The past year has been historic for the Broderers, even before Covid Not only did the Company see a marked increase in events and recruiting but, more importantly, it also received its renewed Charter. Several years’ work culminated with Her Majesty the Queen signing the new Supplemental Charter in Council in March 2019, 458 years after her predecessor, Queen Elizabeth I, granted the original. The document was formally presented to the Company by HRH Princess Alexandra. To mark the event the Company held a reception and luncheon at Apothecaries’ Hall at which they were able to showcase a number of the supported charities to HRH, including the work of the Queen Elizabeth Scholars’ Trust Scholar, Isabel Walters, who is funded by the Associated Companies’ Joint Venture. To the surprise of all, the Princess even brought some of her own embroidery.
Awareness of embroidery and the Company’s history was broadened at a lecture given to Company Members and a wide range of guests from the textile world by art historian Clare Ford-Wille. Held in the surroundings of the Art Workers’ Guild, Clare’s talk focused on embroidery at the time of the Stuarts and gave a fascinating insight into the life and times of Edmund Harrison, embroiderer to Charles I and Charles II and some time Warden of the Company who is still toasted at every Livery dinner. Latterly, on what was possibly the last international trip to the French Capital before its lockdown, the Master led a party of Broderers to Paris, ostensibly to visit various haute couture ateliers. More time may have been spent in restaurants and bistros.
In a post Covid world the Broderers seek to continue their charitable support to the wider world of embroidery and beyond, while also looking for innovative ways to continue business. While the Company has yet to resort to virtual Livery Dinners (despite the obvious attractions to the Clerk of simplified seating plans) it was one of the very first Livery Companies to use remote working to carry out its annual Election in May. With the prospect of a possibly more confined winter than usual, several in the Livery are learning something of the ‘art and mysterie’ of embroidery by participating in online tuition within the Company. Meanwhile, the prospect of a Royal College of Art-delivered on-line lecture on textile innovation and (Government rules permitting) a real visit to the Whitchurch Silk Mill in the Autumn, hold out the possibility of an element of Livery collegiality.
Plus ça change…?
The Master introduces Clare Ford-Wille at the November Lecture
Display of work by the Broderers’ QEST Scholar, Isabel Walters.
HRH Princess Alexandra explains a few of the requirements of the new Charter to the Master
