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Worshipful Company of BasketmakersEvents 2005 |
HMS Richmond undergoes Major Refit |
 On
the 17th November The Prime Warden, Ronald D. Bartle M.A., and Past
Prime Warden Norman E. Woolley were invited to Portsmouth Royal Naval
Dockyard to see the progress on the major refit taking place on board
HMS Richmond, our Royal Naval affiliation. Accompanied by visitors from
two other affiliations to HMS Richmond, the London Nautical School and
Richmond-upon-Thames Council, they enjoyed an extensive conducted tour
around the massive dry dock and throughout the Ship. (for
full story, click here) |
Basketmakers 436th Annual Banquet at The Mansion House |
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Numbering in excess of 300, Liverymen of the Basketmakers' Company and their guests enjoyed the ambience of Dining in the magnificent Egyptian Hall. We were honoured by the presence of the Chief Executive of Centrepoint, Mr. Anthony Lawton, our principal speaker, and representatives from all our three armed services affiliations. (click here for larger picture) |
Livery Dinner 20th July 2005 |
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This year was no exception for the great variety of basketware on
show, including a display of offertory baskets commissioned by St.
Paul's Cathedral. |
Dinner at the Leathersellers' Hall 14th June 2005 |
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At a later date our Prime Warden, Richard Bundock, in company with our Clerk, Roger de Pilkyngton, had the pleasure of presenting two Cellar Baskets to the recently installed Leathersellers' Master John Newton. |
Visit to the Loire Valley, France, May 2005 |
 The
Basketmakers' visit to France in May was most enjoyable. We were blessed
with sunshine every day, a very interesting itinerary and we relished
some wonderful food and scenery. The group did something different each
day and the planning and organisation was meticulous. Our thanks to
the Prime Warden, Richard Bundock and Diane, assisted by Under Warden,
Olivia Elton Barratt and husband John, who together, worked so hard
with Valerie Faccini and Past Prime Warden John Robinson to make this
trip such a success. (click here for the full story and more pictures) |
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 It
is traditional for guests at our Livery Dinners and Banquets to be presented
with a gift of a basket of their choice, or basket-work made by our
members. Those who attended the Mansion House Banquet in September 2002,
George Alford's year as Prime Warden, may recall the delightful 'scarecrow',
crafted in willow by Basketmaker Susie Vaughan, presented to the Lord
Mayor, Sir Michael Oliver and his Lady Mayoress. Lady Oliver has very
kindly provided a photograph showing the scarecrow, fondly nicknamed
'The Wicker of Dibley', with sweet peas growing around her skirt. |
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Fund Raising for Charities |
| Thanks to our stalwart Basketmakers' Swimming Team of seven, and generous support from their sponsors, this year in excess of £4,700 was raised for the Lord Mayor's nominated Charities, a best ever achievement since our Team started to participate in 1996. As with all Livery Companies, contributing to charitable causes is very much part of our activities, as is borne out by those of our members involved in other leisure pursuits organised by the Company, such as Golf, Bridge, and Shooting. Over the years these events have raised substantial funds for charities. Liveryman Rod Thomas, who ran for the first time this year in the London Marathon, completed the course in 4 hrs 33 mins and raisied over £3,200 for the charity Leukaemia Care. |
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No. 10 Downing Street Visit |
 On
the 8th April the Prime Warden led twenty members of our Company on
a visit to No.10 Downing Street, made possible through the good offices
of Upper Warden Ronald Bartle. Number 10 Downing Street became home
to the Prime Minister in 1732 when George II presented it to Sir Robert
Walpole from the Crown. The hour long tour took in all the offices and
state rooms and finished with the Prime Warden addressing the honoured
gathering in the State Dining Room, which also doubles as the Media
Briefing Room. Following this most informative visit all then partook
of a splendid lunch nearby at Inn the Park. |
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Base camp was at grid reference SU091460, more commonly known as the car park of the excellent Bustard Inn near Shrewton on Salisbury Plain. For the full story and pictures, click here |
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St. Valentine's Day Dinner and Dance |
 Basketmakers
attended a St. Valentine's Dinner and Dance hosted by the City Livery
Club and its President John Clarke, in the Imperial Hotel, Russell Square
on the 14th February. The venue looked very romantic with twinkling
fairy lights around the dance floor. Candlelight, hearts on the tables
and themed menus to set the mood for a four-course meal following the
reception. Bravura, an excellent four piece band, provided the music
for dancing through to midnight; the band leader used to teach at the
City of London Freemen's School. The Raffle had a top prize of 'A Champagne
Day at The Sanctuary Spa' worth £120 which was won by Anne Holden
pictured right with husband Bob. As the revelry continued until midnight
many decided to stay overnight thanks to the special terms offered by
the hotel's owner Alderman Richard Walduck, a member of the Basketmakers'
Court. |
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Basketmaking Course |
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The 12th March saw a good contingent from our Livery, together with partners, attend the second of the two basketmaking classes held during each Prime Warden's year, namely in November and March. Under Warden Olivia Elton Barratt and Liveryman Kay Johnson were kept busy instructing the keen workers who revelled in the task of making a rush basket. These courses are designed so that during the session, from 10.00 a.m. until around 4.00 to 4.30 p.m., those present can complete their project and return home with a finished basket. As is customary, the Prime Warden, Richard Bundock and his lady, Diane, supplied an excellent lunch, ably assisted by our talented and adroit Clerk, Roger de Pilkyngton, beavering away in the kitchen. Diane also managed to produce a fine basket despite her involvement in culinary duties. These events are always much enjoyed by the participants, and emphasize the link of our Livery with a very much alive trade of basketmaking. |
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Zürich Sechseläuten Festival |
 Prime
Warden, Richard Bundock and Past Prime Warden Norman Woolley together
with their wives, Diane and Julie, were guests of the Letzi Guild for
the Sechseläuten Festival in Zürich held on Monday the 18th
April. The most generous hospitality offered by the members and Zunftmeister
of the Letzi Guild, Hannes Ziegler, were as always exceptional, with
much feasting, music, flowers and general joviality. Both Richard Bundock
and Norman Woolley were marching with the Letzi Guild in the large procession,
in which all the 25 Guilds and the Constaffel Society in Zürich
take part, accompanied by their respective marching bands. Fortunately
it remained dry during the procession, although light rain manifested
itself early and late in the day. Quite often the festivities continue
into the early hours of Tuesday morning, but as the Prime Warden was
due to fly back to London to entertain HRH the Duchess of Gloucester
at our Livery luncheon on Wednesday, we took our leave around midnight,
somewhat earlier than the more normal 2.00 or 4.00 a.m. finish. You
certainly need stamina to cope with the Swiss when they get into party
mood, with their marching bands parading loudly through the streets
from one guild house to another into the early hours of the morning.
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HRH The Duchess of Gloucester attends Livery Lunch |
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In his speech our Prime Warden, Richard Bundock, delivered an interesting history of basketmaking from Moses to modern day with the Reception and Luncheon emanating a most friendly atmosphere. |
It
was a great honour for the Basketmakers to enjoy the magnificent surroundings
of the Leathersellers' Hall on the 14th June when the Prime Warden
and his Lady, pictured in the Great Hall, were fully supported by
an enthusiastic gathering of our Liverymen and their guests. We had
the privilege of entertaining The Leathersellers' Master, Mr. Anthony
Lister as our Principal Guest. 
On
the 20th April a Livery Luncheon was held at Skinner's Hall, instead
of our normal evening Livery Dinner, when we had the pleasure to welcome
our Honorary Liveryman, HRH The Duchess of Gloucester GCVO DstJ. In
1991, when Geoffrey Rowley was Prime Warden, he invited HRH The Duchess
of Gloucester to become the first member of the Royal Family to be
admitted to the Freedom and Livery of our Company. HM Queen Mary was
admitted to the Honorary Freedom in 1937, as was HRH Princess Mary
the Princess Royal in 1954. Many Masters, and their Clerks were amongst
our several guests at the Luncheon. The Master Skinner, Anthony Hudson
MBE; Master Marketor, Sir Paul Judge; Master Pattenmaker, Christopher
Stone and Master Innholder, William Spouse. Another most welcome guest
was Sister Niblock, Headmistress of Notre Dame School as well as Mr.
R. M. Freeman the Past Master Fanmaker.