The Worshipful Company of

BlacksmithsNewsletter

48th Issue

August 2016

Published by

The Publicity and Public Relations Committee

Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths

9 Little Trinity Lane, London EC4V 2AD

Tel: 020 7248 1861

www.blacksmithscompany.org

Editor

Merv Allen

Ypres & the 1916 Battle of the Somme – See page 2

On Other Pages

First Words from your Editor 2

Ypres 2016 Poppy Cenotaph –International Forging Event 2

Ypres & the 1916 Battle of the Somme 2

The Prime Warden’s Year – Part 2 3

Visit to the Victoria & Albert Museum 4

HMS Sultan Summer Show 2016 4

Ladyday Luncheon 5

Election Court Dinner 5

Epiphany Court Luncheon 6

Midsummer Dinner 6

Annual Livery Dinner 6

Kingston Maurward College and theWCB Bursaries 7

The Lord Mayor’s Show 8

Gilbert and Sullivan’s Iolanthe 8

Meet Your New Prime Warden 9

United Guild’s Service at St Pauls 9

The Annual Clifford ChampionCommemoration Dinner 10

The Prime Warden’s Weekend 11

Chez Chescoe LWCB, AWCB 12

People We Meet 12

Obituaries 13-14

Entrance Gates 14

New Liverymen 15

North Somerset Show 2016 15

Diary of Events 2016 16

Show Dates 2016 16

From Great Expectations 16

Thomas Cromwell 16

The Company Shop 16

2

The dramatic front pagephotograph of this editionshows a poppy being forged for

this important project which is ofmajor international significance. TheCenotaph design was created byLiveryman Terence Clark FWCB andfollowing its completion will beinstalled next to the German Warcemetery at Langemark-Poelkapelleand dedicated on the 6th November.

Standing 7m tall and weighing 12tonne, the imposing yet simple slab ofweathering steel at the centre featuresthe evocative image of a singleFlanders poppy. At its base will be‘planted’ a field of 2016 steel poppieseach being handcrafted by black smiths

and farriers world wide. Framingthis will be 25 panels designed byinternational blacksmiths referencingthoughts of the war and echoing thezigzag formation of the trenches.

In the Great War of 1914-18, an estimated 3,000 blacksmiths andfarriers were indispensable in sus -taining the war effort by servicingand repairing military equipmentand shoeing millions of horses.

Momentum is gathering towardsthe international forge-in to be heldin Ypres from the 1st to 6thSeptember when blacksmiths andfarriers from around the globe willbe forging poppies and railingpanels. Hundreds of poppies have

already been made at various forge-ins and shows, not only in thiscountry but worldwide. In order toraise much needed funds there is an opportunity for readers to help bydonating, buying poppies or otheritems. HRH Princess Anne has apoppy and so should you!

The event has the backing of theCompany and the British ArtistsBlacksmiths Association and hasrecently received the support ofMichael Morpurgo, the acclaimedauthor of War Horse.

I would encourage all readers tovisit the very informative Ypres 2016website at www.ypres2016.com wherepoppies can be ordered.

First Words from your Editor

Awarm welcome to the latest edition of yourNewsletter. As I write, the National BlacksmithingCompetition is in full swing and from the work I

have seen this promises to be another memorable year forthis prestigious event.

Great changes have taken place in the UK during thesepast few weeks, the consequences of which have yet tofully unfold. Two changes, of which we are certain ofhowever, are the changeover between the outgoing andincoming Prime Wardens. I am sure that all Liverymen willjoin me in thanking Nigel Whitehead for his outstanding

year in office and to welcome into office our new PrimeWarden, Richard Regan OBE, Former Sheriff, Former ChiefCommoner and Common Councillor.

As always, many thanks to all those who havecontributed to this edition and I am always pleased toconsider any items of interest for publication. If you haveany comments or suggestions regarding the content of theNewsletter please do not hesitate to get in touch.

With very best wishes.

metalwizard@btinternet.com

Merv Allen FWCB

Ypres 2016 Poppy Cenotaph – InternationalForging Event

I had been walking, my arms stretched before me; my hands hadtouched a palisade; and at once I knew the sense of leaning over thebalcony of hell. What human storm! What fierce outburst andexpression of hatred and destruction! It seemed as though a troopof giants forged the horizon of the earth, pounding relentlesslyamid a million sparks. Made up of an infinity of furtive glimmers,lived one immense, continuous source of light; one palpitatingmass which surged and cast its rays at both the earth and clouds.Great iridescent sprays of brightness burst high up in the sky, likesledgehammers to the incandescent iron. For me, here, outside thetrench, each of these firework-like signals conveyed its ownmessage, direction, orders, desperate pleas for help, signals fromcut-off troops, and I decrypted this awesome brazier as though itliterally spelt out the fury and distress of those fighting.

Towards Combles, just left of Maurepas, the fire raged evenmore intensely in one particular spot. This was where both armies,

the British and the French, joined up; this was where the enemychose to concentrate its turbulent and pounding fire. For weeks onend, I saw each night light up, in this same spot, the samedevouring flame. Each and every second that went by, the fireraged with such intensity that every second felt as though it mightwell be the last. But hours, and weeks, and months rolledsluggishly along through all eternity, and each of these horrificmoments seemed to reach new peaks in an infinity of peaks. It is thesame of pain from wounds, which seem they should not toleratemore pain; yet death does not yield gladly to the desires of men, itstrikes when well it pleases, as and when, and suffers not seductionnor advice.

Morning broke. To those of you who have witnessed the dawnin wartime fields, after nights spent in combat or consumed intireless and bloody work as ambulance personnel, you will knownone of the ugliest and saddest faces the world could ever offer.

Ypres & the 1916 Battle of the Somme

The following is the transcript of a reading given by the President of France, François Hollande at theThiepval Memorial on 1st July 2016. The memorial

is dedicated to 72,000 war dead who have no known

grave. The event commemorated the centenary of the First Battle of the Somme and these words illustrate theconditions experienced by the troops during thisdevastating conflict.

Sur la Somme, from Civilisation, by George Duhamel, 1918

By the time you are reading thismy time as Prime Warden willhave ended and the new Prime

Warden, Richard Regan OBE, willhave been installed. Many will besurprised to learn that despite myhaving had a quite fantastic year,enjoyed beyond measure, it was with a certain sense of relief that Iapproached the end of my term inoffice. The role is demanding and fora year, to a large extent, takes overyour life. Apart from attending themany functions as the representativeof the Company, there are theCommittee meetings at which yourpresence is expected, visits to a variety of establishments with whichthe Company has a connection, andattendance at County Shows wherethe Blacksmiths are represented. Thereare speeches to be written (I decidedearly on in my term that mine wouldalways be no more than eight minutesand in practice were often shorter) andmany letters to be hand-written. In all of this you rely heavily on theefficiency of the Learned Clerk and thesupport of the Beadle at functions. Thesupport of your fellow Wardens ismuch appreciated.

The Prime Warden is elected by the Court of Assistants to representand uphold the good name of theCompany in every aspect of Civic lifeand among members of the Craft, andthis I have striven to achieve. The year has been full of interesting andwonderful moments.

Notable among the events attendedwas a Service at Westminster Abbeycommemorating the 600th anniversary

of the Battle of Agincourt; a City of London Citizenship Ceremony atGuildhall marking the 800th anniver -sary of Magna Carta at which eachnew citizen was given a special copyof one of the original Charter; visitingTreloar’s on the occasion of the visit ofthe Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress;attending Dinner at Mansion House to meet the Lord Mayor and LadyMayoress; being present at the UnitedGuilds Service in St Paul’s; visitingChrist’s Hospital, Horsham, at theinvitation of the Head Master andattending a Reception hosted by theGuild of Pikemen and Musketeers atArmoury House. Then there was theunique concert given in St Paul’swhere one chorister from each of some60 cathedrals and colleges in the UKcame together for the first time underone roof; attending the Trial of the Pyxat Goldsmith’s Hall; our own AnnualBanquet at Mansion House, superblyorganised by our excellent LearnedClerk ably assisted by the Beadle andhis wife, followed by the Garden Partyat Buckingham Palace; a concert givenby The Royal Choral Society to markthe 80th birthday of HRH The Duke of Kent; an enjoyable and relaxingweekend spent with members of theCompany in Warwickshire; a weekendspent with fellow Prime Wardens,Masters and the Upper Bailiff atIronbridge in Shropshire; a day spentwith members of the Court of theLeathersellers’ Company on theirannual visitation to Colfe’s School;attending Common Hall at Guildhallfor the election of Sheriffs and other Officers; and a day spent with

other Prime Wardens, Masters and the Upper Bailiff at the Palace ofWestminster.

I will not attempt to list the lunches and dinners attended, manycelebrating a specific event such as a Prime Warden’s or Master’sinstallation save for one, The BillesdenAward Dinner, this year hosted byMerchant Taylors’ Company, given onthe occasion of the annual change ofprecedence with Skinners’ Company(sixes & sevens). Each event was a memorable occasion and anopportunity to meet many interestingpeople.

3

The Prime Warden’s Year – Part 2

Prime Warden Nigel Whitehead

4

On 28th January our Prime Warden and agroup of around 25 Liverymen and friendsvisited the magnificent Ironwork Gallery

of the V&A. An extremely interesting guided tour included an in-depth description of themagnificent Hereford Screen which was designedby the Victorian architect Sir George Gilbert Scottand manufactured by the Coventry metalworkingcompany of Francis Skidmore in 1862.

Those present were also privileged to examineat close hand many of the original metalworkdrawings by J. Starkie Gardner, the author of manyrenowned blacksmithing including the classic text‘English Ironwork of the 17th and 18th Centuries’.

Our thanks are extended to tour guide AliciaRobinson (V&A Senior Curator for Sculpture,Metalwork, Ceramics and Glass) and ChristopherMarsden (V&A Senior Archivist, Word and ImageDepartment).

Visit to the Victoria & Albert Museum

At the invitation of Captain Trevor Gulley RN.,Commander of HMS SULTAN, the Royal Navalshore-based engineering establishment in Gosport,

Marion and I attended the spectacular Summer Show, the

Establishment’s largest annual community event. This yearcarries special significance for HMS SULTAN which iscelebrating its 60th anniversary. Last year’s Show was very successful and HMS SULTAN was proud to donate

£26,000 to local and Service charitiesand other good causes.

In the main arena we wereentertained by a diverse range ofactivities from Lamb and Sheepdogdemonstrations, cadets competing in a Field Gun competition, anincredible motorcycle stunt displayand a Monster truck event. Elsewherethere were helicopter rides, a FestivalCircus, interactive displays of staticaircraft and military hardware to seeand explore first hand, and numerousother stands offering “all the fun of the fair”. The SULTAN steam lorrywhich towed the Company float in the Lord Mayor’s Show, now proudlydisplaying the Blacksmiths’ plaque,was a popular attraction.

On behalf of the WorshipfulCompany of Blacksmiths I took theopportunity to present HMS SULTANwith a board, appropriately inscribed,to record the names of cadets awardedthe Naval Service Core Values Prize.The board will be affixed alongsideother Award Boards in the mainbuilding.

HMS Sultan Summer Show 2016 Nigel Whitehead

5

This year’s Ladyday Luncheon was held at the Cutlers’Hall in Warwick Lane in London. This Hall wasrebuilt in the 19th Century on the site of a foundry

and was opened in 1888. During the Second World War theHall came through the bombing virtually unscathed exceptfor the north wall which was rebuilt by 1951.

The principal guests this year were Mr Guy Hurst Masterof the Worshipful Company of Farriers and Mr IanMakowski Master of the Worshipful Company of Tin Platersalias Wire Workers, and Mrs Clare Davison Principal atKingston Maurward College in Dorset (there was one forgewhen she started the Blacksmiths apprentice trainingscheme but now there are ten). Eighty-five liverymen andguests sat down to lunch of which twenty-five were ladieswhich, was a splendid complement for Lady Day.

The Prime Warden Mr Nigel Whitehead welcomed all theguests and reminded them that Lady Day was in reverenceto Christ’s Mother Mary he also advised that Lady Day wasalso the first day of the year in the British calendar(excluding Scotland) until A.D. 1752 thereafter, it washarmonised with Scotland to the 1st January.

Whilst on this subject, he did not mention that theBritish tax year still starts on “old” Lady Day which is on the 6th April which, under the Gregorian calendar,corresponded to the 25th March under the Juliancalendar. Lady Day is also one of the “quarter days” inthe English calendar. These are Lady Day (25th March),Midsummer Day (24th June), Michaelmas (29th September)and Christmas (25th December).

There is a mnemonic for remembering on which day ofthe month the first three quarter days fall (Christmas beingeasy to recall): Every quarter day is twenty-something, andthe second digit of the day of the month is the number of letters in the month’s name. So March has five letters and thus Lady Day is 25th March; similarly June has four letters and September nine, with Midsummer Day andMichaelmas falling on the 24th and 29th respectively.

During the lunch, two toasts were proposed by the PrimeWarden, the Loyal Toasts and The Guests. The Father of theCompany, Mr Brian Land, proposed a Toast to the PrimeWarden but not before enthralling all the guests with one ofhis humorous jokes about an Irish man who had threebrothers and liked to take a drop of ale on his birthday!

The final toast was to The Worshipful Company ofBlacksmiths proposed by Mr Guy Hurst Master of theWorshipful Company of Farriers.

Towards the final stages of the lunch, two new liverymenor should it be “liveryladies” were presented to the guests;Mrs Charlotte Teale and Mrs Katie Whittingham who wereboth given a warm welcome.

Following lunch, several of the guests toured Cutlers’Hall including the magnificent Livery Hall with its Victorianhammerbeam roof, banners, shields and carvings. TheCompany’s collection of swords, cutlery, scissors andsurgical instruments were also displayed in the old SmokingRoom and adjacent landing. In addition to the cutlers’collection a fine display of a collection of City of London,Livery and Guild – related medals and badges were ondisplay including a Prime Warden’s Medal from theWorshipful Company of Blacksmiths!

The elephant seems to be a prominent feature within theWorship ful Company of Cutlers, presumably as a referenceto the past use of ivory in the production of cutlery, or is ita symbol of strength power, stability and wisdom, perhapsboth? There is an elephant carrying a castle on the large goldsign outside the hall entrance and inside there are numerouscarvings of elephants in all the rooms viewed. There waseven a carved elephant charity box in the front hall.

Some of the elephants faced towards the door and somefaced away; some had upturned trunks and others hadlowered trunks. It is a common superstition that an elephantcarving should face the entrance door for good luck.Similarly there is a superstition that an elephant with anupturned truck will bring good luck, these superstitions area matter of personal belief and experience.

The Ladyday lunch was a memorable event with goodfood, wine and company at a splendid location, which, iswell worth a visit at which one can make their own mindup about the elephants and luck!

Ladyday Luncheon 24th March 2016 Jim Cook

At the Election Court held on 28th July at Cutlers Hall,retiring Prime Warden Nigel Whitehead thanked theCourt, his fellow Wardens, Learned Clerk and Beadle fortheir support during his year. In particular he thanked theretiring Father, Brian Land, for his wise counsel

Mr Richard Regan OBE was unanimously elected asPrime Warden and received his badge of office from hispredecessor.

Mr Jash Joshi was elected Renter Warden, Mr NigelWhitehead – Third Warden and Surgeon Commodore(retd) Robin McNeill Love – Craft Warden.

The new Father of the Company, Past Prime WardenMr Rodney Lyons congratulated the newly elected PrimeWarden on having attained the highest office of thisancient Company and looked forward to his year in office.

Election Court

6

The Midsummer Court was held onthe afternoon of the 30th of June togive the opportunity to Liverymen to join us afterwards for dinner whoare not able to join us at lunchtime.

At the Court meeting our retiringFather, Brian Land, was thanked forhis three years of guiding the Courtwith sound advice attending all the

Court and Warden’s Court meetingswhich has involved a substantialcommitment of time and travel.

Afterwards the Court processedthrough the streets of the City for our annual church service at St JamesGarlickhythe.

The service was lead by ourChaplain, Reverend Tony Berry, whogave a thoughtful and appropriatesermon.

Our Liveryman and Court AssistantAlderman Dr Andrew Parmley multi-tasked by playing the organ to lead the Court, Liverymen and guests in acouple of well known hymns beforeperforming a stirring finale for thedeparture of the congregation.

Afterwards we returned to PaintersHall for a convivial dinner with ourformal guests the Masters of theWorshipful Companies of Gunmakersand Loriners.

Midsummer Court

Annual Livery Dinner

The evening of 6th May once again saw the splendourof The Great Egyptian Hall in the Lord Mayor’sMansion House provide a magnificent setting for this

important event in the Livery’s year.Around 220 attendees including the Lord Mayor Locum

Tenens, Sir David Wootton, Liverymen, invited guests andpartners were majestically entertained with a first class Billof Fare, music, the ancient Ceremony of the Loving Cupand speeches. The evening was most ably presided over by our Prime Warden who gave a speech focusing oneducation and life chances for young people that was bothinspiring and thought provoking.

The wide ranging programme of music included a very entertaining and humorous set by The London Banqueting Ensemble and a rousing rendition of ‘TheBlacksmiths’ Song’ added to to the conviviality of the evening.

The Epiphany Court was held at the Innholders Hallwhich enjoys the cuisine of a Michelin starred chef.During the meeting, Brian Simpson and David Coombes

were created Liverymen and this was followed by an

excellent and convivial lunch. Note that the lunch had sold out within days of being announced so to avoiddisappointment please reply to the Clerk as soon as youreceive your summons later in the year.

Epiphany Court

7

Kingston Maurward College and the WCBBursaries

Following the bursaries awardedto students Ned Bell, MichaelRobins and Ross Milum in 2015,

the Company has announced thatfour more Kingston MaurwardCollege Welding, Fabrication andBlacksmithing students will benefitfrom further bursaries totalling over£2,000 this year.

Ross Milum used some of hismoney to pay for travel to try and find a job. After several weeks ofdisappointment and personal visits to many companies he was finallyoffered a position with a steelfabrication company in Yeovil. TheWorshipful Company funds werevery much a contributing factor to hissuccess.

This year, Kyle Hancock, BenDopson, Dafydd Llewellyn-Jones andMillie Gilpin are currently studyingtowards their Level 2 Diploma; at theend of the course Millie plans to starther own business while the othershope to continue on to the College’sLevel 3 Blacksmithing and Metalworkqualification. The students plan to use the bursaries for materials andequipment relevant to their course.

Kyle said on behalf of the students:“These bursaries will help withresidential costs, tools and resources – I want to go on to the Level 3 course in September, so this will help immensely. We would all like to say thank you to the WorshipfulCompany of Blacksmiths.”

Our Clerk, Martin Heath reported:“We have very strong links with theCollege through liveryman SimonGrant-Jones. We were particularlyimpressed with the submissions fromMillie Gilpin and Dafydd Llewellyn-Jones and would like to highlight their connections with the travellingcommunity and Service veteransrespectively."

Last year the College organised a‘Forging and Welding Links’ event to

show local businesses the quality ofwork the students produce, theirskills, knowledge and readiness toenter into industry.

More than sixty guests attendedincluding: Peter Lauener, ChiefExecutive of the Skills FundingAgency, Chairman of Dorset CountyCouncil, John Wilson, our PrimeWarden, Nigel Whitehead, plusmayors, local dignitaries and businessrepresentatives.

Prime Warden Nigel Whiteheadsaid at the time: “Were proof everneeded to demonstrate the value andsuccess of essential skills training, it ishere for all to see. Young people arebeing given an opportunity to learn acraft that will stand them in goodstead throughout their lives. Today’svisit by business leaders, localGovernment dignitaries and potentialemployers was arranged for them to see first-hand the quality of thetraining being given at KingstonMaurward College. The enthusiasmand pride with which the students

go about their work is a credit to the College, which provides strongsupport to its Blacksmith and Welding department run by SimonGrant-Jones.

“To discover today that there have already been nearly forty newapplications for the three yearblacksmithing and welding coursestarting this September emphasisesthe great need for such skills training.

“Of notable interest is theopportunity that comes through theBuckler’s Mead School Art & Designdepartment which offers its studentsas young as Year 7 a chance to tryblacksmithing and welding as part oftheir course and a recent success storywas of one such student, who, aftercompleting the College course, wentstraight into employment.

“Congratulations to the College,the College Principal Clare Davison,and all the staff involved with theBlacksmithing Department and may itcontinue Forging and Welding Links foryears to come.”

Liveryman Simon Grant-Jones LWCB, FWCB, CertEd

Ned Bell, Ross Milum and Michael Robins at the Kingston Maurward Forge

8

The Lord Mayor’s Show Adrian Oliver

Gilbert and Sullivan’s Iolanthe

On a quiet evening in early April we took a journey tothe Grim's Dyke Hotel in Old Redding, the formercountry residence of Sir William Gilbert. The 19th

Century Arts and Crafts country house, nestling in 40 acresof gardens and woodland was a most unexpected find, amere two miles from the M1 and surrounded by housing.

After a brief visit to the bar to meet the fellow Blacksmithsattending, confirm dinner choices and something to quenchour thirst we were led through to the restaurant, a grandroom with chandeliers hung low from the far reachingceiling and a stunning fireplace.

As our first foray into Gilbert and Sullivan I was unsurewhat to expect. Two rows of chairs were arranged in front of the window by the grand piano and I expected a quietserenade throughout the meal. Following serving andconsumption of the starter however I was intrigued to seethe entrance of not only the ensemble but also two fairies,wings pinned back and wands aloft. What followed was the most hilarious tale of love, magic, music and politics (in its lightest form). The cast were magnificent and filled thevenue without any need for amplification. A brief interludefor more to eat allowed some costume changes before thecast's return.

The conclusion of the piece with all characters in the arms of the one they loved (or resolved to drink with friendsinstead) was followed by an homage to their former musical director (I think) who had recently passed away.Their emotion poured into one of his favourite pieces was astunning finale to the evening.

I discovered that Gilbert and Sullivan was one of thethings that brought Nigel and Marion together and this,along with a most enjoyable evening left me with a peakedinterest in all things Gilbert and Sullivan.

Charlotte Teale

Grim’s Dyke Hotel

The Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths is taking partin the Lord Mayor’s Show again on Saturday the 12thof November to support our Liveryman, Dr Andrew

Parmley, who is due to become the next Lord Mayor of theCity of London.

The theme of this year’s Show is Education and our entrywill be a walking party of Liverymen in gowns with flags,Liverymen Blacksmiths, Black smiths, student Blacksmithsand apprentice Blacksmiths in their aprons bearing workingtools and banners. We are blessed with a thriving living craftand as the majority of our charitable giving supports theeducation of Blacksmiths, so we are well qualified to carryour banners saying ‘Blacksmiths supporting Education’.

After the success of the Treloar’s Arch we are makinganother piece of ironwork to parade in the Show, this time atwo metre tall ‘Swan Rampart’. Why a Swan? It appears as asupporter on our Coat of Arms, symbolic of the grace andelegance so desirable in the finished work of the Blacksmith.The anchor around its neck is the symbol of the martyredSt Clement, a Patron of Blacksmiths. The Swan also has aspecial significance for Dr Parmley as he is the Swan Wardenof the Vintners company.

PPW Don Barker FWCB is again generously providingthe Pure Iron for the Swan and Court Assistant Steve MillerAWCB and his wife Sue are leading the design andconstruction. All AWCBs and FWCBs are invited to take partin the construction and a forge-in will take place inSeptember. If you wish to take part please contact the Millersat venusandvulcandesign@gmail.com.

Once paraded, the Swan will be auctioned in ourcontinued support of Treloar’s, a school and collegefounded by a former Lord Mayor for disabled young people. www.treloar.org.uk.

The Show is a great day out for all the family with the parade, other City attractions and a free firework display on the Thames at the end of the afternoon. Seehttps://lordmayorsshow.london/ for more information.

We will be making the most of the day by arranging avenue for spectators to have lunch after the parade haspassed and for participants to join them after it has finished.

Seats are available in the grandstands at St Paul’sCathedral to give a birds eye view of the procession. The costis £39 per seat, including a programme, and these can bebooked through the Clerk:hammerandhand@blacksmithscompany.org

Please contact him soonest so he can make a blockbooking for the required number of seats.

We look forward to seeing you there, look out for us inblack and gold!

9

Meet Your New Prime Warden –Richard Regan OBE, OStJ

Iwas educated at Wimbledon College and started mycareer in the City of London qualifying as a CharteredCompany Secretary. I am happily married to Anne and

we have four children. I attended my first Lord Mayor’s Show when I was 14

years old with my Grandfather and that and the fact that heworked in the City gave me the idea that I would like towork in the Securities Markets. I joined the Prudential andwas put on the Investment Department which really was thebeginning of the very happy but demanding 42 years I spentin my career. I Joined the Central Investment Association ofthe Insurance Companies where I eventually became theSenior Manager and a Director on the International Board ofthe Paris Bourse and Chairman of an International FundGroup of Fund Managers. I have been privileged to serve asthe Sheriff of The City of London and also to have served asthe Elected Leader of Council of the City of London.

My first experience of Blacksmithing was as a child whenmy family lived in Sutton Scotney and I used to spend hourswatching the local blacksmith making gates, mendingploughs and using his skills to produce the most complexarticles as dictated by his customers. I pumped the bellowsand generally got in his way although he never told me so!I was fascinated by how malleable Iron is when heated to theright temperature.

My interest throughout my life in the City and thereforeLivery Companies and childhood interest in blacksmithingresulted in my being really honoured to join our WorshipfulCompany.

As many of you may know I also had the honour ofChairing our Craft Committee for 5 years and that coupledwith seeing our craft being demonstrated at County Showsplus making a piece myself at a forge-in has given me asmall insight into the huge skills and inventiveness of ourancient craft.

I shall do my very best during my year of office as PrimeWarden to prove myself worthy of the great honour that hasbeen given to me.

From Mrs Jackie Boughton – Wife of WCB Liveryman Mr Peter Boughton

United Guild’s Service at St Pauls

Following the usual splendid United Guild’sService at St. Pauls we emerged into the brightsunshine to make our way down to the Painter

Stainers Hall. Quite a sight for passers by to see theLord Mayor and his entourage and many Masters,Wardens and Beadles of the various Livery Companiesin their gowns and regalia making their way to variousLivery Halls where they were to have lunch.

At Painter Stainers Hall, the Blacksmiths were guestsof the Painter Stainers Livery Company with twelveother Livery Companies. Our Prime Warden, Nigel

Whitehead with his wife Marian, our Clerk MartinHeath and six Livery members with several wives andguests made up our party of thirteen.

We enjoyed pre-lunch champagne and a splendidlunch with wine. It was a happy gathering –good company and conversation including some banter with members of the Masons’ Company. Our Prime Warden, Nigel, gave an excellent reply on behalf of the guests, after which we all went our separate ways, well content at the end of theproceedings.

The Annual Clifford Champion CommemorationDinner held at Grocers Hall

The Prime Warden Nigel Whitehead hosted the 5th Clifford Champion Commemoration Dinner atGrocer’s Hall in London on Tuesday 8th March 2016

which would have been Past Prime Warden CliffordChampion’s birthday. Part of his bequest on his death on15th January 2011 was to fund an annual “first class” dinneron his birthday restricted to 100 liveryman of the WorshipfulCompany of Blacksmiths. As expected the dinner whichcomprised excellent food and wine was “first class” and waspraised as being “the best ever dinner” by attendees. Tocompliment the excellent fare, a musical accompaniment wasprovided by “The Capital String Quartet” of the LondonBanqueting Ensemble, who played an appropriate selectionof pieces throughout.

The chosen venue this year was Grocers Hall just offPrinces Street in London. The Worshipful Company ofGrocers hall is the Company’s fifth hall and was opened in 1970. It is a well-conceived architectural masterpiececombining contemporary aspirations with those of an“ancient” guild hall. Features of interest include threeAubusson tapestries by John Piper, a wrought iron screen of1682, and two fireplaces of 1800.

The Worshipful Company of Grocers was founded inthe 14th Century as the Guild of Pepperers, which datesfrom the 12th Century, the guild was responsible formaintaining standards for purity of spices and for thesetting of certain weights and measures. The guildincluded pharmacists until 1617.

The guild was known as the Company of Grossers from1373 until 1376 when it became the Company of Grocers of London. The Company was granted a Royal Charter by King Henry VI of England in 1428.The Company is one of the TwelveGreat Livery Companies of the City ofLondon, ranking second in order ofprecedence since A. D. 1515

The Company has included royaltywithin the membership, from KingCharles II in 1660, up to more recenttimes with Princess Diana becoming anhonorary freeman in 1983.

At the appropriate moments duringthe dinner, the Sung Grace from LaudiSpirituali A. D. 1545 was sung in goodfellowship by all, followed by thePrime Warden offering a tribute toClifford Champion and loyal toasts.During his tribute, the Prime Wardenwas also pleased to mention that therehad been 45 new members of the liverysince the first dinner.

The proceedings were followed bythe ceremony of the Loving Cup whichwas initiated by the Prime Warden.

The “Loving Cup” ceremony wascertainly a feisty occasion at one or two

dinner tables. It is worth noting for the benefit of some ofthe more recent liverymen (and those who have forgotten!)of the origins and actual ceremony.

The ceremony of the Loving Cup dates back to the 10thCentury Anglo Saxon times, and the assassination of KingEdward the Martyr who was stabbed by command of Elfridawhilst drinking from a two handed goblet. Elfrida was tobecome the third wife of King Edgar and was according toAnglo Saxon archive the first woman to be crowned asQueen of England.

As a precaution against such acts of treachery the back ofthe person drinking from the cup is guarded by hisneighbour. The full ceremony is described below.

When your neighbour is about to drink from the Cup he willturn and face you, at which point you will rise from your chair.After bowing to each other you will raise the lid of the Cup aloftin your right hand – the dagger hand – whilst your neighbourdrinks. You will then replace the lid – and take the Cup in bothhands. You and your neighbour will bow to one another again.You will then turn to your neighbour on your other side,whereupon the process is repeated. Whilst you are drinking, theneighbour from whom you have received the Cup will turn hisback on you, ostensibly to protect you from attack. After youhave drunk from the Cup and handed it to your neighbour youwill similarly turn your back on him until he has finisheddrinking. You will then sit down. (Reference The WorshipfulCompany of Grocers.)

In accord with the wishes of Past Prime Warden CliffordChampion a memorable first class dinner accompanied bygood fellowship was enjoyed by all.

Jim Cook

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The Prime Warden’s Weekend Les Armstrong

We always look forward to the Prime WardensWeekend and what a pleasant surprise it was tolearn that it was to be held in Coventry and

Kenilworth. Not only is it on our doorstep but I knew thehotel well as The National Association of Farriers,Blacksmiths and Agricultural Engineers had used it duringmy Presidency. Coventry with its long and strong links tothe metal manufacturing industries was a particularly goodchoice of venue for the Blacksmiths Company to hold thePrime Warden's weekend.

The 4th June 2016 started well, Jilly and myself settingoff with Jilly at the wheel, to avoid any little contretempson the way I punched the post code into the Sat Nav asapparently the other Liverymen and guests also did, asthe lady in the quiet little Cul-de-sac in Kenilworthpointed out whilst enquiring "and how many more of you are there"!!?? Eventually, however, despite being given the wrong post code? we reached The Marriot Hoteland the friendly welcoming faces of our friends from theCompany. The first evening saw us enjoying a verypleasant dinner at the Hotel with plenty of time to catchup with our follow Liverymen and guests.

The Saturday saw us fortified with a good breakfastbefore setting off to Coventry. Jilly and myself along withnumerous other Liverymen visited the Transport Museumin the morning and enjoyed the rest of the day seeing theexhibits around the city as part of the Motofest event,there were countless vintage and classic cars andmotorcycles to be seen. For my sins I've been renovatinga 1937 Morgan Series One 4-4 with a Coventry ClimaxEngine, from where else but Coventry, so my radar wasset for the marquee, but unfortunately the cupboard wasbare in regard to this particular make of vehicle. OtherLiverymen and guests visited the famous CoventryCathedral and the remains of the Medieval Cathedral thatwas destroyed during World War II.

Anyone who has worked metal will know the name SirAlfred Herbert and may I say at this point despite all that youmay have heard in praising others, Sir Alfred Herbert wasinstrumental in the winning of two world wars by providingour great nation with the means to efficiently produce theparaphernalia of war on his machine tools, that wereproduced in Coventry to such high standards and in suchlarge numbers. Our firm still uses machines manufacturedby the Herbert Machine Tool Co. Sir Alfred was a greatbenefactor to the City of Coventry as many of us learnedduring our walk through the city. Coventry has been blessedwith more than its fair share of engineering successes, SirHarry Ferguson developed TE20 "The Little Grey Tractor"there with its revolutionary 3 point linkage using an enginemade by the Coventry based Standard Motor Company, thiswent on to become one of the largest manufactured vehicleswithin the entire world with 517,000 being producedbetween 1946/1956. Land Rover became another local worldbeater as did Jaguar, Rootes, Triumph, Daimler, Riley, Healeyand Armstrong Siddeley which were also famous Coventrymarques. The development of the first British jet engine tookplace in Coventry under Coventry born Frank Whittle, laterto become Sir Frank Whittle, its first flight taking place on 15 May 1941. What an inspired choice of venue for theBlacksmiths Prime Wardens weekend Coventry was.

The Saturday evening saw us return to Coventry to aBlack Tie Dinner at the 13th Century St Mary's Guildhall in the company of the Lord Mayor of Coventry, CouncillorLindsley Harvard and the Clerk to the Guild of CoventryFreemen, John Wilkinson, where throughout a most splendiddinner we were entertained by eight members of TheCambridge Voices who also gave a wonderful rendition ofthe Blacksmiths Song. Selecting the Cambridge Voices forthe entertainment was again an inspired choice. We all leftfeeling very well fed and entertained, for a night cap at thehotel before retiring for the evening.

Sunday morning saw the day start with a hearty breakfastat the hotel followed by a short walk to Kenilworth Castle, Ihave past there on innumerable times but have never visitedit. I have always considered it to be a ruin having beendestroyed by Parliamentary Forces during the English CivilWar. Whilst most of the castle is indeed a ruin, it is wellworth a visit, we were given a guided tour by an extremelyknowledgeable lady who related how the ElizabethanGardens had been reconstructed on their original site to theoriginal style. Many of the features and aspects of the gardenbuild by Robert Dudley, the 1st Earl of Leicester were donesurreptitiously to assist his courtship with Elizabeth 1 duringher stay at Kenilworth and nearby Warwick Castle. After amost enlightening talk by our guide we were left to our ownindividual meanderings through the gardens and groundsand then made our way back to Kenilworth where we allenjoyed lunch at a local restaurant before all bidding ourgoodbyes to complete what had been a most splendid andenjoyable weekend for which Jilly and myself and on behalfof all the Liverymen and guests, would like to sincerelythank the Prime Warden Nigel and his wife Marion for themost delightful, successful and most inspired weekend.

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On 26th February and 27th April 2016 Kevin BoysFWCB and I were invited to attend the forge-in at Kingston Maurward College in Dorchester to

assist in the forging of memorial poppies for the YpresProject.

On the Saturday morning the forge was visited byrepresentatives of the Local British Legion, two of whichwere Commodore Richard Bridges and his wife Julia.Richard is a member of the Worshipful Company ofFarriers so he does have an added interest in hot metal.He has also recently completed a three year stint as

Chairman of the Farriers’ Registration Council; a verynotable achievement.

On spotting a copy of our newsletter No. 47, theCommodore wanted to hear all about the WorshipfulCompany of Blacksmiths’ involvement with AlbertMcKenzie, RN VC. The man of the moment, Kevin Boys was on the spot and able to relate a full and in-depth account of the details of the project from start tocompletion and I believe that together the four of us hada pleasant and interesting morning.

Thank you Richard and Julia for your support.

People We Meet Hugh Adams CWCB

Chez has been a familiar face atBlacksmithing events for manyyears assisting with displays at

County Shows and supporting otherevents in the Company’s calendar suchas the Cheapside Fair. Chez is an Associate and Licentiate of theWorshipful Company of Blacksmithswho has given over 60 years’ service tothe craft. His lengthy involvement inCompany affairs has prompted me towrite this piece by way of expressinggratitude for all he has done.

My first knowledge of the legendthat is Dave “Chez” Chescoe camewhen I was a civilian running theR.E.M.E. machine shop at the Gunneryschool at Lulworth in Dorset in 1987. I was fortunate enough to work with an Army Metal smith, a Corporal TerryPenn, who was trained as a Blacksmith by Chez. Over thetwo years that I worked there I heard many first-hand talesof the extraordinary man who could “hold a near red hot piece of iron with his bare hands”, who “wouldn’t takeany nonsense but was the best Blacksmith instructor in the British Army”. Terry also showed me some of theBlacksmithing skills that he had learned from Chez. I feltthat I knew Chez well and already held great respect for himalthough I had never met him. I had to wait until thesummer of 2001 when I bumped into a very friendly smithat the New Forest Show who worked as a civilian instructorfor the Army at Borden and was supporting the Blacksmithsstand at the show. After a few minutes of chat I knew thatthis was the legendary Chez Chescoe, we have remainedfirm friends ever since.

Chez joined the Army in 1951 as an ApprenticeTradesman, Royal Engineers. Subsequently he joined his brother in REME where he trained as a blacksmith. After 25 years’ service in uniform and attaining the rank

of Staff Sergeant he was posted in 1976 to the School of Electrical andMechanical Engineering at Bordenwhere he remained working as a Civil Servant at Vosper Thorneycroftwhich subsequently became BabcockInternational. During that time he wasresponsible for all the Blacksmithtraining, basic Metalsmith training aswell as Armourer, Vehicle Mechanic,and Artificer and undertaking thetraining of overseas students at Borden.

His depth of knowledge is second tonone and most of that is due to hisconsiderable experience working insuch diverse places as ChristmasIsland, Laos, Vietnam, Germany andNorthern Ireland. While at Borden hemade several artistic ironwork piecesfor the town and Garrison including

the Jubilee gates at the bottom of Chalet Hill and the signand cross for the Garrison Church. He was involved in thecomplete re-writing of the Blacksmith précis in a clear andconcise style.

According to his former Commanding Officer, Chezdeveloped a style of teaching that could only be described asunconventional. The normal train of thought that many ofus would follow is disregarded when under his tutelage.Chez has this amazing ability to be almost cryptic in hisdelivery of theory and in practical lessons until suddenly,like a light bulb being switched on, everything becomescomprehensible and more importantly, understood by thestudent.

Chez is still actively imparting his vast experience to mystudents at Kingston Maurward College by donating coursematerial and his book collection and often coming to the College to give lectures. We fully intend to use hisknowledge and expertise to the full.

The legend lives on.

Chez Chescoe LWCB, AWCB

Dave “Chez” Chescoe – the legend

A profile by Liveryman Simon Grant-Jones LWCB, FWCB, CertEd

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He was a hugely talented metalwork designer-draughtsman, spanning the period from before thefoundation of BABA to very recent developments.

From Twickenham Art College, where he learned basicdrawing techniques, he served an apprenticeship as adecorative metalwork designer at Grundy Arnatt, one ofthe ‘big four’ London architectural metalworking firmsafter the War.

This involved training in ornamental blacksmithing,welding, and other metalworking skills, but mostimportantly in technical and ornamental draughtsmanshipand rendering – here he came under the mentorship of J. Seymour Lindsay, celebrated to thisday as an author and illustrator ofbooks on decorative architecturalmetalwork, and on the more humblemetal furnishings of English hearths,kitchens and houses.

Seymour Lindsay taught John howto draw metal – and was to say “He’s learned everything I have toteach him”.

Also at Grundy Arnatt, he cameunder the tutelage of Leonard Grundy, who had trained as anarchitect, and whom I remember as a superb designer-draughtsman ofclassical forgework – the gazebo atKew Palace is his masterpiece andswansong.

After the post-War restorationboom, there was not enough demand for high-qualitydecorative architectural metalwork, and the large firms in London and other cities diversified or went out ofbusiness. Grundy Arnatt began to run down theirdecorative workshop to concentrate on motorway crash-barriers and beer kegs, and John moved on to work as atechnical draughtsman at F. Norris, a South London steelfabricating firm.

Meanwhile, I was struggling to produce presentationdrawings and technical and full-size working drawings formy own family firm, Richard Quinnell Ltd, which, with ahighly-skilled workforce, was expanding into the nichemarket for high-quality metalwork left by the defunctLondon firms, and getting more and more prestigiouscommissions – I have no talent for draughtsmanship at all,and this was a serious defect in our operation.

Quite by chance I learned of John’s skills from a deliverydriver from Grundy Arnatt collecting work that they hadsubcontracted to us, and I contacted him, and he started towork for us.

The chronology in my memory is awfully hazy, but Ithink that this must have been around the late 1960s. Heimmediately proved to be an absolute godsend, and wasmy right hand man in the production of design drawingsand setting out work at full size in the workshop.

He worked with me on an amazing variety of projectsworldwide – he deigned huge forged Royal coats of arms

for four British embassies abroad; dozens of gates andbalustrades for palaces in the Middle East (together wedevised a style for the Sultan of Oman combiningClassical and Islamic influences, and worked exclusivelyas designer-metalworkers on all the Royal properties over15 years – dozens of magnificent balustrades and gates,with all finished design and detail drawings, and all full-size setting-out in the workshop, by John); and smalleritems like unique suites of bronze door furniture – and a similar range of work in Europe, the United States, even Australia and Japan – and of course in Britain.

His draughtsmanship was of an excellence that allowedus to use his ink drawings onPermatrace directly as full-sizemasters for photo-etching elaborateand highly technical sundials onbronze plates.

He became a director of RichardQuinnell Ltd., and we worked side by side in the same office for some 25 years. When possible, we wouldbunk-off for a pub lunch at the‘Victoria’ in Oxshott, and he was very good company – otherwise verydifferent personalities, we shared thesame sense of humour.

I remember in the mid-1970s Johngoing to see a Mr. Doran’ in Henleyto discuss some railings. He cameback excited and said “It’s for a pop star – I think it’s that Mick

Jagger [sic]!” – it turned out to be George Harrison!By the mid-1990s our highly-skilled workforce was

reaching retirement age and I was winding things down– John went freelance, and continued to do drawings forus for some time, but also for Peter and Brian at ValleyForge, who do excellent work near Heathrow Airport.Peter tells me that John did masses of design drawingsfor them from 1994 onwards, finally retiring in 2008. I’veseen an album of these, and they’re wonderful.

John was awarded the Diploma of Merit of theWorshipful Company of Blacksmiths and became anAssociate of the Company (AWCB) in 1974.

He was made a Companion of the Company, the highestaward for a non-blacksmith, in 2000 (although he hadtrained as a smith with Grundy Arnatt, and had a thoroughpractical understanding of the craft).

He was granted the Freedom of the Company in 2013,and was admitted as a Liveryman in 2014.

He served the Company as chairman of the TonypandyAward panel from 2011 to 2014. He designed the candlestands presented to St. Lawrence Jewry by the Company.

John was a great designer-draughtsman of metalwork inall styles, and a convivial friend. We will miss him, but I amglad that he has not had to face an inevitable decline.

As I think some of you know, John’s wife Carolyn has abattle of her own to face, and I know that we all wish herluck and courage; and all our love is with you, Carolyn.

ObituariesJohn Cullin CWCB died on 25 May 2015, aged 76 – By Liveryman Dick Quinnell CWCB

John Cullen CWCB

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Professor David Hey was EmeritusProfessor of History at SheffieldUniversity and he was one of the firstto embrace the growing popularity of family history. In more than 30published books he offered advice on where to source documents andhow to decipher archaic handwriting.His book Family Names and FamilyHistory published in 2000 was one of the definitive studies of Britishsurnames. He said that guessingmeanings of surnames was a“dangerous game”; “people with theEast Midlands name Daft will tell you that their name originally meant‘meek’; people with the Essex surname Nice are less likely tovolunteer the information that theirname once meant ‘foolish’”. However,he admitted that with guesswork “we may not be far out with EmmaJollybody”!

When I was Prime Warden, Iwanted to leave an enduring gift and so I asked David to review ourCompany’s previous written historyand write something new. He hadunique access to all the Company’srecords both held by us and atGuildhall as well as the extensiveknowledge of present day Liverymenand used it all to distil a fascinating700-year story. The book was publishedin 2010 and is the pre-eminent recordof the Blacksmiths’ Company.

David is survived by his wife Pat and his children Emma andJonathan and their families. Pat hassaid of him that “his job was his hobby and his hobby was his job andhe never forgot how lucky he was thatit had been that way”. Judy and I feelvery privileged to have known him asa close friend and his passing is feltvery keenly by all who knew him.

Obituaries – continuedProfessor David Hey (1938-2016) – Author of our History –By Past Prime Warden John McCuin

Liveryman Richard Huntley Holland died on 15th March 2016A funeral director and colourful character who lived in Somerset, Richard joined the livery in October 1994.

Amina Chatwin CWCB died on 12th March 2016She was the first woman to be elected Companion of the Company in 2002. She wrote extensively on the history ofBlacksmithing and her book, Into the New Iron Age – Modern British Blacksmiths which is regarded as a seminal workwithin the craft.

Liveryman Eric Lamprell FWCB

Entrance Gates

In 2015 I was commissioned to make a pair oftraditionally forged entrance gates for a house inSussex. The opening is 6m with each gate being 2.5m

wide. The height at the centre is 4.5m. On completion of all forging and assembly, the gates

were shot blasted and zinc sprayed, primed with a top coatof black and a gold leaf finish applied to various areas. Theshields are the in-house family crest and are handmade andpainted.

The gates were designed and made at The Forge inAshurstwood, Sussex and the contract, which includedinstallation, was finally completed in July 2016.

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New Liverymen

Epiphany 2016

Brian SimpsonProposed by Dr David Woodings and seconded by Michael Batt.

Brian is a self-employed Chartered Physiotherapist who lives inSuffolk.

David CoombesProposed by John Knox and seconded by Peter Boughton.

David is a retired Engineering manager who completed anapprenticeship as a blacksmith. He lives in Romsey in Hampshire.

Ladyday 2016

Charlotte TealeProposed by Past Prime Warden Adrian Oliver and seconded

by Ben Oliver. A family connection here, Charlotte is Adrian’sdaughter. She works as an insurance consultant in the City ofLondon and has operated the Company Twitter account for the last two years.

Katie WhittinghamProposed by The Prime Warden and seconded by Past Prime

Warden John McCuin. Katie is a Chartered Accountant who usedto work for Ernst & Young in the City. She now works as a WealthManager and lives with her family in Kent.

North Somerset Show 2016

First show on the NBCC’s circuit proved to good startto the season with the forges for the live competitionbeing in full use throughout the day with some

excellent reproductions of an infil piece made by the judgeMr Paul Allen that needed extensive skills to duplicate it.The judging proved very difficult for him as the contestantsvied to win.

The static competition again had some outstandingpieces, and hopefully will be on view at other shows for allto see.

John Bellamy CWCB

Horse Head by Joshua De Lisle under discussion from two Master smiths: Gold Medal Winner Bob Hobbs FWCB and Paul Allen LWCB, FWCB

Sam Bailey’scandleholder “The Couple”

Folding Log Rack by Richard Jones

Andrew Hall’sTable Lamp

We welcome our new Liverymen and look forward to seeing them at future Company events

Prime Warden with Brian Simpson (left) and David Coombes

Prime Warden with Charlotte Teale (left) and Katie Whittingham

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Published by: The Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths · Design and Typesetting by: Les Allen – 07944 295613 · Printed by: LeA Printers – 0845 232 2322

Prices:

• Livery Tie £10 (Liverymen only)

• ‘Social Tie’ £22

• Umbrella £15

• Cuff Links £66.50

• Brooches £72.50

All items available from the Clerk, Martin Heath.A limited supply might be available at Court luncheons.

Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths’ Shop

Thomas Cromwell is now about fifty years old. He has a labourer’s body, stocky, useful, runningto fat. He has black hair, greying now, and

because of his impermeable skin, which seems designed to resist rain as well as sun, people sneer that his father was an Irishman, though really he wasa brewer and a blacksmith at Putney, a shearsman too, a man with a finger in every pie, a scrapper and a brawler, a drunk and a bully, a man often hauledbefore the justices for punching someone, for cheatingsomeone. How the son of such a man has achieved his present eminence is a question all Europe asks.

Hilary Mantel from ‘Bring Up The Bodies’ in the Thomas Cromwell Trilogy

Thomas Cromwell

Show Dates 2016

Diary of Events 2016

Copies of the excellent photographs taken by MichaelO’Sullivan of the Awards Luncheon and other formalevents and reproduced in the Newsletter can be obtaineddirectly from:

www.michaelosullivanphotography.co.uk or michaelphotography@tiscali.co.uk

Telephone: 020 8363 8350

Copies of photographs

Previous issues of theNewsletterPast issues of the Newsletter can be accessed through theCompany website:

www.blacksmithscompany.org•

click on Livery•

click on Newsletters

Editor: Merv Allene-mail: metalwizard@btinternet.com

Telephone: 01342 841742

Invitations will be sent to all Liverymen but please put these in your diary now

20th September – Prime Warden’s Dinner – Royal Collegeof Surgeons

29th September – Lord Mayor’s Election

12th October – Treloar’s Gala Dinner – Mansion House

20th October – Michaelmas Court and Awards Luncheon

12th November – Lord Mayor’s Show

19th January – Epiphany Court Luncheon on board the ship,HQS Wellington

Other Events

1st-6th September – Poppy Cenotaph Forging Event– Ypres, Belgium (visit website: www.ypres2016.com)

6th November 2016 – Ceremony to Unveil and Inaugurate the Poppy Cenotaph – German Cemetery, Langemark-Poelkapelle, Belgium

19th November – St Clems Day – Finch Foundry, Sticklepath,Oakhampton, Devon

Edenbridge and Oxted Show August 28th, 29th

Dorset County Show September 3rd, 4th

‘’

‘Pip, dear old chap, life is made of ever so many partingswelded together, as I may say, and one man’s a blacksmith,and one’s a whitesmith, and one’s a goldsmith, and one’s acoppersmith. Diwisions among such must come, and mustbe met as they come.’

Joe says these words to Pip as a farewell in Chapter 27, aftertheir awkward meeting in London. Pip, now a gentleman,has been uncomfortably embarrassed by both Joe’scommonness and his own opulent lifestyle, and theunpretentious Joe has felt like a fish out of water in Pip’ssumptuous apartment. With this quote, Joe tells Pip that hedoes not blame him for the awkwardness of their meeting,but he chalks it up instead to the natural divisions of life. The blacksmith concocts a metaphor of metalsmithing todescribe these natural divisions: some men are blacksmiths,such as Joe, and some men are goldsmiths, such as Pip. In these simple terms, Joe arrives at a wise and resignedattitude toward the changes in Pip’s social class that havedriven them apart, and he shows his essential goodness and loyalty by blaming the division not on Pip but on theunalterable nature of the human condition.

From Great Expectationsby Charles Dickens