Clothworker
Winter 2016-17 • No 16
The
www.clothworkers.co.uk
The Master’s Welcome
Approaching the halfway point of my year in office, I am witnessing first-hand how active both the Company and Foundation are in a number of areas. 2016 was a busy year with some particularly noteworthy developments. Property Highly apparent on the property front is the extensive reconstruction of Angel Court around its original core, which will present a wholly different face to the City when compared with its predecessor. In addition, the 120 Fenchurch Street Front cover: Scots Guards at Clothworkers’ Hall
development is moving upwards fast. It will be fascinating to witness the bulking out of this substantial building during 2017. Further information on the Clothworkers’ property portfolio is on pages 12 and 13. Investment
distinct implications for the
were no major changes to the
Foundation – also by the Trustees.
principal directions of travel, but rather continuation in an
The strategic investment review was completed by the Finance and
Grants policy
‘evolutionary’ vein. It has sought to
Investment Committee. This was
At the same time, the Foundation
build on what has been achieved,
subsequently approved by the Court
concluded the quinquennial review
including consideration of the
and – because of the separate and
of its grant-making. As in 2011, there
findings and recommendations of
2 | THE CLOTHWORKER | Winter 2016-17
external evaluations and research funded by the Foundation. The current set of proactive programmes – Better Futures, Conservation, the Dramatic Arts and Visual Impairment in developing countries – are all progressing well and, within each respective sector of activity, are raising the profile and reputation of the “Clothworker” name in a positive and benign fashion. Vocational training Discussions are ongoing with potential partners in support of initiatives in the areas of vocational education and training, including apprenticeship schemes. A number of these initiatives are being developed in harness with other Livery Companies. City connections We have been seeking closer association with the Civic City by improving our connections with other Livery Companies, the City Ward representatives, Common
to Aldershot for some members of
seasonal gesture in favour of those
Councilmen and Aldermen. Aiding
the Clothworker shooting team.
less fortunate than ourselves.
very own Common Councilmen –
Trusteeship
Appreciation
Deputy Jamie Ingham Clark and
As previously reported, we sponsored
In many other respects, the
Dhruv Patel. The former gives an
(working with partners) the first
Company and Foundation hits 2017
interesting insight into his role in the
round of Charity Governance Awards
with notable momentum. I take the
City on pages 8 and 9.
in 2016. By any measure, the project
opportunity to express my
proved a success, with favourable
tremendous admiration and thanks
Affiliations
feedback – notably from the Chief
to the dedicated and professional
Over the past twelve months, links
Executive of the Charity
team of staff who support all
have strengthened with our four
Commission. The 2017 round is now
Clothworker activities with such
Service Affiliates following the
underway.
good humour.
the Livery to provide a liaison role.
Crisis at Christmas
Michael Jarvis
There have been memorable
I am glad to report that over £2,000
Master
engagements – a visit to 47 Squadron
was raised for the charity, Crisis, at
at Brize Norton, a lunch at the Hall
the St Thomas’ Eve lunch. Many
for an eclectic group of Scots
thanks indeed to all who supported
Guardsmen, followed swiftly by a trip
our wish to make a communal and
our efforts in this area are our two
introduction to each of a member of
Winter 2016-17 | THE CLOTHWORKER | 3
Peter Luttman-Johnson (1919 – 2016)
4 | THE CLOTHWORKER | Winter 2016-17
Obituary Peter Michell Luttman-Johnson was born in London in November 1919, the
Master and Assistant Emeritus.
eldest of three children. Two years later a brother, Giles, was born, but died in
Peter greatly enjoyed the
infancy. There followed, six years later, the arrival of Jenifer (subsequently
Clothworkers, and made many
Coombe-Tennant). The family lived in London and in Sussex.
friends there. It has been suggested that he was the longest serving
Peter was educated at Winchester,
officer, helping German refugees and
Liveryman in the Company’s history,
following in the footsteps of several
displaced persons.
and his tenure is unlikely to ever be exceeded.
generations before him. In 1938 he went up to Trinity College, Oxford,
After the War, he went into the City
where he read Modern Greats. When
of London. Following a short training
He was a District Councillor in
war broke out, he enlisted, and was
stint with Durlachers, a stock jobbing
Chichester until 1991. During this
at Trinity for only four terms before
firm, he joined Allen, Harvey and
time he also served on the Courts of
being called up. He was nonetheless
Ross, a discount house, where his
the Universities of Sussex and
awarded an MA, Oxford having
father was a partner and director,
Southampton, was governor of a
decided that joining up merited the
and where he also subsequently
number of schools and served as
award of a degree.
became a director.
High Sheriff of West Sussex in
On completion of his officer training,
He joined Princess Louise’s
he joined the 15/19 Hussars (his
Kensington Regiment, a Territorial
In 1961, Peter married Barbara
father having served in the 19th
Army Regiment into which Phantom
Sclater-Booth with whom he had
during the Great War). The 15/19 had
had been amalgamated after the
three children; Anne in 1962, William
suffered such losses in the retreat
War. He subsequently commanded
in 1963 and Catherine in 1966. After
from France that the Regiment
the Regiment, retiring in the early
Barbara’s death in September 2000,
existed in little more than name, and
1960s, having reached the rank of
he married Anna Rice, and gained a
for several years he was engaged in
Lieutenant Colonel.
step-daughter. His first grandchild,
1978-1979.
Eleanor, was born in 1999. She was
various training and staff jobs around England. He finally found a
At the age of 21 Peter was elected as
followed by four grandsons, two step-
role in an organisation called 3 GHQ
a Liveryman of The Clothworkers’
grandsons and a step-granddaughter.
Regiment, or Phantom. He crossed
Company, with which his mother’s
the Channel after D-Day and spent
family, the Hornes, had been
Peter died on 1 October while on
the rest of the War in Europe
connected for many years. He was
holiday in Spain; after a good lunch,
attached to the American Army. After
elected Warden in 1974, served as
beside his beloved wife, and in the
VE day he remained for some
Master in 1985 and thereafter
most peaceful fashion that he so
months in Germany as a serving
remained on the Court as a Past
richly deserved.
Deaths We regret to announce the recent deaths of: Gwendoline Harley, Freewoman Ann Hutchins, Freewoman Alison Davis, Freewoman Michael Darton, Freeman
Winter 2016-17 | THE CLOTHWORKER | 5
New Freemen
Elsie Houston
Emily Jenkins
Sarah Jenkins
A 3rd generation Clothworker, Elsie
Twin sisters, Emily and Sarah, are 5th generation Clothworkers and the
is the daughter of Liveryman,
daughters of Colin Jenkins, Freeman. The family connection dates back to
Charlie Houston. Her grandfather,
1871 when James Charles Harley was apprenticed to Benjamin Deffee, a fish
A William Houston, is also a
salesman. He was subsequently made Free by Servitude in 1878.
Liveryman of the Company, having been made free by Redemption in
Emily is in her third and final year at the University of Newcastle where she is
1961.
reading History. In her spare time, she enjoys rugby and travelling, and is also interested in current affairs.
Elsie is at Exeter University studying International Relations, and has a
Sarah is in her third year of Medical School at the University of East Anglia.
particular interest in women’s rights
In her spare time, she enjoys running, travel and film.
in the MENA region. In her spare time, she enjoys art, skiing, shooting, business and travel.
Oliver Jones Oliver is a 4th Generation
Oliver is currently at Sheffield
Clothworker. He is the son of Robert
Hallam University studying for a
Jones, Liveryman, and grandson of
Masters in Aerospace Engineering.
Richard Jones, Master 2002-2003.
In his spare time he enjoys flying,
The family connection goes back to
scuba diving and skiing.
1927 when Sir Henry Frank Harding Jones (Master 1972) was made Free by Redemption.
6 | THE CLOTHWORKER | Winter 2016-17
Affiliations 47 Squadron
both F Company and 1st Battalion,
During a busy year
the former taking time out from
of Centenary
ceremonial duties at Wellington
Celebrations,
Barracks, and the latter from training
47 Squadron found
in their role as armoured infantry.
time to host a group
It was a most convivial occasion,
of Clothworkers on
clearly enjoyed by the guardsmen
a visit to Brize
and their partners.
Norton. Perfect weather meant the highlight for most was a
There followed an invitation for members of the Clothworker
Relations with our Service Affiliates
flight in a Hercules. Despite his best
shooting team to visit them in
continue to flourish.
efforts, the Master was not, however,
Aldershot. The team were to witness
permitted to take the controls!
some of the gruelling training the soldiers must undergo, have lunch
Following the successful model of Assistant, Tom Ingham Clark,
Scots Guards
with the Regimental Colonel (and
working with the Scots Guards in a
In November, we were delighted to
Clothworker), HRH The Duke of Kent,
liaison role, we have recently
welcome a large contingent of Scots
and visit the indoor range for a bit of
appointed three Liverymen to assist
Guards to lunch at the Hall. Our
rapid fire.
in the same way with our other
guests included representatives from
Affiliates – Andrew Yonge with HMS Dauntless, Hugh Shuttleworth with 47 Squadron and Amy McVittie with the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry. Andrew and Hugh have already made visits to Dauntless and Brize Norton respectively, and Amy is keen to get started. There are currently a number of initiatives and events under discussion, details of which will emerge over the coming months. In the meantime, there follows a brief report on some recent highlights.
Winter 2016-17 | THE CLOTHWORKER | 7
Civic City Avid readers of Clothworker publications will have noticed in recent editions
All of this does, of course, take time.
an increased focus on the Civic City. On this note, I have been asked to write
Committee meetings are usually
something of my experience as a Common Councilman, since my election in
held either side of lunch but, in
2013.
accordance with Standing Orders, no meeting can last more than two
Firstly, I think it helps to understand
includes the nominees of businesses
hours (I have often tried to bring
the franchise, and the eligibility
in the City. This makes the Court of
this into effect in other
criteria. The Court of Common
Common Council unique; it not only
organisations I work with!).
Council is the City of London’s
provides all the usual services of a
primary decision-making body. It is
local authority, but also endows the
As a local authority, the City
made up of 100 Councilmen
Mayoralty in its financial services
Corporation requires the employers
representing the 25 City Wards (the
ambassadorial role.
of any person serving on its committees to permit unpaid leave
number per Ward depending on its size). In addition, there are the 25
The Court operates on a committee
to allow the employee the
Aldermen (one for each Ward)
basis. All Members sit on at least one
appropriate time to do so. That said,
making a total of 125 Members.
committee, there being a maximum
this is clearly something an
of eight permitted. This allows a fair
individual should address with their
distribution of representation.
employer before embarking on a
To stand for election as a Common
journey to election. In my case, one
Councilman, an individual must be either a voter or resident (hold
I represent a small (but, of course, the
day’s unpaid leave per month was
property) in the City, and be a
best) Ward and, as such, am directly
considered not unreasonable
Freeman of the City of London.
allocated to three so-called Ward
bearing in mind that, as with public
Common Councilmen are elected for
committees. In addition, I have been
service generally, the benefits apply
four years and, by tradition, stand as
privileged to be elected by my peers
to both employer and employee.
independents; however, there is still
to a number of others. Given my
plenty of politics involved!
professional background, many of
In addition to the local authority
these are of a financial, or regulatory,
and financial services functions of
The electorate, as is the case
nature but I am proud to have also
the Court, ‘The City’ acts as
anywhere else in the country,
taken on Licensing, covering the circa
corporate Trustee of many charities.
comprises the residents, but also
800 licensed premises in the City.
One of the better-known is perhaps
Jamie with the rest of the Billingsgate team at the Fish Harvest Festival
8 | THE CLOTHWORKER | Winter 2016-17
Dhruv Patel After graduating from Imperial College, Dhruv joined Barclays the City Bridge Trust, but there are
Capital and completed their
many others. In this vein, I am
graduate training programme.
delighted to promote the Clothworkers’ common purpose of
He is now a businessman with
Trusteeship amongst my colleagues
interests in real estate development
in the Corporation.
and investment, the Lloyd’s of London insurance market, and community
Progression from Common
pharmacy. In 2005 he set up the
Councilman might be to serve as an
City Hindus Network and chaired it
Alderman. To stand as an Alderman,
for five years. In 2013 he was
a candidate must be a Liveryman,
elected as a Common Councilman
oversees a circa £3bn portfolio, and
and be qualified to stand as a Police
for Aldgate Ward and, in 2015, was
on its Multi Academy Trust,
and Crime Commissioner. Aldermen
promoted to Chairman of the
currently with five schools in the
are elected for six years and have
Community and Children’s Services
neighbouring boroughs of
often served previously as Common
Committee for the City Corporation.
Southwark, Hackney and Islington,
Councilmen, although this is not a
This Committee has responsibility
and an ambitious programme to
requirement.
for the delivery of circa 70% of the
increase this number.
Corporation’s Local Authority I attend most Clothworker events
functions. It was recently awarded
Through the Corporation, Dhruv is a
and, if you are keen to engage in the
an Ofsted rating of ‘Good’, with
Governor of the East London NHS
City in some way, do please seek me
‘Outstanding’ elements for both
Foundation Trust, and a trustee of
out – I would be only too pleased to
Children’s Social Services and Adult
The Lord Mayor’s 800th Anniversary
talk to you. Alternatively, you can
Education, including apprenticeships.
Awards Trust charity.
contact me, or my fellow
In addition, the Committee has
Clothworker and Common
been working towards achieving the
Dhruv joined the Company, by
Councilman, Dhruv Patel, via the
Corporation’s target to build 700
Redemption, in 2015 and is
Clerk.
social housing units by 2025.
currently co-opted to the
Deputy Jamie Ingham Clark CC
Dhruv also sits on the Corporation’s
He is also a member of the Aldgate
Liveryman
Property Investment Board, which
Ward Club and the City Livery Club.
His training concentrated on the
just the Corporation’s infrastructure
insurance market and he has had a
but also that of the City of London
number of roles specialising in the
Police. He is also Deputy Chairman of
Lloyd’s market during his career. In
the Crime and Disorder Scrutiny
2006 he set up his own consultancy,
Committee. He was appointed
specialising in compliance and
Deputy for the Ward of Billingsgate
corporate governance work.
in 2015.
Jamie was elected to the Court of
In addition to his professional and
Common Council in 2013 and
Civic City activities, Jamie spent 16
joined the Finance, Licensing and
years in the City TA Regiment, The
Audit and Risk Committees that
Honourable Artillery Company, and
year. Since then, he has been
35 years and counting on the
Jamie trained as a Chartered
elected to the Establishment and
Ceremonial Staff of the Order of St
Accountant with Ernst and
Standards Committees and, in 2016,
John. Jamie joined the Company by
Whinney (now Ernst and Young),
was appointed Chairman of the IT
Patrimony in 1981, and was elected a
qualifying in 1987.
Sub-Committee, which covers not
Liveryman in 1988.
Company’s Property Committee.
Jamie Ingham Clark
Winter 2016-17 | THE CLOTHWORKER | 9
Hugo Robinson (left) at Clothworkers’ Hall.
My experience of Trusteeship The St Giles-in-the-Fields and
activity, namely education, grant-
within the local educational
William Shelton Educational Charity
making, law and finance.
community and assessing the charity’s governance practices.
supports the education of disadvantaged children and young
Involvement
people in the West End and
My involvement with the St Giles-in-
Time commitment
Bloomsbury areas of London.
the-Fields and William Shelton
For many years, the formal business
Educational Charity came about as a
of the charity had been conducted at
Background
result of my participation, four years
quarterly meetings, held in the
The charity traces its roots back to
ago, in the Clothworkers’ joint
evenings, and lasting between two
an original legacy of £658 10s from
initiative with Prospectus/Reach to
and three hours. However, between
William Shelton in 1661. Today, it is a
help Liverymen find trustee roles. Of
meetings, there was an increasing
grant-making foundation, allocating
particular interest to me was the
need for ad hoc input; accordingly,
grants of approximately £200,000 a
charity’s focus on the education of
a fifth meeting has recently been
year from the income generated by
disadvantaged children and young
introduced to the annual schedule.
its investment and property
people, its location (being close to
The time commitment nonetheless
portfolios.
where I work), and its size – large
remains manageable.
enough to be established, but small There are eight Trustees, and a part-
enough to enable me to make a
Those in doubt should rest assured
time clerk, who manage the charity’s
meaningful contribution to its
that becoming a Trustee is not
affairs. Given its history and links to
activities.
something to be wary of; there is a wealth of support available, be it the
the parishes of St Giles-in-the-Fields and St George’s, Bloomsbury, four of
There being no full-time staff, as
enthusiasm and expertise of fellow-
the eight Trustees are ex officio - the
such, the Trustees are active in their
Trustees, the range of training
Rector and a churchwarden from
areas of expertise or interest. To date,
courses and seminars available to
each of the two parishes - with the
I have been involved in a number of
Trustees generally, or the extensive
remaining four trustees being co-
projects, including the major
guidance published by the Charity
opted.
refurbishment of an investment
Commission. It is a most worthwhile,
property, the identification of long-
and rewarding, experience.
The aim is to have a balanced range
term strategic projects requiring
of skills represented on the board,
support over a number of years, a bid
with expertise in the key areas of
to raise the profile of the charity
10 | THE CLOTHWORKER | Winter 2016-17
Hugo Robinson Liveryman
The Clothworkers’ Centre at the V&A Following a £1m lead grant from The Clothworkers’ Foundation to the Victoria & Albert Museum, The Clothworkers’ Centre for the Study and Conservation of Textiles and Fashion opened in late 2013.
Photo: ©Victoria and Albert Museum, London
The Centre, located at Blythe House in Kensington, houses the V&A’s textiles and fashion collection. It is a state-of-the art facility that offers visitors and researchers a valuable opportunity to inspect and study one of the world’s most important collections of its kind, in a comfortable and attractive setting. The V&A’s incomparable collection ranges from fashion accessories and underwear, to heavy tapestry and carpets, and from historic
scenes’ tour of the storage area, a
The Centre offers a light and
archaeological fragments to
visit to the conservation studio to see
spacious study area for small
contemporary haute-couture.
the conservators in action, and
groups; a seminar room for larger
shown highlights from the textile
groups; a small study collection of
and fashion collection.
historical textiles selected to show a
The Master recently led a small group on a visit to the Centre, during
range of techniques; and reference
which they were given a ‘behind the
books and on-site access to the collections database. Three years on, the Centre is thriving. Statistics demonstrate that it is a well-used resource for academics and students, both nationally and throughout the world. In 2015, nearly 2 million visits were made to the Search and Collections database, of which just under half were non-UK visitors. The Foundation continues to support
Photo: ©Victoria and Albert Museum, London
the Museum’s work in fashion and textiles. Most recently, a Conservation Fellowship was awarded for the Museum’s Senior Textile Conservator to lead a research project focusing on practices employed by museums and other collections in cleaning historical and contemporary carpets.
Winter 2016-17 | THE CLOTHWORKER | 11
Property City of London commercial property is an exciting topic, which consumes
these opportunities not only to
many column inches, especially in the context of current discussion of the
receive one-off development fees, but
City as the world’s foremost financial centre. Due to certain sensitivities, it is
also to ensure that we share in any
not always possible to keep the Membership fully informed of developments;
increased rental income generated
however, the following is intended as a general, and rather overdue, update on
by the head tenant.
recent activities. At the end of 2015, the Company The total portfolio now consists of
Clothworkers have differed from
acquired a further two direct let
sixteen properties, of which one is
many of our peers is that, rather
properties, and now has a total of
held by The Clothworkers’
than extract maximum capital value
three in its portfolio.
Foundation, and the remainder by
in return for a peppercorn rent, we
The Clothworkers’ Company. The
have granted long leasehold interests
There follows an update on a
portfolio, which is owned freehold, is
for a combination of capital receipts
selection of our properties with
mainly situated in the Moorgate and
and a percentage of the head
ongoing activity.
Fenchurch Street areas, and is
tenant’s rental income.
expected to generate an annual
54 Fenchurch Street In particular, in recent times, the
We acquired this vacant property at
Company has been approached by
the end of 2015 and, over the course
Traditionally, the model has been to
the head tenants at several
of 2016, undertook a full
grant long leasehold interests to
properties, to negotiate development
refurbishment of the office property.
head tenants. Where the
agreements. The Company has used
The strategy was for a cost-effective
rental income of £5.8 million.
Works in progress at 120 Fenchurch Street
12 | THE CLOTHWORKER | Winter 2016-17
CGI of 120 Fenchurch Street
upgrade of the building, with small
to construct a new
to medium businesses being the
unit for NatWest on
target market for lettings.
Fenchurch Street, whilst finishing the
Six of the seven floors have now
demolition and
been let and, following a successful
beginning
application for change of use of the
construction around
ground floor from office to retail, an
the old unit, from
agreement has been signed with
which NatWest
Superdrug.
continued trading.
A positive feature of the
The new unit was
refurbishment is the provision of
completed and fully
fifty-eight bike spaces and full
fitted out by October
changing and shower facilities, in
2016, whereupon
the basement. We have reserved five
NatWest moved in.
spaces for the use of staff at the
The old unit has now
Hall, and the aim is to offer the
been demolished,
remaining spaces across the three
and the construction
direct let properties.
of the new building continues below,
120 Fenchurch Street
beside and above the new NatWest
restaurant and café area. These
This was a complex transaction
unit!
include Coya (an upmarket Peruvian restaurant), Notes (a coffee shop by
where, originally, the Company owned only 40% of the total site. In
The developer remains on course to
day, and wine bar by evening) and
August 2014, after negotiations with
complete the M&G accommodation
Natural Kitchen (a ‘healthy living’
various parties, the Company agreed
in January 2018, and the external
café).
a deal with Generali, the Italian
landscaping and roof garden in
insurance company, where the
February 2018.
Hamesh Patel Director of
Company took freehold ownership of the total site, and granted a 200 year
1 Angel Court
head lease to Generali.
1 Angel Court has been in the
Finance, Property and Investments
Company’s ownership for many Generali subsequently obtained
years, and the head tenant, Mitsui
planning permission to construct a
Fudosan, in conjunction with
circa 450,000 sq. ft. building, the
Stanhope, have been redeveloping
majority of which has been pre-let
the site since summer 2014. To
to M&G, the fund management arm
ensure the rebuild could be to the
of Prudential, for their new head
same height as the original building,
office.
the structure was stripped back to its core. Now, thirty months later, the
The construction has made
works are nearing completion.
significant progress over the last twelve months, and we are fortunate
The building consists of ‘garden
to be able to see this on a daily basis
floors’ of circa 25,000 sq. ft. and ‘sky
given the building’s proximity to the
floors’ of circa 8,000 sq. ft. These are
Hall. The project has been
being actively marketed by the head
particularly unique, in that NatWest,
tenants, as no pre-lettings had been
who were in occupation of a unit on
agreed.
one corner of the development site, did not want to move from the site.
The head tenants have, however,
Therefore the developers have had
secured tenants for the ground floor Aldershot
CGI of 1 Angel Court
Winter 2016-17 | THE CLOTHWORKER | 13
Notable Clothworker Sir Robert Menzies Sir Robert Gordon Menzies (1894-1978), barrister, politician and Australia’s
On a subsequent visit to London, in
longest serving Prime Minister, was also an Honorary Freeman and Liveryman.
1953, Menzies was made Free of the City of London. He had luncheon
After winning a landmark case in the
Burton Tankard. All honours were
with the Company during his visit
High Court of Australia at the age of
granted ‘in recognition of the
and dining with the Court seems to
25, Menzies became involved in state
invaluable services of Mr Menzies
have been a feature of all his
politics, entering Victoria’s upper
and to mark the ever strengthening
subsequent trips to England. In his
house in 1928. In 1934 he was
bonds between Australia and the
later years, when a stroke made him
persuaded to stand for the federal
Mother Country’. The links were
unable to travel, Sir Robert kept up
seat of Kooyong, a seat he held until
further strengthened when another
with Company affairs by
his retirement in 1966, and became
Honorary Liveryman, Field Marshall
correspondence, and in 1976 his wife,
Attorney-General and Minister for
Slim became Governor- General of
Dame Pattie, travelling to England
Industry. He was heavily involved in
Australia in 1953.
alone, lunched with a number of Past Masters and their ladies.
the creation of a new party – the United Australia Party – in the early
On his return to Australia, Menzies
1930s and saw them subsequently
found that the political climate was
In 1956, Menzies was again in London
voted into power. Menzies was
turning against him, so he resigned.
and offered to provide a new Master’s
elected party leader and therefore
A short while later the Victorian
Chair for the current sixth Hall,
Prime Minister, in 1939. Soon after, he
Clothworkers’ Hall was destroyed by
which was then under construction.
had the task of declaring Australia’s
enemy action, meaning that his
The chair was presented in 1958, the
entry into the Second World War.
admission was one of the last
year in which the Hall was opened.
ceremonies performed in the old Hall.
It is made from Australian black bean
In 1941 Menzies spent four months in
On hearing of the Hall’s fate, Menzies
wood and was built in England. The
England, participating in meetings of
despatched a telegram expressing his
Company’s coat of arms appears at
Churchill’s War Cabinet. This was
sympathy on the loss suffered by the
the top in gilt, a ram’s head is carved
when he was invited to become an
Company.
at the end of each arm and, given the shared interest in wool, tools
Honorary Freeman and Liveryman by Master Tom Girtin.
Undeterred by the disappointment
employed in the craft of clothmaking
surrounding his resignation, Menzies
are carved on either side of the chair
In the letter of invitation, the Clerk of
continued his political work. He
back. The donor would first have seen
the day, Major Pothecary, wrote ‘we at
helped create the new Liberal Party,
the chair when he lunched at the
Clothworkers’ Hall have always felt
and was elected its inaugural leader
new Hall in June 1959.
conscious of very special links
in August 1945. At the 1949 federal
between Australia and this particular
election, Menzies led a coalition to
In 1961, Menzies was granted an
Company in regard to the wool
victory and returned as Prime
honorary degree from the University
industry which is our chief concern
Minister.
of Leeds, with which the
here’. Menzies was made Free and admitted to the Livery on 26
Clothworkers’ Company has always had a
March 1941. On the same occasion he was presented with a replica of
Detail of Master’s chair
the Company’s
image 3: Kaitlin Barber’s binding
14 | THE CLOTHWORKER | Winter 2017
very strong connection. Over his lifetime he received honorary degrees from numerous universities, including Oxford and Cambridge. He was Chancellor of Melbourne University and took up a scholar-inresidence position at the University of Virginia when he retired in 1966, having resigned voluntarily as Prime Minister, and from Parliament, aged 71. He was considered to be at the peak of his power at that time. In 1966, Menzies became the first Clothworker to serve as Warden of the Cinque Ports, succeeding Winston Churchill in the office. In recognition of his new post he was sent a set of armorial table mats by the Company for use in his new official residence at Walmer Castle near Deal in Kent. Menzies died at his home in Melbourne in May 1978. He was accorded a state funeral in Australia attended by HRH The Prince of Wales, and a service of thanksgiving was held in Westminster Abbey in July the same year. In 1965, Menzies’ son, Kenneth Leckie
Portrait of
Menzies, was offered the Freedom by
Robert Menzies
Patrimonial Redemption (because he had been born before his father had become Free of the Company).
1963, with mantle, star, sash, collar
him. Stafford worked for eleven
However he was subsequently unable
and badge. Government House in
Australian Prime Ministers over 35
to attend the ceremony and was only
Canberra is understood to be the
years, as a driver and cabinet officer,
made Free in 1971. Dame Pattie
building in the background.
and he and Menzies became lifelong friends. In a radio interview late in his
Menzies was made Free by Courtesy after the death of her husband. Their
The portrait was painted by order of
life, Stafford talked about sitting in
daughter, Mrs Margery Heather
the Court at a cost of 1000 guineas.
for Menzies in his robes: “I stood in for
Henderson, was made Free by
Menzies suggested two Australian
Sir Robert when William Dargie did his
Presentation in 1996.
artists for the commission, with
painting … And … Dargie painted the
Sir William Dargie (1912-2003)
thing around my chest … And I sat there
A portrait of Sir Robert hangs in the
selected as the artist. Dargie was
for a couple of hours because he [Menzies]
Livery Hall as part of a scheme of
commissioned subsequently to paint
was so busy he couldn’t make it … it was
portraits of twentieth-century
the portraits of HRH Princess
quite interesting. He painted in the face
Honorary Liverymen and Women,
Alexandra and HRH Princess Marina
later.”
and is paired with the portrait of
which also hang in the Livery Hall. The portrait was flown to London and
Field Marshal the Viscount Slim, Governor-General of Australia from
The portrait is undated but was
framed just in time to be hung for Sir
1953 to 1960, painted by Simon
painted during 1963-1964, in
Robert and his wife to admire it in
Elwes. Both portraits are displayed in
Australia. A story about the painting
situ, at a luncheon in July 1964.
antique eighteenth-century frames.
emerged a year ago in the Guardian:
The portrait shows Menzies full-
as Prime Minister, Menzies was rather
length in the robes of a Knight of the
busy so he asked his close friend and
Thistle, an honour he received in
confidant, Alf Stafford, to sit in for
Winter 2016-17 | THE CLOTHWORKER | 15
Designer Bookbindings The Company continues to support the endangered craft of bookbinding, and
Agnes Miller Parker [Victor Gollancz,
recently commissioned three new bindings from established bookbinders to
Covent Garden: 1936]. It is bound in
add to its growing collection. We hope to receive the completed works over the
grey goatskin with underlays of ink
course of 2017.
dotted calfskin and Zerkall paper, with onlays of coloured gampi (a Japanese tissue made from the inner bark of the gampi bush) and cushioned calfskin. The edges and endpapers are decorated with soft pastel. The design represents the wood through the four seasons and includes silhouettes of woodland animals – birds, rabbits, deer, a squirrel and even a snail. This binding also won her the Mansfield Medal for Best Book in the Competition. Yuko Matsuno’s binding
Prizes at the 2016 Annual UK
Kaitlin
Bookbinding Competition, organised
Barber’s
by Designer Bookbinders, were
binding
provided once again in the Open Choice category, where binders choose their own titles to bind. This category consistently attracts high quality designs and 2016 was no exception. The Clerk and Archivist were delighted to attend the private view in November and discover that the bindings which had caught their attention in the exhibition were in fact the prizewinners. First prize went to Yuko Matsuno for her binding of Through the Woods: the English Woodland – April to April by H E Bates, with 73 engravings on wood by
16 | THE CLOTHWORKER | Winter 2016-17
Second prize went to Kaitlin Barber for In Smoke: ten variations on Eugenio Montale, poems by Gary Michael Dault and wood engravings by Alan Stein [limited edition hand printed by the Church Street Press, Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada: 2004]. It is bound in hand-dyed fair goatskin, with debossing (the opposite of embossing which is a raised design) with leaves on the back board and cold gold debossing with leaves on the front board. The design was inspired by the recurring theme in the poems of the natural world and imagery of forests, foliage and gardens in relation to growth and the fragility of love. Both binders also won awards for their bindings of the competition set text which was Vita Nuova by
War Memorial
Dante Alighieri. A permanent poppy wreath has
when she visited the installation at
been commissioned and installed
the Tower in 2014.
on the Company’s War Memorial in St Olave Hart Street.
The wreath on the Company’s memorial is a naturalistic cascade
The memorial, which honours those
rather than a traditional circle,
Clothworkers who fought and lost
hanging over the top and part-way
their lives in battle during the First
down the sides. Each poppy is attached
and Second World Wars, was
to its own brass rod, patinated to a gun
commissioned, installed and
metal steel finish and bent to look like
dedicated in time for the centenary
a stem. The poppies are screwed onto
of Armistice Day in November 2014.
the threaded rods and secured with glue, which can be chemically reversed
The Company subsequently
should we ever need to remove one.
purchased eighteen red ceramic
The result is stunning, with the deep
poppies – one for each Liveryman
red of the poppies bringing the grey
lost – from the Tower of London’s
slate alive.
poignant installation ‘Blood swept lands and seas of red’. Colin Bowles,
Members of the Superintendence
who designed the wreath, had been
Committee took part in an act of
involved in the installation of the
remembrance and dedication of the
memorial in the church and also
wreath, led by Oliver Ross, Rector of
designed a freestanding wreath of
St Olave’s, in the week leading up to
ceramic poppies which was
Armistice Day and Remembrance
presented to Her Majesty The Queen
Sunday.
Winter 2016-17 | THE CLOTHWORKER | 17
Anawim – Women Working Together Anawim was set up thirty years ago to help women in the Birmingham area
from short prison sentences. The
who have multiple and complex needs, to lead stable and fulfilling lives with
message from Anawim to the
their children and families.
Government’s 2015-16 ‘Transforming Rehabilitation’ programme, which has
On 13 December, they welcomed The
residential accommodation, the JABBS
led to stress in service provision for
Rt Hon Baroness Jean Corston (their
Foundation providing the lion’s share
women offenders, is that one-to-one
Patron) and The Archbishop of
of the funding.
work within prison, and then in community care, works to prevent
Birmingham, Bernard Longley, to officially open the charity’s long-
The Anawim Centre is a ‘one stop
reoffending and change the lives of
awaited new residential building,
shop’ for vulnerable women across
women offenders.
Dawn House. Other VIP guests
the Birmingham area. For three
included The Lord Mayor of
decades, the charity has worked with
The mission of Anawim, “to support
Birmingham, Councillor Carl Rice, and
women who have multiple and
women and their children, especially
representatives from the JABBS
complex needs, and has become a
women vulnerable to exploitation” has its
Foundation.
nationally recognised expert in this
origins in two religious sisters, Sister
field. The House of Commons Justice
Madeleine and Sister Mairie from the
The building is situated next to the
Committee report ‘Women offenders:
Sisters of Our Lady of Charity of the
existing Anawim Centre in Balsall
after the Corston Report’ agrees that
Good Shepherd. The sisters, while
Heath. The ground floor incorporates
support for women offenders is best
working in Balsall Heath in the 1980s,
a new reception area, office space and
delivered from community projects
took in prostitutes from the street
a crèche. There is provision for the
such as Anawim and concludes that
and gave them shelter. It was a great
prison team who work from Anawim
“Women’s community projects are central
joy that they were both present at the
in HMPs Foston Hall and Drake Hall,
to providing a distinct approach to the
opening of the new provision.
and one-to-one meeting rooms. On
treatment of women offenders. They offer
the first floor, there are six architect-
a challenging environment for women to
The Chief Executive of Anawim, Joy
designed residential units providing
serve their sentence, as well as a broad
Doal, spearheaded the latest
safe, temporary accommodation for
range of practical and emotional support to
development, alongside an able Board
women on release from prison. The
enable them to change their lives for good”.
of Trustees. Joy held the day together with great style and invited Baroness
new facility will enable them to provide 24 hour care and support for
Prior to the recent privatisation of the
Corston to speak about her vision for
those who need it.
Probation Service, Anawim ran a
the care of vulnerable women. The
successful programme for around 250
event was rounded off by a hilarious
Anawim works closely with Midland
women on Orders per year. The
auction and a buffet lunch for all.
Heart and other long term social
reoffending rate was between 1% &
housing providers. In 2015, The
6%; this compared favourably to
Dr Carolyn Boulter, DL
Clothworkers’ Foundation agreed a
probation, which was around 8%, and
First Warden
grant of £100,000 towards this new
the appalling 63% for those released
18 | THE CLOTHWORKER | Winter 2016-17
Clothworkers’ Theatre Award The Clothworkers’ Theatre Award is an annual award of £150,000 to a regional
Theatre, won by Sir Ian McKellen,
producing theatre. It is part of the Foundation’s £1.25m five-year proactive
and The Gielgud Award for Excellence
Dramatic Arts initiative.
in the Dramatic Arts which went to Vanessa Redgrave in recognition of her career on stage and screen.
The nine producing theatres from
The award, the only one with a
the Northeast and Northwest region
monetary value, was again presented
were invited to compete for the 2016
at the high-profile UK Theatre
Previous award winners were York
award. The winners were Northern
Awards Lunch at Guildhall in
Theatre Royal (Yorkshire region) in
Stage who will deliver a two-year
October. Ours was one of two awards
2015 and Theatre Royal Plymouth
programme to assess training and
won by Northern Stage, which also
(Southwest region) in 2014.
develop practical theatre skills for
won The Renee Stepham award for
Producing theatres from the East and
young people from diverse
Best Presentation of Touring Theatre.
West Midlands will be invited to
backgrounds in deprived areas of
Other awards on the day included
compete for the 2017 Clothworkers’
Newcastle and Gateshead.
Outstanding Contribution to British
Theatre Award.
Winter 2016-17 | THE CLOTHWORKER | 19
Dates for Your Diary Young Livery Dinner Wednesday 22 February 2017 Masters’ and Clerks’ Dinner Tuesday 7 March 2017 Young Freedom Reception Tuesday 21 March 2017 United Guilds Service and Luncheon Friday 31 March 2017
The Clothworker | Design by Chris Monk | Printing by Trident Printing | www.tridentprinting.co.uk
Civic Dinner Thursday 6 April 2017
Royal Geographical Society Lectures All lectures take place at Clothworkers’ Hall commencing at 7pm The cure for catastrophe Dr Robert Muir-Wood Wednesday 8 February 2017 Aurora: in search of the northern lights Dr Melanie Windridge Tuesday 28 March 2017
Remember that all the pictures from events where we have had a photographer present are available to download free of charge in the Members’ Area of the website.
20 | THE CLOTHWORKER | Winter 2016-17
Make sure we have your current email address as we send the majority of event invitations by email. Contact events@clothworkers.co.uk if you have any queries about our events.