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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