Worshipful Company of Basketmakers 

Events 2006

Cambridge weekend 5th to 7th May 2006

Some 30 members of the Company and friends enjoyed a varied and wonderful weekend away in the University City of Cambridge, the City where our Prime Warden Ronald D. Bartle M A studied for and obtained his legal qualifications, and to which he latterly retired. A full and interesting programme of events for the participants embraced two black tie dinners, the first in the magnificent portals of Jesus College, the Prime Warden's College, on the Friday evening, and the second on Saturday evening at Downing College.

Having dined magnificently at Jesus College on Friday evening a fascinating tour of the Fitzwilliam Museum was our destination on Saturday morning followed by indulging ourselves for an excellent lunch in the Loch Fyne Restaurant. Not content with that it was off to have a conducted walking tour of the City combined with 'chauffeured' punting on the river Cam; at least that way there was no risk of being left hanging onto a punt pole in the middle of the river whilst the punt drifted away.

Recovering from Saturday's varied engagements saw many of our noble band attend the morning Choral Eucharist service in the magnificent surroundings of St. John's Chapel. Having refreshed the soul, it was time to refresh the body by a final lunch in our most comfortable hotel, the Garden Moat House, before departing our separate ways homeward. click here for more images

Livery Dinner February 2006 with Sir Donald Sinden

The Basketmakers' Company first Livery Dinner of the year under new Prime Warden, Ronald Bartle, was held at Skinners Hall in February.

Masters attended from the Leathersellers, Butchers, Fruiterers, Girdlers, Painter-Stainers, Parish Clerks and Inn-holders and indeed in the guise of the Basketmakers' Clerk, Roger de Pilkyngton, they had the newly installed Master Marketor.

The Basketmakers' Company also welcomed members from the Livery Army Unit, 100 Regiment, who were represented by Lt. Colonel Simon West and Major Simon Sadler together with Lt. Andrew Mattinson the first winner of the adjutant of the Year Award, pictured receiving his prize.

Principal guest and speaker was Sir Donald Sinden CBE, a fellow member of the Prime Warden's West End Club, the Garrick. Donald Sinden has been a star of stage, television and radio for seven decades

(for full story and pictures, click here)