- Diary 2001 - 2020
Worshipful Company of Basketmakers diary. Highlights, events and important dates for the coming year
Prime Warden and Wardens
The chief officer of the Worshipful Company of Basketmakers is the Prime Warden. He or she is supported by an Upper and Under Warden. Until 1998 the Company had only a Prime Warden and a Junior Warden. It was then felt that with the growing demands being placed on the Prime Warden it would be preferable to have two Wardens supporting them and also to give the Prime Warden an extra year in which to learn and understand their role.
The Wardens are elected at the July Court meeting each year and they are installed on Installation Day each October. The Installation Day commences with a service of thanksgiving and blessing at our guild church of St Margaret Patten in Eastcheap. The Company then process to Skinners’ Hall for the installation of the Wardens for the forthcoming year.
The Basketmakers’ Company is one of only 6 Livery Companies in the City of London to have a Prime Warden. The others are the Blacksmiths’, Dyers’, Fishmongers’, Goldsmiths’ and Shipwrights’ Companies. All the other City Livery Companies have a Master with the single exception of the Weavers’ Company who have an Upper Bailiff. The Basketmakers’ Company appear to have had an Upper Warden as their main officer from their foundation right up to 1846 when it was decided to change the title to Prime Warden. No reason is given for this change.
The current Prime Warden is John A Barker, who joined the Company in 1973. He was married in 1962 but sadly widowed in 1999.
He lives in London. His working life has been spent initially in the London Stock Exchange from where he then moved to the Probation Service. He served as a councillor for Holborn MB and Camden. He was also a Past Chairman City Lands and Bridge House Estates, Port Health and Environment Services, and Barbican Centre Committees. His hobbies include travel, hill and mountain walking, and managing a modest investment portfolio.
The Wardens are elected at the July Court meeting each year and they are installed on Installation Day each October. The Installation Day commences with a service of thanksgiving and blessing at our guild church of St Margaret Patten in Eastcheap. The Company then process to Skinners’ Hall for the installation of the Wardens for the forthcoming year.
The Basketmakers’ Company is one of only 6 Livery Companies in the City of London to have a Prime Warden. The others are the Blacksmiths’, Dyers’, Fishmongers’, Goldsmiths’ and Shipwrights’ Companies. All the other City Livery Companies have a Master with the single exception of the Weavers’ Company who have an Upper Bailiff. The Basketmakers’ Company appear to have had an Upper Warden as their main officer from their foundation right up to 1846 when it was decided to change the title to Prime Warden. No reason is given for this change.
The current Prime Warden is John A Barker, who joined the Company in 1973. He was married in 1962 but sadly widowed in 1999.
He lives in London. His working life has been spent initially in the London Stock Exchange from where he then moved to the Probation Service. He served as a councillor for Holborn MB and Camden. He was also a Past Chairman City Lands and Bridge House Estates, Port Health and Environment Services, and Barbican Centre Committees. His hobbies include travel, hill and mountain walking, and managing a modest investment portfolio.
