The Ironbridge Weekend

The Master writes . . .

The Master and Mistress enjoying the first of many drinks in the courtyard

Hard on the heels of the Sir Christopher Wren Banquet, came the traditional Ironbridge Weekend, where the entirety of the Livery Masters and their Consorts meet up at the Cradle of the Industrial Revolution.

This was a fantastic gathering, with 89 out of the 110 Companies being represented.  Some Masters not in attendance had, of course, been there before in different guises.

We were ‘wined and dined’ in fine fashion, and the Lord and Lady Mayoress, the Sheriffs and their Consorts joined us all on Saturday evening for the Gala Dinner.  Much relaxed revelry ensued . . . !

The Iron Bridge itself, is undergoing a huge conservation project, and was shrouded in scaffolding and plastic sheeting, but a walkway afforded us an unique view of the restoration and there was an excellent 18th Century mahogany model of the bridge in the museum (see picture on right).

We visited many museums, including the ceramic tile museum, the Victorian village, with its many trades being exhibited, the original iron furnace, now preserved, and the ceramic pottery museum.

The culmination on Sunday morning was to select a name for the Past Masters Association…..now a tradition, and its Chairman and Committees….

We will be known as the ‘SPITFIRES’, after the RAF 100 years, celebrated this year, and the Consorts will be known as the ‘MERLINS’….the Spitfire Engine of course, not the knee high wizard! – Their strap-line is to be ‘The Driving Force Behind the Spitfire’!

Jan, the Mistress Constructor, was unanimously elected as the Consorts Chair!