The Livery Newsletter and Gazette Issue 30 Spring 2019 | Page 18

A Look at the Society of Snuff
Grinders,
The lunch was deliciously catered by Mark Grove
his team at Cook & Butler and we cracked
Blenders and Purveyors and
along at a goodly pace. Our guests were admirably
introduced by Liveryman Fran Morrison and our
Principal Guest,
Tim Wonnacott
gave a Charles
generous
and
January 2019 saw the launch of our colourful new snuff handkerchief,
designed
by Past Master
Miller
very
humorous
reply
to
which
I
responded
initially
to include both our Company’s first and current coats of arms. These handkerchiefs are given to guests at
by drenching
poor to Tim
a glass look
of water
- he
was
our dinners, together with a box of snuff. So it seemed the
right moment
take in a closer
at the
history
very kind
about
(sorry Tim!).
I was
behind one of the treasures belonging to Past Master Richard
Tranter
- a it ceremonial
enamel
and very
gilt pleased
snuff
to
show
off
the
newly
found
Livery
Grant
box used by the President of the now-defunct Society of Snuff Grinders, Blenders and Purveyors. of
The Arms
Society
and
Letters
Patent
which
have
been
missing
for
also had strong links with our own Company through (amongst others) Past Masters John Singleton of many
years
- our whose
Clerk companies
tenaciously were
sought
them members.
out, and
Singleton & Cole and Roy Bridgman-Evans of Fribourg &
Treyer,
founder
the new Immediate Past Master, Chris Allen, and his
IPM, Mark Gower-Smith have funded a beautiful re-
In 1962, the UK exported 56,000 pounds of snuff. By Labour MP Marcus Lipton were given scrolls by
presentation and they are now resplendent in frames
1963, it was estimated that half a million Brits were
President Mark Chaytor (Wilsons of Sharrow) “for
carved with tobacco leaves (or close to); Sandra also
taking it – more than at any time since World War
outstanding services to the cause of snuff taking”.
located a huge banner not seen since 1985 and Angus
2 – and increasing numbers of women were joining
Other honorary members included the writer Frank
Menzies, Clerk to the Master Mariners and never shy
the snuffers’ ranks. So in 1963 the UK’s 12 leading
Muir and actors James Robertson Justice and Patrick
of a challenge saw to it that it was displayed on the
manufacturers and retailers decided to create the
Allen, himself an associate of Fribourg and Treyer.
Quarterdeck.
Society of Snuff Grinders, Blenders and Purveyors.
By 1972, the Society was reduced to ten members,
Whilst all this was going on, apparently biblical-
The first President, Vivian Rose of G Smith & Sons
but the market was still worth £500,000, with tins
style downpours were being had all over London
at 74 Charing Cross Road, was a Liveryman of our
costing up to eight new pence. One long-established
- oblivious to all that drama we ended our lunch
Company. He defined the Society’s aim as being “to
tobacconist on Liverpool’s Stanley Road was still
and trooped back to the quarterdeck where Coffee,
inform the public of snuff 's fascinating history and
selling up to three pounds of Fine Irish every
Cigars, and Cognac awaited us (I did mention that
the romance of its production and use.” A glittering fortnight, although he admitted it was half of what he
our Livery enjoyed dining on the High C’s..) and
inaugural dinner was held at London’s Savoy Hotel
had been turning over just a few years earlier. Many
which seemed to hit the mark – Liveryman Jemma
on 19 March 1963, at which the many guests enjoyed of his customers were women who worked in the
Freeman had kindly provided the torpedo cigars
a special snuff “tasting”.
dusty sack warehouses in the district.
and had had them placed in souvenir tubes with our
Crest
emblazoned
on it. Several
of Jack
us also
sported
The interest in snuff-taking continued throughout
In 1973,
Devon motorway
ganger
Pope
became
a Britain’s
limited first
edition
Livery
Smoking
hat - originally
the Swinging Sixties. By the end of the decade the
known
Snuff
Champion.
He was
conceived
as title
a sort
of a shooting
hat,
serves
its after
most exotic blends of Attar of Roses, or carnations,
awarded the
and
silver cup
by it the
Society
purpose
as a “team”
of the 19 twenty
wallflowers and hyacinths, could cost up to 17s 6d
sampling so
75 well
different
snuffs hat,
in 2 that
minutes
seconds
ordered,
but one remained by the close of the day!
an ounce, with G Smith & Sons’ coffee and brandy-
without sneezing!
Thank you to the Master Mariners for allowing us the
flavoured “Café Royal” appearing in the Guinness
Fribourg
Treyer’s
famous
bow-
of the & venue,
to Tim
for 18th
being century
a perfect
Principal
Book of Records as the world’s most expensive snuff. use
fronted
façade
at
34
Haymarket
still
exists
(as
does
Guest,
and
for
everyone
attending
and
giving
my
Tailors were making bespoke suits with special
the
brand),
although
the
business
closed
in
1981.
year such a special start.
pockets for snuff boxes.
G Smith & Sons, established in 1869 and once
Several personalities were made honorary members
described as the “last snuff specialists in London”,
of the Society. In 1966 at the Cheshire Cheese in
closed in 2011. Singleton & Cole, founded in
The Master
Fleet Street, musician Acker Bilk was presented with the 1860s, was sold to Cavenham Foods in 1966.
a silver snuff box by then President Mr J D Skelsey
Wilsons continues in the snuff business as Wilsons &
(Singleton’s). In 1970, novelist Kingsley Amis and
Co (Sharrow) Ltd.
18
3