- Diary 2001 - 2020
Worshipful Company of Basketmakers diary. Highlights, events and important dates for the coming year
Joining the Company
Qualifications for Membership:
Membership is open to anyone over the age of twenty-one who will respect the Company’s heritage, take pride in its activities, strive to maintain its standards and has an interest in the history of the City of London. Prospective members have to be proposed by a member of the Company. If you do not know a Member of the Company personally you should contact the Clerk to discuss this and he would be happy to help in any way possible. Applicants from all walks of life are very welcome.
Types of Membership:
There are two levels of membership of the Company: Freeman and Liveryman (terms which apply equally to both male and female members of the Company).
A candidate for membership of the Company, after being proposed, is interviewed by the Membership Committee who will then make the appropriate recommendation to the Court of the Company (its ruling body). Once the Court has given its approval the applicant is first admitted to the Freedom of the Company through a simple ceremony which is usually held as part of one of the quarterly Court Meetings, at which point they become a Freeman.
Freemen of the Company are entitled to:
- a Freedom Certificate
- progression to the Freedom of the City of London
- receive the Company’s regular Newsletter
- attend most social events in their own right together with guests
- apply for full membership of the City Livery Club
A member may then progress to become a Liveryman. This is achieved after obtaining the Freedom of the City of London (via an application to the Guildhall, sponsored by the Company) and then attending a more substantial ceremony, again at a quarterly of the Court Meeting.
Liverymen are entitled to:
- attend formal Company functions in their own right together with guests.
- take an active part in the running of the Company, perhaps through becoming a Steward or joining, by invitation, a committee and possibly progressing to the Court of Assistants.
- vote at Common Hall – the annual elections for the Lord Mayor of London and the two Sheriffs.
- attend all social events, including sporting events and inter-Livery competitions; cultural events such as visits to places of major historical interest in London; group visits in the UK and overseas.
Routes to Entry:
Membership of the Company can be obtained in three ways: by Patrimony; by Servitude; by Redemption.
Patrimony is open to any child, whether natural born or adopted, of a Member, born subsequent to their parent’s admission to the Freedom, on reaching the age of twenty-one.
Servitude (or apprenticeship) Historically, the Company's Apprentices would have trained in the craft of basketmaking but this no longer required. Apprenticeship today is an honorific or ceremonial role for young members and an excellent way to introduce children or grandchildren of members to the Company. The applicant, at between the ages of fourteen and twenty-one, has been bound as an Apprentice to a Livery Master for between four and eight years. Such apprentices and their Livery Masters have to sign Indentures, and each apprenticeship has to be enrolled at the Chamberlain’s Court in Guildhall, London. On completion of the apprenticeship, and having attained the age of twenty-one, the apprentice can claim admission to the Freedom of the company by right.
Redemption, which is open to applicants not eligible by the previous routes. This is now the usual method of admission to the Freedom.
Fines (fees) are payable on admission to the Freedom but no further Fine is payable on taking the Livery. The Fine will vary according to the route of entry and the Member’s age. In addition Members pay an annual Fee (Quarterage) which also varies depending on the category of membership and age of the Member. Each Member is also expected to contribute annually to the Charitable Trust of the Company.
To obtain a membership pack please contact
Roger de Pilkyngton
Clerk of the Company,
Worshipful Company of Basketmakers,
Doric House,
108 Garstang Road West,
Poulton le Fylde
Lancashire FY6 7SN
Email clerk@basketmakersco.org
Tel 01253 885776
