Latest News
October 2024
Installation Day
The 16th of October was our Installation Day, service, lunch, Ceremonial Court and Common Hall. The annual service at St Margaret Pattens church was charming, with well-chosen hymns and readings focussing on our motto, Let us love one another. Reverend Andrew Keep, who is also our Honorary Chaplain, led us in praise and thanksgiving for another successful year. This was followed by a reception and fine lunch at Bakers’ Hall, relaxed, friendly and convivial.
Prime Warden 2024- 2025 Julian Adams and Immediate Past Prime Warden, Lady Lauriston.
At Common Hall, following reports on the Company’s finances by the Chair of the Finance Committee, Louise Smythe, and on the Charitable Trust by Chair PPW Anne Holden, Prime Warden Lady Lauriston gave her final speech, of thanks to all those who have supported her during her year of office. She installed our new Prime Warden, Julian Adams, who then installed Mark Cooper as Upper Warden, and Jonathan Pyzer as the new Under Warden.
Julian Adams then gave his first speech as Prime Warden. He spoke of the importance of attending events to maintain the life of the Company, particularly drawing our attention to the John Fieldsend Lecture, the Prime Warden’s Weekend in Cambridge next April and the Kew Gardens visit in May. He also reminded us how essential it is to introduce potential new members to the Company.
The Prime Warden installed our New Stewards, pictured left: John Nugée, Karen Wright, Stuart Amesbury and Julie Cribb.
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.September 2024
Sheep drive and Livery Fair
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September 2024
Annual Banquet, Mansion House
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We had a splendid evening at Mansion House at our Annual Banquet, where Prime Warden Lady Lauriston welcomed almost 200 Basketmakers and guests. We were among friends, including the Lord Mayor, Alderman Professor Michael Mainelli, with Sheriffs Alderwoman Dame Susan Langley and Alderman Bronek Masajada, who were enjoying their last event together after a fabulous year as a civic team. On behalf of our Charitable Trust the Prime Warden presented donations of £2000 to the Lord Mayor’s Appeal and £5000 to the Sheriffs’ and Recorder’s Fund. She presented the Letzi Guild of Zurich with a pewter quaich to mark 25 years of our friendship. Award winners included Air Corporal Bethan Wride from our RAF affiliate ISTAR Airwing (Aviator of the Year) and Honorary Liveryman Mary Butcher (The Roy McLeod Special Award for Outstanding Basketry Achievement). The Lord Mayor and Sheriffs were presented with fine basketry made by Yeoman Members Geoff Travers, Clare Revera and Mollie McMillen. Thanks to everyone who made the evening such a success – and special thanks to Past Prime Warden Anne Holden for her sponsorship of the beautiful baskets of flowers which adorned the Egyptian Hall.
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August 2024
Fortnum & Mason - Boardroom Afternoon Tea and Tour
We were treated to wonderful displays of basketry on our visit to Fortnum & Mason, at the invitation of Fortnum’s Chair Kate Hobhouse, a Freeman of the Basketmakers’ Company. A party of 24 enjoyed afternoon tea in the boardroom, before a personal tour of the store featuring everything from Fortnum’s in-house gin distillery to the hamper department, where we saw the exquisite willow creations of our Yeoman member Eddie Glew. Thanks again to Kate and all her charming staff for making us so welcome.
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July 2024
Trade Dinner, Apothecaries' Hall
London’s oldest Livery hall, Apothecaries’ Hall, was the splendid setting for our Trade Dinner, celebrating our wonderful craft of basketry. Prime Warden Lady Lauriston presented the Outstanding Contribution to Basketmaking Award 2024 to Veronica Main MBE for her contribution to straw plaiting. Once part of a thriving hat making industry that employed hundreds of thousands of people, straw plaiting is now a critically endangered craft – Veronica is the only full-time straw plaiter in the country. At our Court Meeting we were delighted to admit new Yeoman Members Rachael Frost, Helen Jackson and Mollie McMillen and new Freeman Toby Kerby. Lady Lauriston presented fine baskets crafted by Yeomen Sue Kirk, Karen Lawrence and Linda Lemieux to our Livery guests - the Master Joiner and Ceiler, Upper Bailiff of the Weavers and Master Upholder.
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July 2024
Not a Master in Sight Luncheon, Ironmongers' Hall
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Prime Warden Lady Lauriston and Clerk Richard Turner enjoyed the Not a Master in Sight Luncheon, held every year in celebration of a distinctive group of eight Livery Companies: the Fishmongers, Goldsmiths, Dyers, Saddlers, Blacksmiths, Weavers, Basketmakers and Shipwrights. These companies are led not by a Master but by a Prime Warden, or uniquely in the case of the Weavers, the Upper Bailiff. Many thanks to Simon Beale, Prime Warden of the Shipwrights, for hosting a memorable lunch at the magnificent Ironmongers’ Hall.
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June 2024
Royal Opera House visit and Summer Lunch at The Ivy
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Thanks again to the Royal Opera House Covent Garden for our backstage tour to learn at first hand about the inner workings of this wonderful theatre, from the miniature models of every stage set to the annual cost of ballet pointe shoes (£250,000). Our Court Assistant Sasha Keir, a celebrated theatrical costumier, gave a fascinating insight into some of the costumes made by her studio for Covent Garden productions. Afterwards we enjoyed a seasonal lunch in The Private Room at The Ivy West Street.
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June 2024
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Form & Fibre Exhibition
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Prime Warden Lady Lauriston visited the Form & Fibre exhibition by our recently-elected Yeoman Member Helen Jackson, at Woodend Barn in Banchory. It showcases Helen’s work with plant fibres foraged mainly from her garden in Aberdeenshire, and includes exquisite miniature baskets woven with materials ranging from honeysuckle to dandelion. Helen’s favourite piece is the tiny drawstring bag she knitted from nettle cordage – a task that took almost a week..
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May 2024
Garden Party at Buckingham Palace
Prime Warden Lady Lauriston was honoured to be presented to HRH The Duchess of Gloucester, Honorary Liveryman of the Basketmakers’ Company, at the Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on 8th May. The Garden Party was hosted by Their Majesties the King and Queen, who were accompanied by TRH The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, HRH The Princess Royal and TRH The Duke of Duchess of Gloucester. The sun shone gloriously on the beautiful palace gardens. Before going to the Palace, Lady Lauriston enjoyed lunch with fellow Livery Masters and Consorts at the Stafford Hotel.
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May 2024
Prime Warden's Weekend, Aberdeenshire - among friends in Castle Country
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A party of 44 Basketmakers enjoyed a glorious Prime Warden’s Weekend hosted by Lady Lauriston among friends in Aberdeenshire. We were welcomed to Lauriston Castle - first mentioned in 1243 and restored by Lady Lauriston and her husband William – as well as Benholm Castle and Arbuthnott House. We dined at William Adam’s House of Dun, in the magnificent saloon, and enjoyed a fireside chat with Pip Hills, founder of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, in a hotel that boasts 900 whiskies behind its bar. The sun shone throughout, and some were even heard to remark that the weather in Scotland was too hot!
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May 2024
Court Dinner - Armourers' Hall
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We had a very happy gathering at our Court Dinner at the splendid Armourers’ Hall. Usually only members of the Court attend this dinner, but this year Prime Warden Lady Lauriston invited all Basketmakers.
We were entertained by soprano Zoë Jackson and pianist Weng Soon Tee from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama – they were superb! Congratulations again to the Liverymen and Yeoman who we welcomed to the Company before dinner.
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April 2024
Consorts' Basketmaking Day
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Congratulations to everyone who took part in our Livery Consorts’ Basketmaking Day at the Dutch Church. We made berry baskets and bread baskets from Somerset willow, with expert tuition from London basketmakers John Page and Eleanor Morgan. The results were amazing!
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April 2024
With the Letzi Guild in Zurich
Thank you to all our friends in the Letzi Guild for their splendid hospitality to Prime Warden Lady Lauriston and Past Prime Warden Norman Woolley on their visit to Zurich for the annual Sechseläuten Festival, which marks the beginning of spring. Lady Lauriston was honoured to address the assembled Letzi – one of Zurich’s community guilds – in its beautiful mediaeval Guild House. She spoke warmly of the friendship between the Basketmakers and the Letzi, and paid tribute to Past Prime Warden Woolley and Ehrenzunftmeister Raymond Porchet for their vision in initiating the relationship a quarter of a century ago. To mark the visit on 15th April, she presented Zunftmeister Stefan Forster with a pewter quaich – the Scottish cup of friendship – before taking part in the traditional parade of the guilds through the streets of Zurich. Usually the parade culminates in a spectacular bonfire topped by a giant snowman. This year the fire was not lit because of dangerously high winds, which meant that the snowman’s basketry hat survived to see another day!
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March 2024
United Guilds Service, St Paul's Cathedral
Prime Warden Lady Lauriston and 23 fellow Basketmakers attended the splendid United Guilds Service at St Paul’s Cathedral on 15th March. The annual Service gives thanks for the fellowship and contribution of the Livery Companies and Guilds of the City of London. Following the Service, the Basketmakers enjoyed lunch among friends at Barber-Surgeons’ Hall. Thanks again to Master Max King and his fellow Barbers for their hospitality.
March 2024
Our Basketry Showcase
We were delighted to welcome our Honorary Liveryman HRH the Duchess of Gloucester to our Basketry Showcase at the Dutch Church, where some of the finest craftspeople in the country were showing their work and demonstrating their skills. Prime Warden Lady Lauriston made two presentations to the Duchess: a willow apple basket made in Royal Deeside by newly-elected Yeoman Maker Helen Jackson, and a bird feeder the Prime Warden had made from willow grown in her garden at Lauriston Castle. The Duchess met all the makers and toured our heritage exhibit, which included exquisite miniature baskets collected by Queen Mary and presented to the Company in 1954.
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January 2024
Black tie with a touch of tartan: our Scottish-themed Livery Dinner
Our Scottish-themed Livery Dinner on 31st January was a glorious gathering – and there were surprises in store. To mark her year in office, Prime Warden Lady Lauriston announced that members of the Basketmakers’ Company were now entitled to wear the distinctive Newlands of Lauriston tartan, which her Consort, William Newlands of Lauriston, commissioned for her as a birthday present in 1986.
During the evening there was more than a nod to Robert Burns, including a rousing Address to a Haggis by Past Prime Warden Neil Redcliffe, and splendid piping by Gordon Casely..
Among those at Butchers’ Hall were Company guests Alderman Alastair King DL, Master Mason, and his fiancée Florence Walker; Master Butcher, Chris Wood, and Mistress Butcher, Mrs Fiona Wood; Master Farmer, Guy Brogden and Clerk to the Farmers, Graham Bamford; Master Insurer, Claire Burrell, and Master of the Guild of Young Freemen, Samuel Chadd and his Consort Katharine Chadd. They were all presented with Scottish basketry made by Yeomen members John Cowan and Virgil Bauzys.
The Prime Warden's willow harvest
Prime Warden Lady Lauriston has harvested her willow – six varieties she planted in her walled garden at Lauriston Castle in Aberdeenshire last February.
The willow will be used by our talented Yeomen makers in the projects we have planned for the coming months, including our Basketry Showcase in the City in March.
Dorothy planted 100 willows, with the cuttings sourced from Deeside Willow at Aboyne. They were planted on St Valentine’s Eve – very fitting, as our Basketmakers’ motto is Let us love one another.
Dorothy says:"I am very grateful for the advice I received from Nik and Katie Millott of Deeside Willow, from Helen Jackson of the Scottish Basketmakers' Circle and from Yeoman Member John Cowan.
"I plan to incorporate the willow in projects ranging from from our basketmaking days for beginners to exhibitions that showcase the finest talents in the basketry world. We finished planting on a beautifully sunny St Valentine’s Eve – very fitting, as our Basketmakers’ motto is Let us love one another.”
December 2023
Warmest wishes at Christmas from the Basketmakers
Warmest wishes from the Basketmakers to all our friends at Christmas. This year's Christmas card features Otto – assistant to our Trade Adviser, Ellie Morgan – exploring one of Ellie’s willow backpacks, and photographed by our Prime Warden, Lady Lauriston,at one of our recent Basketmaking Days. Merry Christmas and all the best for 2024!
Carols at our Guild Church and a festive supper at Watermen's Hall
Our Carol Service at our Guild Church of St Margaret Pattens was a lovely occasion - the church sparkled with candlelight. We shared the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols with the Pattenmakers, and the Guild Vicar, our Honorary Chaplain, Reverend Andrew Keep, spoke about hope and optimism by virtue of that first Christmas.
There were splendid carols and mince pies and mulled wine to follow. Afterwards, we enjoyed a relaxed Supper at Watermen’s Hall, where all the tables were named after Santa’s reindeer. The Prime Warden told us: “I exchanged gifts with the Master-Painter Stainer, Ivor Macklin – he and I were both installed on the same day and we are both hosting our Christmas suppers tonight. Ivor gave me a giant ball of mistletoe from his apple orchard in Kent, which I presented to Watermen’s Hall so that all their guests could enjoy it over the festive season. I presented Ivor with a round willow basket for collecting windfall apples. It was made by our Trade Adviser, Ellie Morgan, and tonight at Painter Stainers’ Hall it is being used to draw prize draw envelopes to raise funds for a major art exhibition that will take place next year.”
She also thanked all those who have contributed to the Company during the year. It was a warm and friendly occasion, filled with goodwill and Christmas cheer.
November 2023
The Rifles Dinner, Guildhall
Prime Warden, Lady Lauriston, and Clerk, Richard Turner were honoured to be invited to the Rifles Awards Dinner at Guildhall in the presence of Colonel-in-Chief, Her Majesty The Queen, and Royal Colonels Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. The Duchess of Gloucester is an Honorary Liveryman of the Basketmakers’ Company. It was a wonderful opportunity to catch up with our friends in 8 Rifles, with whom the Basketmakers are affiliated, and to plan some exciting joint activities for the coming year.
