Inter‑Livery Croquet: The Glass Sellers’ Grand (and Occasionally Chaotic) Debut For the Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers
Hosted by the Worshipful Company of Glovers who were pleased to welcome a record 23 livery companies, represented by 36 teams. Competitors ranged from experienced croquet players to those picking up a mallet for the first time. New entrants this year included the Clockmakers, the Glass Sellers and the Marketors.
Some livery outings begin with quiet dignity. This was not one of them.
A Victoria Station Assembly of Purpose (and Snacks)
The adventure began at London Victoria, where the Master and Mistress Glass Seller, Matthew and Karen Demmon, together with their daughter and fellow Liveryman Lucy, were already gathered with military precision. Karen was distributing rations like a quartermaster preparing for a minor campaign; Lucy had secured the coffees essential for human functioning, and the only missing ingredient was Liveryman Jason Stephenson, who arrived by taxi with the air of a man ready to take croquet extremely seriously despite never having played it.
With provisions stowed and spirits high, the Glass Sellers boarded the train. A smooth journey followed—one change at Hove, much laughter, and the kind of conversation that makes fellow passengers quietly wish they were part of whatever group this is.
By the time we reached the Sussex County Croquet Club, we were energised, caffeinated, and blissfully unaware of the tactical warfare awaiting us.
Glass Sellers A and B: Ready for Glory (or At Least Competence)
The Master and Mistress formed Glass Sellers A, while Lucy and Jason proudly became Glass Sellers B. Both teams were entered into the Inter‑Livery Cup, the competition for those who either know what they’re doing or are very good at pretending.
After being issued our mallets—surprisingly weighty instruments that immediately made us feel more professional—we were fortified with tea and biscuits. A briefing followed, explaining the rules, the format, and the fact that croquet is not, in fact, the gentle garden pastime one plays on a Sunday while wearing a straw hat.
Croquet: A Game of Skill, Strategy… and Mild Violence
The Demmon family, with Jason as their honorary member for the day, took to croquet with astonishing speed. Within minutes, they were executing shots with the confidence of people who had definitely watched at least one YouTube tutorial the night before.
It quickly became clear that croquet is a game of:
Skill – hitting the ball in the direction you intended
Strategy – deciding which opponent’s ball to send into orbit
Combat – politely but firmly ruining someone else’s plan
Fierce competition – all delivered with smiles and impeccable manners
Match followed match, each one filled with tactical brilliance, occasional chaos, and moments of triumph that made us feel like seasoned professionals.
Lunch, Fellowship and New Friends
An excellent lunch was provided, giving everyone a chance to relax, compare tactics, and enjoy the company of fellow liverymen. Friendships were made, stories exchanged, and several people admitted—quietly—that croquet was far more exciting than they had expected.
A Glorious Result (Depending How You Look at It)
By the end of the day, both Glass Sellers A and Glass Sellers B achieved a highly respectable result: joint 4th place, along with every other team except those who came 1st, 2nd and 3rd.
In other words: we were gloriously mid‑table. A triumph of consistency.
The Journey Home: Tired Legs, Full Hearts
As we walked back to the station and made our way to London Victoria, we carried with us not only the satisfaction of a day well spent, but a deeper appreciation of what livery fellowship truly means.
Croquet may have been the excuse for the outing, but the real prize was the laughter, the camaraderie, and the reminder that being part of the Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers brings friendships, fun, and experiences that stay with you long after the mallets are put away.
The Demmons—and their honorary member for the day—fully intend to return next year. The Master and Jason have even begun investigating local croquet clubs, proving that once croquet gets its mallet‑shaped hooks into you, there’s no going back.
