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Worshipful Company of BasketmakersEvents from 2001 |
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Worshipful Company of BasketmakersEvents from 2001 |
In
September 2001, the Company celebrated its 432nd Annual Banquet at the Mansion
House in the company of the Lord Mayor, Alderman Sir David Howard and Lady
Howard.
Dining in the magnificent Egyptian Hall, the Basketmakers were joined by the Letzi Guild of Zürich. The Letzi (Farmers) Guild were the Basketmakers' hosts on their visit in April to Switzerland to take part in the Zürich Sechseläuten Parade. Splendidly attired in their traditional costumes, the Guild added colour and vibrancy to the occasion.
Their Master, Raymond Porchet, gave the main speech and toast on behalf of
the guests which was responded to by the Prime Warden, Norman Woolley, highlighting
the Company's motto "Let us Love One Another". (click
here for larger pictures)
The
Prime Warden of the Basketmakers Livery, Norman Woolley led a party of 23
members of the Company on a trip to Warwick Castle on the 9th October 2001
on the Orient Express which was pulled by the Flying Scotsman steam locomotive.
The displays at Warwick Castle are enhanced by many authentic period baskets and rush matting made by members of the Basketmakers' Company.
The outing started from Victoria Station for a round trip that took twelve hours in wonderful splendour on board probably the most famous and romantic train still operating.
The party dined in style, and whilst no murder took place on the Orient Express, Monsieur Hercule Poirot put in an appearance.
At
their 432nd Anniversary Banquet held at the Mansion House on Wednesday, 19th
September 2001, the Worshipful Company of Basketmakers presented a sword to
the Light Cavalry, Honourable Artillery Company. The presentation was made
by Prime Warden Norman Woolley to Major Roy Sanders, the Commanding Officer
of the Light Cavalry of the HAC.
Left to right, Major Gerald Flint-Shipman, previous Clerk of the Company and Major Commandant of the Light Cavalry; Major Roy Sanders, the Commanding Officer of the Light Cavalry, and a Barber and Apothecary; Mr. Norman Woolley, the Prime Warden and Mr. Philip Wright, the Beadle and Sergeant-Major of the Light Cavalry.
In recent years
it has become the custom for Prime Wardens to hold an annual party, quite
often at their own home. In 2001 Norman Woolley chose as his party location
a Thames Sailing Barge, the "Lady Daphne", anchored in St. Katharine's
Dock beside the Tower of London. The Prime Warden and his Lady added to the
nautical atmosphere by wearing fetching pirate hats to greet the partygoers,
who were warned that on leaving they may find themselves "walking the
plank".
The annual party is usually restricted to Court Members and partners, although in 2001 it also included participants of the earlier trip to Zürich and members of the Basketmakers Swimming Team captained by Norman Woolley, which for many years has raised considerable funds for the Lord Mayor's nominated charity.
The
Prime Warden of the Worshipful Company of Basketmakers, Norman Woolley, supervised
the planting of live willows in the Church Garden in Aldermanbury Square in
February 2001 to celebrate the new millennium. These willows woven in the
form of a basket sculpture were presented by Past Prime Warden of the Basketmakers,
John Robinson on behalf of the Basketmakers' Livery in memory of his late
father, Past Prime Warden, Dennis Robinson.
The Prime Warden of The Worshipful Company of Basketmakers, Norman Woolley, supported by his Upper and Under Wardens and Clerk, took a party of 31 members of the Company and their partners to Zürich in April 2001. In addition to a week of sightseeing, 12 of the Basketmakers Livery participated in the Sechseläuten (Spring) Festival Procession - much like our Lord Mayors Show.
With about 7,000 participants, all dressed in colourful historical costumes, the Parade is a most colourful affair, with the 26 Guilds of Zürich marching to the rousing tunes of 28 brass bands. Also there were some 500 horses, 140 of them pulling more than 50 decorated carriages and wagons and more than 350 mounts bearing Guildsmen, a truly wonderful spectacle. To symbolise the end of winter, the climax of the Procession was the dramatic “Burning of the Böögg”, an effigy of a 3m high snowman filled with explosives surmounting a huge bonfire, around which the horsemen of the various Guilds galloped as the flames engulfed the funeral pyre of the exploding Böögg.
The Basketmakers' Company involvement was by special invitation of Raymond Porchet, the Zunftmeister of the Zunft zur Letzi (The Farmers Guild). Bringing the mythical protector of the City of London to the heart of Zürich, the Basketmakers contingent was led by The Company Griffin as well as their Banner. For the first time in its history, their Guilds gave permission for two Lady Basketmakers to march with the parade with ten other Liverymen. The Swiss Guilds still do not admit Lady members.
The Basketmakers stay in Switzerland included visits to the Straw Museum of
beautiful and intricate work in Wohlen, and to the workshop of Basketmaker
Therese Leutwyler at Thun. During the week the Company had the pleasure of
entertaining the Head of the Zürich Police Department and the Zunftmeister,
Raymond Porchet as well as some of their Swiss basketmaker contacts. A scenic
train trip was taken to Lucerne, then sailing along the lake to Vitznau to
board the cog mountain train supposedly to the summit of Mt. Rigi was curtailed
by a sudden snow storm - the heaviest snow seen in some time. The stoic party
survived the adventure well. Lunch on another trip was enjoyed by the spectacular
Rhine Falls.
The Basketmakers' motto is “Let Us Love One Another”. The Prime Warden, Norman Woolley, felt this trip to Switzerland sealed a bond of friendship and fraternity between the City of London and Zürich and the people within their Guilds and our Liveries.
