred to St Olave’s.

designed and stitched by former RSN apprentices and students since the project was first conceived 10 years ago in 2005.

Dramatic Arts Members will be aware from previous editions that the Foundation has set up a five year £1.25m proactive dramatic arts programme which includes an annual £150,000 Clothworkers’ Theatre Award as well as major grants – of £180,000 each – to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and the London Academy of Music and Drama to provide bursaries for talented individuals from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to accept a place at these prestigious drama schools. Clothworkers’ Laurence Olivier

The inaugural

Bursary

Clothworkers’

It also includes a grant of £37,500

Laurence Olivier

over five years to the Society of

Bursary went to Matt

London Theatre (SOLT) to award an

Jessup from the Bristol

annual Clothworkers’ Laurence

Old Vic Theatre School

Olivier bursary of £7,500.

in June last year.

The Laurence Olivier Bursary started

Below Matt reflects on

in 1987 in honour of Lord Olivier’s

his year: “What an

80th Birthday. Olivier wanted to help

incredibly fast year since

young actors who had the potential

winning the Society of

to make a major contribution to

London Theatre Clothworkers’

British theatre; the bursary aims to

Laurence Olivier Bursary (you

help talented final year students

need an acronym, by the

facing financial difficulties in

way...)! I am pleased to

completing their studies. The

report it has been an

demands of their final year course

exhilarating, positive,

makes part-time jobs almost

exciting year and your good

impossible, which is why the bursary

faith has been rewarded as

can make such a difference.

I have relished every second of it.

Every summer, accredited drama schools are invited to submit two

Graduation for an acting student

Ultimately, I have been making sure I am

nominations for the bursary with

is full of strain – emotional and

match-fit to hit the ground running when

around 40 students subsequently

psychological mainly – but to have had

I finally leave school.

auditioning and being interviewed by

the financial strain lifted by SOLT and

a panel of theatre industry

the Clothworkers’ Bursary has been more

More than the money though, the award

professionals, including producers

than a relief. In the past year I have had

has created a community of support. I

and casting directors.

the fortune of tackling a broad range of

have met other Laurence Olivier Bursary

performance styles and techniques,

winners at auditions already, and it is an

including Shakespeare, Restoration

immediate bonding tool. It is wonderful

Comedy and gritty

to see the group of 2014 doing so well,

modern drama in

and hearing everyone’s news. The

between meeting

Clothworkers’ Foundation and SOLT have

agents, casting

been invited to see the graduation plays,

directors, producers and

and it is a strong anchor to know there is

directors – there is little

always a group wishing me to do well in

time to take it all in! I

this often insecure time. I am very

have been creating what

grateful to have the extra sense of

I hope are lifelong career

responsibility for my career that this

relationships with

award brings and for the generosity of

colleagues in theatre, film,

The Clothworkers’ Foundation.”

radio and television.

Autumn 2015 | THE CLOTHWORKER | 13

Queen Alexandra College If a picture paints a thousand words, seeing and experiencing something in person can sometimes, unexpectedly, make you speechless! This happened to me one damp, cold afternoon in January this year when I attended the Grand Opening of the Bradbury Sports Centre in Harborne, a broadly residential area of Birmingham. Background Queen Alexandra College caters for 140 children and young adults with visual impairment and/or multiple disabilities. It is one of only a number of institutions offering tertiary education and support both for local inhabitants in the Birmingham area and for residential students as well.

Table tennis was being played at the far end of the sports hall and orange traffic cones marked out the playing area for wheelchair sport. The students and their ablebodied volunteer helpers worked seemlessly together. A sense of expectation hung in the air as everyone awaited the arrival of the star attractions, England Women’s Cricketer, Tammy Beaumont, and Ateeq Javid of Warwickshire County Cricket Club, along with the West Bromwich Albion mascots. The formal opening of the Centre was followed by a skills display put on by the students.

The Clothworkers’ Foundation made a grant of £50,000 in 2004 for the creation of a new learning centre. When a further grant application was received in 2013 for a sports centre, our Archivist, Jessica Collins, visited the College and learned how dire the sports facilities were. The sports field was suitable for wheelchair users in fine weather but when the field became muddy they were forced to cancel the activity or hire a minibus to transport students to a local sports centre. Thus, during the winter months the opportunity for sporting activities was somewhat restricted.

The Grand Opening On arrival I was warmly welcomed and led past the aforementioned muddy sports field direct to the modern, wooden-clad two-storey building.

But all this has now changed! After much diligent and, at times, very innovative fundraising by staff at

Guests were asked to put on plastic shoe covers to avoid damaging the hallowed new sports floor.

the College, including the Donate a Brick Scheme which raised £20,000, together with a grant of £100,000 from The Clothworkers’ Foundation, they have a fantastic, dedicated, onsite sports hall of their own.

The future is bright Most of us take for granted the ability to let off steam in a gym or on a sports field but if you are wheelchair bound or reliant on able-bodied helpers, it takes some planning. Speaking to the students, volunteers and staff, one could not fail to be moved by the massive sense of achievement in turning their dream of a dedicated allseasons sports centre into a reality. It is nice to think that our grants are meaningful and have a real impact: I believe we achieved both these aims in this case. Everyone involved agrees that the new Bradbury Sports Centre is a clear winner! Tom Ingham Clark Assistant

14 | THE CLOTHWORKER | Autumn 2015

Obituary Alan Alfred Michael Mays-Smith Master 1997-98 Died on 21 May 2015, aged 82 Alan Mays-Smith was born on

picnics. For a time, Beefeater Gin

26 April 1933, the younger son of