The lunch was deliciously catered by Mark Grove and his team at Cook & Butler and we cracked along at a goodly pace. Our guests were admirably introduced by Liveryman Fran Morrison and our Principal Guest, Tim Wonnacott gave a generous and very humorous reply to which I responded initially by drenching poor Tim in a glass of water- he was very kind about it( sorry Tim!). I was very pleased to show off the newly found Livery Grant of Arms and Letters Patent which have been missing for many years- our Clerk tenaciously sought them out, and the new Immediate Past Master, Chris Allen, and his IPM, Mark Gower-Smith have funded a beautiful representation and they are now resplendent in frames carved with tobacco leaves( or close to); Sandra also located a huge banner not seen since 1985 and Angus Menzies, Clerk to the Master Mariners and never shy of a challenge saw to it that it was displayed on the Quarterdeck.
Tobacco and Smoking Prints and Lithographs
Our Company is proud to own forty-six historic prints, drawings and lithographs which were given to us some years ago by a member who was a private collector. The pictures depict many aspects of smoking and tobacco from the political to the social; the agricultural to the industrial and are held as a unique collection at Broseley Pipe Works, under the curatorial care of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust. Over half are on permanent display where they can be seen by the general public and academic researchers, while the remainder are carefully stored where they can be accessed when needed. Indeed, some of the pictures are not to modern tastes or sensibilities and will therefore remain available for access on request only.
Whilst all this was going on, apparently biblicalstyle downpours were being had all over London- oblivious to all that drama we ended our lunch and trooped back to the quarterdeck where Coffee, Cigars, and Cognac awaited us( I did mention that our Livery enjoyed dining on the High C’ s..) and which seemed to hit the mark – Liveryman Jemma Freeman Following had a visit kindly by our provided Honorary the Archivist torpedo, cigars Jacqueline and Burrows had
, had the Court them placed agreed in to souvenir her recommendation tubes with our
Crest that the emblazoned prints be reframed on it. Several using of
conservationgrade mounts and glass, as many were at significant
us also sported a limited edition Livery Smoking hat- originally risk of irreversible damage from daylight, acid conceived as a sort of shooting hat, it serves its papers and wooden backings. Maws Gallery, an purpose so well as a“ team” hat, that of the twenty expert conservation framing house in Telford, was ordered commissioned
, but one to carry
remained out the
by work
the close. of the day! Thank you to the Master Mariners for allowing us the use This of was the completed venue, to on Tim time for and being within a perfect budget Principal, and Guest our prints, and are for once everyone again attending on display. and We giving took the my
year opportunity such a special to photograph start. them while they were out of their frames, and a picture library has been developed for our website which allows many of them to be seen by more people – particularly students and researchers
The Master- than would ever go to Ironbridge.
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