One of the highlights of the Master’ year of office is the Annual Weekend for members and partners of the Company. This year was no exception as some 60 Glass Sellers and partners visiting the city of Maastricht the “Masters Jolly Weekend” from 16th to 20th May 2024.
Attendees arrived by plane, train, and automobile. The Mistress had organised a coach from Brussels to collect people who had flown or travelled by Eurostar.
The Crowne Plaza Hotel provided our accommodation. On the first evening, Pascal Mestrom, an eminent Maastricht chandelier dealer, gave a talk and slide presentation, followed by a superb buffet dinner and drinks.
Friday morning, a trip to the Apostelhoeve, one of the finest vineyards in the Netherlands. A tour of their vines, wine production, and bottling facility, followed by tasting three surprisingly delicious wines.
The afternoon, was a chance to wander and sightsee, shop, and sample the bars and cafes of this beautiful city.
In the evening, a Musical Dinner Show was held at Buitengoed Slavante, a wonderfully Bohemian former casino on the hills above Maastricht. Laura Engel, who had previously toured with Andre Rieu, and her friends performed numbers from famous musicals between courses, including Wicked, Phantom of the Opera, Little Mermaid, Cabaret, the Sound of Music, Mama Mia, Grease, and the Rocky Horror Show.
Crossing the Belgian border on Saturday morning a visit to the Val Saint Lambert Museum and glassworks near Liege. Sadly, it is a mere shadow of a company that, in its heyday, employed 3,000 people. The modern, newly built museum was worth seeing. It displayed modern and old glass, and then we had lunch in an adjoining building before returning to Maastricht for a free afternoon.
Over the Friday and Saturday afternoons, several Glass Sellers visited Pascal’s workshops and home just outside the city centre. They were enthralled by his skill and knowledge in restoring antique chandeliers and his imagination and creativity in making his new pieces, which are in great demand around the world.
Our final evening a walk across the footbridge into the city centre and to join the waiting MPS Jekervallei, a delightful riverboat that cruised up and down the river. At the same time, we were entertained by Laura and her fellow Andre Rieu singer Carla with a selection of opera and love songs. Following a delicious dinner, the Master was given a gift from all the “Jolly” attendees: a Katherine Coleman engraved paperweight.
On Sunday morning a few strolled across the river to the Cathedral for a special Pentecost service in Dutch, finally everyone set off by car or headed for airports and train stations for their homeward journeys.
The Master thanked the Mistress for organising the event, especially Sharon Heyman and John Selby, for their work creating a fantastic photographic memory.
Finally, a huge thank you to all who participated in cementing yet again the fellowship and camaraderie of the Glass Sellers Company.
David Wilkinson
Master 2023 -24
