The

Worshipful

Company of

Blacksmiths

Newsletter27th Issue

October 2005

Chairman:Assistant Don Barker FWCB

Editor:Assistant Chris Childs

Published by: The Publicity and Public Relations Committee,Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths, 48 Upwood Road, Lee, London SE12 8AN

www.blacksmithscompany.org.uk

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What sets a Gold award winnerabove the rest is what that person

has contributed to the craft as awhole through his knowledge of thecraft and its history, the imparting ofthat knowledge to future smiths, the

promotion of the craft through showsby exhibiting, demonstrating andorganizing, and his total enthusiasmand commitment to the craft as awholeover a long period of time.

The one person who fulfillsall these criteria in

my opinion isRobert Hobbs.

Quote by Hector Cole

On Other PagesThe New Prime Warden 2The Outgoing Prime Warden’s Diary 2Wimbledon Village Fair 3Coming Home 4From the Editor 4A Working Blacksmith 5Prime Warden’s Weekend Visit to Bath 6Annual Banquet 7The Guild of Freemen of the City of London 7Thames Barge Driving Event 8Military Corner 8Lest We Forget 92005 County Shows 102006 Show Dates 10New Member of the Court 10Royal Ascot in York for 2005 10Obituaries 11New Liverymen 11Apprentice 11Company Diary 12The Lord Mayor 12The Lord Mayor’s Show 12The Blacksmiths’ Shop 12

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John Shreeves hands over the gavel to John Smith as Prime Warden

Robert Hobbs – Gold Medal Winner

Model of a blacksmith at the forge presented to

the Worshipful Company ofBlacksmiths by Robert Hobbs

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The New Prime Warden

John Smith was elected andinstalled as Prime Warden at the Election Court on Thursday,28 July. He has shown his

commitment to the art and mystery of

blacksmithing through his work asChairman of the Craft Committee.During that time he became wellknown to the working blacksmiths,not only those with a directinvolvement with the Company butalso a wider circle, through hisregular appearances at the variouscounty shows.

He has shown a great interest in the craft and, to an extent, that is no surprise as he completed a two-year apprenticeship in the shoemachinery industry before going toClare College, Cambridge to readEngineering.

After Cambridge University Johnjoined the Leicester based familydairy business, Kirby and West. It was established in 1868 but has been under the control of the Smith

family since 1919. His brother andsister are also in the business and they have worked together for over 40 years.

John was born in Leicester andwent to Oakham School and nowlives on a farm five miles outsideLeicester with his wife, Louise. Theirelder son is also a member of theLivery while their other son workswith his father in the dairy business.Their daughter lives in Spain thusenabling John and Louise to indulgetheir love of travel.

With such a proven commitment toblacksmiths and The WorshipfulCompany of Blacksmiths anotherpositive year in the life of our AncientCompany is assured and we wishJohn and Louise a very enjoyable andsuccessful year.

Before then the list of important events included:

Plaisterers Company DinnerFounders Company DinnerReception at Mansion House National Inventory of War MemorialsIronmongers Company City DinnerMasons Company LuncheonCity visit to TreloarsMansion House Dinner Masters and Prime WardensUnited Guilds ServiceChartered Surveyors Company DinnerWheelwrights Company Dinner Water Conservators LuncheonThe Hon. The Irish Society Reception Plumbers Company Ladies DinnerLoriners Company LuncheonSons of the Clergy Annual ServiceVintners Company DinnerPewterers Company Pewter Live ExhibitionGuild of Security Professionals LuncheonMansion House Reception Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust Livery WeekendElection of SheriffsSociety of Knights Bachelor Service and Reception(The events in bold type are City wide occasions.)

The Outgoing Prime Warden’s DiaryThe very last formal Company occasion for the Prime Warden John Shreeves was the Election Court at the end of July but before that there are many other roles to be played. One of the more prestigious is to attend one of the Garden Partiesat Buckingham Palace.

In his remarks at the Election Court JohnShreeves observed that there is a certain feeling ofrelief mingled with regret in coming to the end ofhis year in office. He thanked the Wardens and

all the Members of the Court for their support and camaraderiethroughout the year. He did not list all the events at which hehad represented the Company but stated how proud he hadbeen to be Prime Warden on such occasions.

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John Smith

On an extremely hot Juneweekend The WorshipfulCompany of Blacksmiths

brought to life the art of the blacksmith through a serious of livedemonstrations at the WimbledonVillage Fair. Billed as one of the village fairs principle attractions theWorshipful Company and their team of blacksmiths helped to attractan estimated 15,000 people to theWimbledon Guilds annual fundraisingevent. The Wimbledon Guild of Social Welfare to give it its full title wasestablished in 1907 as a society topromote what is today the welfarestate. It now helps over 5,000 peopleannually, both old and young,throughout the London Borough ofMerton.

Our participation in the fair wasmade possible through the generosityof our sponsors, Young & Co, Breweryplc, The Ram Brewery, London, andthe hard work put in by Peter Begent,the Company is indebted to both ofthem. We were only sorry that Peterwas unable to join us to witness thesuccess in helping the village fair raiseover £20,000 during the day’s events.

The Company raised £225 for TheWimbledon Guild of Social Welfare, inthe making of a Rams Head Corkscrewwhich was raffled. The significance

of the Ram bore a dual role, it is not only a traditional item crafted by blacksmiths but the Ram is alsosynonymous with our sponsors.Indeed John Young, the company’schairman, close affinity to animalsgives him a link with the City. Not onlydoes his company keep a Ram at theirbrewery they also have some of thefinest dray horses in England who’sjob it is, when they are not carryinghogs of beer, to draw the Lord Mayor’scoach through the streets of London.

It was a most pleasing feeling to seeWorshipful Company of BlacksmithsCoat of Arms alongside that of theCorporation of London and to knowwe were both supporting such aworthy charity. The Corporation hasdonated substantial funds to theWimbledon Guild through the BridgeHouse Trust and their logo ispredominately displayed on many of the Wimbledon Guild Vehicles.Consequently we were not only able to promote our craft but to also playour part in helping to raise the profile of the City within a London Borough.

As for our stand a great deal ofinterest was shown in our smiths asthey worked in the scorching heat toproduce some fine examples of theircraft. However, the most rewardingitem produced was not the most

sophisticated. The making of nails oneof the simplest items attracted a numberof small boys who not only left our standdelighted with their new possessionbut encouraged others to ask for one oftheir own. It would appear that themaking of these nails immediatelypreceded a medieval awareness weekat their school at which our nails weresubsequently exhibited.

After a hard days work under asweltering heat the smiths retired tothe Fox and Grapes, for some welldeserved refreshment. The Fox andGrapes could not have been a morefitting end to a perfect day. For thoseof our readers who are not familiarwith this particular hostelry it onceserved to quench the thirst of studentsand their tutors at COSIRA’S firstschool for blacksmithing. Therefore,we can assume that Tommy Tucker,who was not only one of the principleteachers at the school but inspired somany within our industry, would havealso frequented this establishment.

Whilst sipping our beer it wasunanimously agreed by all theblacksmiths taking part that our standhad been a resounding success, asentiment that was obviously sharedby the organisers who have asked if wewould be prepared to return next year.

Richard Chellew

Wimbledon Village Fair

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Coming Home

The note inside the Casket says:‘Presented to Sir William Arrol

(1839-1913) by the WorshipfulCompany of Blacksmiths on thecompletion of his construction of theForth Bridge, 1889.’

There was a “Special Court” heldon 22 May 1890 and the Clerk readthe resolution:

‘That the freedom and Livery be presented to Sir John FrancisFowler Bart KCMG Past PresidentInstitution of Civil Engineers, SirBenjamin Baker KCMG Member ofCouncil Institution of Civil Engineers,Sir William Arrol, Member Institutionof Civil Engineers, in commemorationof the completion of Forth Bridge.’

The Bridge connects the villages of North and South Queeensferryand remains an integral part of theeast coast Railway route north. Thebridge is a ‘must do’ stop formillions of visitors to Scotland everyyear and is one of the mostphotographed heritage sites in UK.

The Illustrated London News in1889 described the Forth Bridge as:‘A long stride over space . . . thelongest distance between supportsyet covered by mechanical means.’

The bridge designer, BenjaminBaker, described the project as: ‘A romantic chapter from a fairytaleof science.’

Forth Rail Bridge at night(archive photograph)

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From the Editor This is my second Newsletter and my vision for the future is to give an opportunity:

✔ To provide a twice yearly conduit that strengthens information exchange between the Court and the Liverymen.✔ For all Liverymen to have a voice in the production of the Newsletter and I would welcome any direct approach.

Editor – email: chrischilds10@aol.com Telephone: 01622 831558✔ To encourage the support of all our local Blacksmiths by promoting attendance at the County shows and

visiting their forges.✔ To continue articles on our practising Blacksmiths and encourage open discussion for craft development.✔ To run articles on City activities, military achievements and sponsorship work.✔ To seek out the interesting stories behind our talented people.✔ To write articles on the sporting interests and hobbies of Liverymen.✔ To advertise charity events and encourage sponsorship events.✔ To advertise the WCB shop – Umbrellas, jewellery, clothing, et al. – all profits help the Blacksmiths cause.

Sue Pennington believed it was the wish of her Father in Law,Alfred William Pennington, to bring home the FreedomCasket to the Blacksmiths Livery Company.

Alfred, Prime Warden of the WCB in 1984, acquiredthe casket through the kind auspices of hissuccessor as Prime Warden, Wing CommanderVere Smyth. As you can see from the photographit combines the artistic imagination and thewonderful skills of the Blacksmith.

The Freedom Casket

Photography by M. O’Sullivan

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A Working Blacksmith

In 1998 Channel 4 filmed ‘In theday of a Blacksmith at the Forge’and Rodney and his father were

featured and their contribution to the village life as blacksmithshighlighted. Sadly 3 daysafter the programme wasbroadcast his father passedaway.

In July 1931 Rodney was born in the house inwhich he now lives and in 1965 he married Daphne,who has shared hisenthusiasm for Blacksmithwork. Unfortunately hecaught rheumatic fever at anearly age which precludedNational Service and meanthe had to work on a farm.He started working with his father in 1950 and in 1960 it was decided thatRodney would go to R.I.B. in Wimbledon (which laterbecame COISRA) to train in wrought ironwork andgeneral blacksmithing underthe tuition of such wellknown teachers as Augusta Zanni,Bert Bolland, Tommy Tucker andFrank Day.

When his father retired Rodneytook over the business and decidedto build himself a new forge nearerto his house. Rodney had noexperience at building but with the help of a friend, workingweekends and evenings, the project

was completed in a year.In 1978 he was one of four English

smiths to be invited, through theCrafts Council to train and work at Hereford; this was a first for

blacksmiths. In the same year he wasasked to be a founder member ofBABA. On returning from Herefordthe following year he started to

experiment and use the differentworld wide techniques he had learnt.Rodney’s name as a wrought ironsmith became well known countrywide. His wide ranging clientele has

included Lambeth Palace,National Trust houses,Cathedrals, village signs and The Royal Family bothat Sandringham House andHighgrove House. He andDaphne were invited toattend the official opening of the Prince of Wales New Orchard Room atHighgrove and he wasthanked personally for hisworkmanship.

Following a heart attackin 2002, Rodney sold hisworkshop and enlargedtheir house to incorporatehis parent’s house. Never-theless he continues to help young blacksmiths tobecome established andpasses on his considerableexperience and knowledgeat the Dancing Anvil Forge.

In 2003 Rodney received anHonorary Life membership toNAFBAE for 50 years’ continuousmembership, an organisation he hadserved as President and as a foundermember of their craft committee. He still found time to be a churchwarden and a Parish councillor and inhis younger days he performed aspart of a Country and Western group.

Rodney Cranwell

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Rodney at the anvil

Rodney with Past Prime Warden Hugh Adams Grate

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It was brave of the Prime Warden tochoose a Friday the thirteenth forhis weekend to Bath. 34 people

were expected and they started toarrive at the Francis Hotel, QueenSquare, following the customarypattern, those from furthest awayarriving first except those who hadchecked in the previous evening.The weather being clement mostpeople decided to stroll aroundBath, before dinner and althoughearly in the season the City wasquite busy with tourists.

The lounge began to fill up as people assembled for dinnerand as usual all the ladies looked stunning. The Prime Wardenwelcomed everybody by offeringdrinks and handing them round.Dinner was in a private room and waswell cooked, pleasantly served andwith a reasonable wine list. Theevening held one surprise. At the endPeter Rayner rose to thank the PrimeWarden for a most enjoyable weekendas this was the only occasion thegroup was on its own. It was more agrace, for what we are about to receivemay we thoroughly enjoy.

Next day, after breakfast, the firstevent was a modest walking tour of Bath. We were divided into twogroups. One contained our twoworking smiths, Don Barker and Peter

Begent and our archivist who wasamazed when the lady guide greetedhim as an old friend. This group

visited a lady's hairdresser situated in an old forge located outside theoriginal city walls. The saloncontained the 18th. century forge

bellows still pointing towards thealcove where the hearth used to be.

Luncheon was a free time so Timand Cathy Herring, our resident bonviveurs, arranged for a small group,including the Fourth Warden, to eat atThe Hole in the Wall.

Later the group walked to theBaths to greet the Mayor of Bath andhis Lady at a drinks reception beforesitting down to another excellentmeal. The Prime Warden said a fewwords and the Mayor replied withsome kind words of thanks. He musthave enjoyed himself for he was still

there almost an hour after he was dueto leave. The terrace restaurantlocation overlooked the Great Bath,

which was lit with gas flares andprovided a most fascinating sightwhen it got dark. Later everyoneambled back to the hotel anddespite being in black tie felt quitesafe to walk amongst the crowds ofmerry youngsters.

Sunday dawned and was realPrime Warden's weather, bright andsunny. After breakfast the groupassembled at Dyrham Park andspent a couple of leisurely hourswandering, some to the house,some to the shop and some to the

attractive grounds before proceedingto our luncheon rendezvous, HintonGrange. Rodney Lyons got lost but theRenter Warden had a new satelliteguidance system which despite takinghim on a tour all round the Park, stilllocated the lunch venue before anyoneelse. The Hinton Grange is a gem andthe whole ambience for the carverylunch most relaxing. The weekendprogramme completed, everyonethanked John and Jean for a thoroughlyenjoyable and memorable weekend.

The Prime Warden's weekend nextyear will be centred on Leicester andit is hoped to encourage some newblood to support the event.

Water Flea

Prime Warden’s Weekend Visit to Bath, May 2005

The Prime Warden enjoying his weekend The Learned Clerk relaxing at last

The Prime Warden and his wife Jean with the Mayor and Mayoress of Bath

The Prime Warden amongst friends

Sunday lunch at the Hinton Grange

Photography courtesy of the participants

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The Annual Banquet at the Mansion House remains one of the most prestigious events in the

Company’s calendar. The Prime WardenJohn Shreeves welcomed 281 people at the reception and without doubt theevening met the expectation of everyone.

The Rt. Hon. The Lord Mayor, AldermanMichael Savory not only permitted us touse the Mansion House but headed a most distinguished Company Guest List.During the proposal of the Civic Toast, thePrime Warden stressed the strong links the WCB has with the military andpresented a cheque for the Lord Mayor’sAppeal 2005. The monies were specificallydirected at one of the Lord Mayor’snominated charities The Soldiers, Sailors,Army and Airmen Association (SSAFA).This charity has been providing care and welfare assistance since 1885 toserving and ex-Service men, women and their families, including widows and widowers in need. The website HYPERLINK"http://www.ssafa.org.uk" www.ssafa.org.uk is mostenlightening.

The music provided by Stephen Fletcher and the LondonBanqueting Ensembles during the evening was second to none, with the highlights being the Fanfare ‘Hammer and Hand’, Coach Horn Gallop and Post Horn Gallop. The acoustic qualities of the Mansion House provide awonderful environment for these special pieces of music.

The Blacksmiths Song which was written by the PrimeWarden, Moses Kipling back in 1828 was sung superbly byDominic Barrand and roused the usual emotions within ourproud Company.

By the time the carriages were called the editor had heardno complaints about any aspect of the evening which yetagain reflects so well on the behind the scenes hard workand skill of the Learned Clerk to capture the desires of thePrime Warden, Wardens and Liverymen.

To mark both the election ofLiveryman Leslie Lewis andhis year as Master of the

Guild of Freemen of the City ofLondon, a joint Dinner was heldwith the Members of the Court of theGuild and our own Court at the

Tallow Chandlers’ Hall. It was amost convivial evening and we hopethat it will be the forerunner of avery happy year for Leslie so ablysupported by his wife, Diana. Lesliejoined the Worshipful Company ofBlacksmiths in 1999.

The Worshipful Company of BlacksmithsAnnual Banquet – 15 April 2005

The Guild of Freemen of the City of London

The Prime Warden greets The Lord Mayor

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This issue cannot be printed without comment beingmade of Admiral Nelson and the Battle of Trafalgar(21 October 1805).

As HMS Victory passed astern Vice Admiral Villeneuve’sflagship, she fell foul of theRedoubtable of 74 guns, and her quarterdeck became exposedto the musketry fire from theFrench Flagship’s tops. Nelson,whilst standing talking toCaptain Hardy, fell mortallywounded by a shot on the left shoulder, which strikingobliquely downwards passedthrough the spine. He wascarried below and died somethree hours later, just as the

battle ended in decisive victory for the English. The enemy’s fleet annihilated.

Nelson’s body was brought home, and after lying in stateat Greenwich, was interred with much pomp in the crypt ofSt Paul’s.

An Editorial ViewThe military connection with the Blacksmiths is so verystrong. The Prime Warden presents the Blacksmiths ArmyCup to the best REME craftsman at the Awards Luncheonheld in October each year. The Company has historic linkswith the Gunsmiths, Armourers, Wheelwrights, to count buta few areas that deserve exploring. Finally within our midstthere are several Liverymen with strong military links andinteresting stories to tell from the past and of the future. Sowe will use our contacts and this wealth of talent to bringinteresting new slants to the Newsletter.

A Good ReadDudley Anderson is one of our respected Liverymen in theBlacksmiths and he has written a book entitled Three Cheersfor the Next Man to Die (ISBN 0-7090-7706-X). It is a personalaccount of the action seen by an 18 year-old conscript whoalong with a hundred others of his age was volunteered intothe Red Devils to form D company of the Glider Battalion inthe Sixth Airborne Division during the Second World War.

The race theme for this yearsThames Barge Driving Eventwas Trafalgar – what else. The

crews consist of a maximum of fourFreemen and two Apprentices andthey use a skilful combination of

tide, currents and powerful rowing to transit for seven miles betweenthe Palaces of Greenwich andWestminster. The barges replicate theheavy cargoes that were transportedon the Thames and to prove the skillcoloured pennants were collected

from designated roads en route. Thephotographs show the immense

strength and stamina needed tooperate the three paddles. The Editor realises that he is past it.

An extract from the history of the Company of Watermen andLightermen of the River Thames states:

"Another famous Thameswaterman was Samuel Shillingford,who was Lord Nelson's favourite

coxswain. He was killed in the Battleof Teneriffe (1797) by the same shotthat deprived Nelson of his arm."

Bob Shillingford is an HonoraryAssistant to the Company and he hastraced that Samuel was an ancestorof his.

Military Corner

Thames Barge Driving Event 2005

Photographs by the Editor

Captain Horatio Nelson,1758-1805

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Lest We Forget

Courtesy of Commander John McGregor – Neptune Association

Petty Officer Norman Waltondied this year aged 84 and wasthe only survivor of the 765

crew of the cruiser HMS Neptune,sunk off Libya in 1941, whilst leadingForce K, a cruiser raiding squadronsent to intercept and destroy animportant Italian convoy carryingPanzer tanks, troops and supplies toTripoli. Neptune became trapped in a minefield 12 miles offshore,struck four mines in three hoursand sank with the loss of 764officers and men.

Thanks to his courage,tenacity and supreme physicalfitness, Walton survived threedays in the water and two on araft before being picked up byan Italian torpedo boat. After 15months in Italian PoW camps,he was released in 1943.

Walton later gave a dramaticaccount of the sinking:

"We had been at actionstations since 8pm, when soonafter midnight there was an explosionoff our starboard bow. The captainstopped engines and went astern butwe hit another mine, blowing thescrews and most of the stern away.Then we were hit abaft the funnel. We were ordered up top and had abad list to port and were down in thestern. The destroyer HMS Kandaharcame up to take us in tow. With sevenothers, I was asked to go forward tohelp with the tow, but Kandahar thenhit a mine and slewed off. Then we hit a fourth mine and we were liftedup and dropped back again. I got thePetty Officer off the forecastle frombeneath the anchor chain but he hadbroken his back. Four of us – Price,Middleton, Quinn and me – climbeddown the anchor. We jumped in, but I wanted somewhere to swim to, not just float around, and when I saw a Carley raft I jumped in andswam to it.

I took the tow rope back toMiddleton, who had no lifejacket, andwhen we got back to the raft it wascrowded – about 30 people on andaround it. We saw the ship capsizeand sink, and gave her a cheer as she

went down. We picked up theCaptain who was clinging to whatlooked like an anchor buoy, and heand three other officers finished up ona cork raft attached to ours. The seawas thick with oil and most of us had swallowed a lot of it. A few diedaround us that night and at daylightthere were 16 of us left. The weatherwas pretty rough, and two officers

tried to swim towards the Kandahar,but they never made it."

Since there was no room on theraft, I simply hung on to it –periodically swimming around it incircles in order to keep warm. By thefourth day there were only four of usleft, including the captain, who diedin my arms that night. I was in thewater for three days before beingable to find room aboard the raft.Most of the lads just gave up theghost, but I was very fit because ofplaying so much sport and this isprobably why I survived.

I had a smashed leg, and byChristmas Eve on the fifth day therewas only Price and myself left. I sawan aircraft, waved to it and an hourlater an Italian torpedo boat camealongside and threw me a line. Icollapsed when I got on board andwoke up on Christmas Day in aTripoli hospital. They told me Pricewas dead."

When he was picked up, Waltonfound that the oil in the water hadtemporarily blinded him: "On BoxingDay I got my sight back and lookedin a mirror. My tongue was swollen

to twice its size and my nose spreadacross my face, which was blackfrom the oil and from exposure. Still,apart from my broken leg I wasalmost back to normal by New Year'sDay, when I was put on a shipbound for Italy full of German andItalian troops going on leave."

In 1941, before joining Neptune,Walton served in the destroyer Janus.

He was then drafted to the crewof a whaler taking suppliesalong the North African coast to Tobruk; the boat was sunk by enemy aircraft, and Waltonspent several hours in the waterbefore being rescued.

Later that year, he wasserving at Alexandria in thedepot ship Woolwich. The sub-marine Tetrarch was alongsideand he was invited down “for a wet” to celebrate a friend'sbirthday. After a bottle of rumhad been consumed, Waltonsuddenly realised that the

submarine had sailed, and he wasadded to the "next of kin" list. As theyleft Alexandria harbour, Walton divedin and swam back to the breakwater,returning to his ship undetected.Tetrarch never returned from patrol,and his parents received a telegramsaying that he was missing; Waltonhad some explaining to do. He joinedNeptune on 13 November 1941.

After his release from a PoW campin 1943, he served in a frigate onRussian convoys and then in theminesweeper Rowena, before beingde-mobbed in 1946.

Called up again during the KoreanWar, Walton served another five yearsin the Navy.

Two years ago, when he was 82,Walton was mugged by two youthswho demanded his wallet. Waltontold them: "You will have to get it outof my pocket," and – as one of themen leaned forward – the formerboxer butted him on the nose, thenlanded a left hook on the second and struck both of them with his stick. As they ran off, what upsetWalton most was not being able tochase after them.

HMS Neptune at Simonstown

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2005 County Shows

All the county shows this year went without a hitchand by all accounts the

attendances at every show have been extremely good. It was mostencouraging to see that the Norfolkshow was so well attended as it hasreplaced the East of England Show at Peterborough. Particular thanks must go to Clive Mockford forhelping Peter Begent to organise theArdingly Show. Sadly Peter is no

longer with us but he did manage to make the journey in July to judgeat the Great Yorkshire Show, which

was blessed both by unusually sunny weather during its three dayrun and a record numbers of visitors.

The Prime Warden made a sterlingeffort and managed to attend all theshows, even presenting some of theawards. I can say, as a show organisermyself, that this was very much

appreciated by all the organisers.Thank you Prime Warden!

The list of show dates for 2006 can be found on the back page of this Newsletter. Liverymen areencouraged to attend at least one ofthem and make themselves known tothe organisers who will give them awarm reception and really welcomethe interest.

Assistant, Don Barker FWCB Steward, Great Yorkshire Show

This year Royal Ascot moved to York whilst the BerkshireCourse is being refurbished and David and AnnWoodings used the occasion to invite Don and Michael

Barker with their wives Barbara and Karen, to join them in the Royal Enclosure. The party saw the opportunity to posefor this photograph in front of the award winning stainlesssteel gates which Don designed and made for Rowntree Parkin 2002. A great time was had by them all but it was perhapswise that the picture was taken en route to rather than fromthe racecourse.

Royal Ascot in York for 2005

Afurther Court vacancyoccurred recently after ‘Mac’Head was granted Emeritus

Status. Michael Shepherd hadpreviously been nominated and his candidature was submitted to the

Ladyday Court meeting. He waselected as an Assistant. He swore theOath of an Assistant and took hisseat at the Midsummer Court.

Michael is a financial adviserbased in Marlow. His Father Brian

is also a Liveryman and he hasexperience of the workings of theCourt having been an assistant to a previous Clerk. We look forwardto the contribution that Michael willmake to the Company.

New Member of the Court

We all have a great pride in introducing a realBlacksmith to our friends at luncheons andother WCB events, and so the next step is for all

of us to support them and their fellow craftsmen at thelocal County shows. By giving at least 7 months notice it ishoped that most Liverymen could attend one of the showsand thereby help raise our Company profile.

North Somerset 1 MayDevon County Show 18-20 May

Royal Bath and West 31 May-3 June South of England 8-10 June Three Counties 16-18 June Royal Highland 22-25 June Royal Norfolk 28-29 June Royal Show, Stoneleigh 2-5 July Great Yorkshire 11-13 JulyRoyal Welsh 24-27 July New Forest and Hampshire 25-27 July Edenbridge and Oxted 28-29 August

2006 Show Dates

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Richard GrafhamRichard Grafham died suddenly in May this year aged 55.He became a Liveryman in 1989 the same MichaelmasCourt as his brother-in-law, the Fourth Warden, JohnMcCuin. He was a computer systems specialist and hadresponsibility for major projects, both domestic andoverseas. He and his wife Helen had attended manyCompany events including the Prime Warden’s Weekendand we extend our sympathies to her and their twochildren.

However, it is to his father, Liveryman Stanley Grafham,that our thoughts turn. As well as losing a son, within one month of that sad event his wife also died. There aretimes when even the richness of the English languagecannot adequately express the sympathy that we wish toextend to Stanley.

Peter William BegentPeter Begent died on Tuesday 30 August just a few weeksshort of his 71st birthday and the Company extends sinceresympathies to Janice and their three daughters.

Peter’s commitment to Blacksmithing and theWorshipful Company were immense and very apparent.The Craft Committee benefited from his experience andexpertise. He gave of his time freely to help organiseCounty shows and took an active part both with the toolsand as a member of the judge’s panel. Peter was admittedto Livery in 1981 and was a strong and enthusiasticsupporter of all activities.

Over 200 people attended his funeral at Leatherhead onThursday, 8 September and the eulogy outlined the wideranging commitments and respect he commanded fromfellow professionals, the community at large and loving family.

New LiverymenThe Midsummer Court witnessed theadmission of a third lady to the Liverywhen Gay Widmer took the Oath. She has long-standing connectionswith the City as a friend of St. Paul’sCathedral, a Friend of City Churchesand a Member of the Guild of

Freemen of the City of London. Gay is also a member of our PublicityCommittee and is working on her first article for the Newsletter onironwork in City Churches.

At the same Court meetingRaymond Fry was admitted to

the Livery. While now retired, heworked as a surveyor on manyimportant projects both at home and overseas. He has already shownhimself a keen supporter of theCompany as a guest at many events.

ApprenticeAnnabel Blanche de MouilpiedChellow was apprenticed to Citizenand Blacksmith Robert Shillingfordand completed the Binding Ceremony

at the Midsummer Court. The history and traditions of apprenticeadmission to the Company willfeature in a future Newsletter.

We welcome both of our newLiverymen and apprentice and lookforward to seeing them at manyCompany functions.

ObituariesDelwyn Distin Dennis It would be possible to fill severalpages outlining the achievements ofPast Prime Warden, Delwyn Denniswho died on 30th July aged 91.

Born in the West Country hedevoted his life and energies to theCity of London. He distinguishedhimself throughout the Second WorldWar both as a member of the BritishExpeditionary Force and the D. Daylandings for which he was awardedthe OBE. He rose to the rank ofLieutenant Colonel.

After the War he joined CanadaLife Assurance and rose rapidly toVice President and General Managerin London, following his successfuldevelopment of a sales operation andthen was appointed Senior Vice-President on the international

Management Board. Commutingbetween London and Canada becamea regular pattern in his life.

He was supported in all hisendeavours by his wife Madge who,

sadly, died before Delwyn was electedPrime Warden of the Company. Inaddition to a successful year in thatrole Delwyn’s financial expertise andjudgment have been available to theCompany and we have benefitedaccordingly.

Delwyn’s achievements weremanifold but his name will beperpetuated in this Company thoughthe Tonypandy Cup. He donated itto the Company in memory of ourHonorary Court Member ViscountTonypandy (George Thomas formerSpeaker of the House of Commons).Delwyn always took a great interestin the award and was pleased that it has consistently presented for an outstanding piece of the skill and artistry of the blacksmith inaccordance with his stated intention.

Prime Warden in 1993

12

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Published by: The Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths. Printed by: Addiscan Graphics Limited, 12A Cowper Road, Bromley, Kent BR2 9RX

Company DiaryLord Mayor’s Show 12th November 2005Wardens Court 24th November 2005Carol Service 16th December 2005Epiphany Court and Luncheon 12th January 2006Wardens Court 16th February 2006Ladyday Court and Luncheon 30th March 2006United Guilds Service 31st March 2006Annual Banquet 28th April 2006Prime Warden’s Weekend 12th – 14th May 2006Wardens Court 25th May 2006House of Lords Luncheon 13th June 2006Election of Sheriffs 23rd June 2006Midsummer Court and Luncheon 29th June 2006Election Court 27th July 2006Wardens Court 31st August 2006Election of the Lord Mayor 29th September 2006Michaelmas Court and Awards Luncheon 19th October 2006Lord Mayor’s Show 11th November 2006Wardens Court 23rd November 2006Carol Service 15th December 2006

The Company has a float in this year’s Lord Mayor’s Show on Saturday12 November 2005. It is planned that up to 20 Liverymen willaccompany the Float on foot, and there will be working Blacksmiths on

the Float itself.

The four areas of the float will consist of:1. a static display of items made by Blacksmiths.2. musicians predominantly brass, to play throughout the parade.3. the Prime Warden and Wardens in gowns.4. a live forging area consisting of two fires and three anvils for the three

Blacksmiths to work on the move.

A separate Newsletter issue will be produced as a flysheet.

The Lord Mayor’s Show

Prices:

• Ties £10• Umbrella £15• Cuff Links £49• Brooches £39

All items available through the kind auspices of our Clerk, Christopher Jeal

Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths’ Shop

The Lord Mayor

The Company is very proud that Honorary Member of the Court, Alderman David

Brewer, was elected Lord Mayor atCommon Hall on 29 September 2005.We wish him a very happy andsuccessful year in office.

To celebrate this ‘first’ for theWorshipful Company of Blacksmiths,we have entered a Float in the LordMayor’s Show. Full details of ourparticipation in the Show and a profileof the Lord Mayor will appear in aspecial issue of the Newsletter.

We were pleased that ‘our’ LordMayor was able to attend this year’sBanquet at Mansion House on Friday28 April 2005.