Our visit to Ironbridge, which took place over a weekend in May, is an annual event attended by Masters and their wives/partners and has been ongoing for over 25 years. This year over 90 Livery companies were represented and we were treated to a packed weekend of events.
On Friday evening their was a black tie dinner hosted by the Ironbridge Trust. On Saturday we visited the Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron, which traces the history of iron making in this country. This was followed by a tour of Darby Houses. The Darby family owned the local mine and were pioneers in the smelting process. Saturday evening was another black tie dinner at the Enginuity museum, which highlights the industrial revolution.
The whole weekend enables Masters to meet and talk and get to know each other. It also meant we could meet Masters from companies we don’t normally see, and form a year group which will arrange future events. Ours is named Diamonds. A superb event enjoyed by all.
On the 6th June, the Clerk Tim, my wife Averil and I attended a rehearsal of the Founders Day Parade at Chelsea Hospital. The event itself took place the next day. The rehearsal was attended by the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress and we witnessed all the Chelsea pensioners, in their bright red uniforms being presented to the Lord Mayor and parading around the courtyard in front of a stand built especially for the occasion. Again many Livery companies were represented. It was a very colour occasion and we had the best deal – the following day it rained during the main event and much of the parading had to be cancelled!
