St Paul’s Cathedral
A small group met at the Chapter House of St Paul’s, met by our host, Sarah Beddows, who led us off to attend Evensong. As it was the Wednesday before Easter, the occasion was a full sung service.
We were given a unique opportunity. A private behind-the-scenes tour of St. Paul’s Cathedral.
An hour and a half’s private guided tour of the Triforium spaces in the Cathedral, which gave access to Wren’s famous Library, the Geometric Staircase, the Great Model Room, and provided a spectacular view down the nave from above the Great West Doors.
There are 141 steps up to the Triforium; thankfully for some, a lift transit was available.
All exclaimed what an incredible experience it had been as some adjourned to take supper at the local Cote Brasserie.
Rotary Radio UK
Members of the Glass Committee and the Clerk visited Rotary Radio UK in Sittingbourne Kent. Invited by Freeman Steve Wood an opportunity to Live Broadcast an interview about the the Glass Sellers Livery – Record a jingle and a record a pod cast. Attendees included Chairman Ed Adshead Grant, and IPM David Wilkinson.
Inter Livery Shoot
IPM David Wilkinson, organised two Glass Sellers teams to take part in the Inter Livery Shoot at the West London Shooting School in Northolt on Thursday 15th May
The teams consisted of Liverymen Matthew Tottle, Hamish Whiteman, Nick Gray, Lick Vara and Freeman Alan Joy with guests Tony Hazell, Dudley Cramp and Paul McKay.
112 teams of 4 guns took part in the two-day event. The Glass Sellers teams were placed 56th and 78th overall. The winning team was the Gunmakers, followed by the Patternmakers, Grocers, and Butchers.
The top Glass Sellers scorer was once again Matthew Tottle.
We shall be looking to enter 3 teams in 2026
IPM David Wilkinson
May 2025
Master at the Palace
The Master and Mistress were delighted to attend the Annual Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday 20th May 2025 along with other Masters from the Livery.
The Glass Sellers were well represented, Honorary Liveryman and Assistant Clerk also attended.
The daughters of IPM David Wilkinson of Wilkinson Chandeliers also attended.
Stourbridge Glass Museum Celebrates
On Saturday, May 17th, 2025, a celebration for the completion of the 2024 iconic cameo, The Blue Vase, was held.
It follows on from an earlier project – The 2012 Portland Vase. The evening was opened by Graham Knowles MBE with speeches by Terri-Louise Colledge (engraver), Graham Fisher MBE, Harrison Davies and Alexander Woodward.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1038555024448541
The Museum also announced that they had won the Sustainable Project of the Year 2025 and several Heritage prizes.
Glass Sellers were well represented by Col. Audrey Smith OBE, Major Rowena Patrick MBE, Past Masters Gwen Rhys and Peter Rawlinson, Dr. Helen Beadman, Barbara Beadman MBE, Richard Beadman, Roger Pauli, and Allister Malcom.
An Indian Meal in Stourbridge followed.
On the Sunday Col. Audrey Smith OBE celebrated her honour with an afternoon tea for family and friends at Brockencote Hall before zipping off to Rome (Nato Conference) and then Canada for Major Rowena Patrick MBE to attend a conference in Ottawa, they will be back to join the Masters’ Jolly in Shetland.
B.P. Beadman MBE
Stourbridge Glass Museum Awarded Funding to Restore Iconic Churchill Screen Panel for VE Day 80th Anniversary
Stourbridge Glass Museum has been awarded a £25,000 Victory 80 Fund grant to conserve and reinterpret the historic Battle of the Atlantic Panel from the Churchill Screen, a monumental glass artwork created in the 1960s by artist Edward Bainbridge Copnall. The project, supported by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) and Museum Development Midlands (MDM), will culminate in a permanent display of the panel at the Museum, alongside community events marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in Japan (VJ) Day.
Primary Science Teaching Trust
Priority Area schools’ benefit from generous funding from the Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers
PSTT is delighted to announce the generous support of the Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers, whose funding has provided essential science resources to schools in our priority areas initiative.
Stourbridge Glass Museum have been crowned the winners of the sustainability award.
The winners were revealed at the Museums + Heritage Awards Ceremony on 15 May.
Alistair Brown, our Head of Museums, Libraries and Archives Policy, said: “We are really proud to sponsor this award, which is all about showcasing the best environmental projects in the heritage sector and encouraging others to take action.
May Members Evening
A splendid turnout of Members and guests gathered at the Guildhall Club for an entertaining evening with Past Master Glass Seller and Past Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman Dr Sir Andrew Parmley. The theme was Part 3 of a series entitled ‘Tales of the City’ We have invited key players in the City of today to tell a story of history or personal experiences.
Sir Andrew gave us an enlightening synopsis of his life’s path from Blackpool to the City of London and becoming the Lord Mayor of the City.
His support for the City and many other projects and causes is well documented, but a first-hand tale with amusing anecdotes inspired all attendees.
After a few questions we enjoyed a buffet supper, recounting the tales we had been told and admiring his enthusiasm for all that he does.
Liveryman Allister Malcolm
Glass artist creates the first carbon neutral glass studio gaining awards as they go.
Allister Malcolm Glass based at Stourbridge Glass Museum has been on a mission to move away from their reliance in fossil fuels to power their kilns and furnaces. It’s been a huge learning curve for all the team which has required them to embrace the latest technology and step well out of their comfort zones. The new equipment was designed and manufactured in the West Midlands. This huge learning curve and change over took over two years. The studio proudly announced they completed this transition in February whilst turning off the gas. It’s the first all electric Hot Glass Studio in the country if not the world. Allister Malcolm’s calculations proved that this move reduced the carbon footprint dramatically whilst sharing his ground breaking journey for his industry to learn. This led to Allister winning the Heritage Crafts and Queen Elizabeth Scholarship trust Sustainable practice award
Allister at the time was quoted saying
“ We were looking to embrace some new technology which no one really trusted, Our industry needed a solution and I had to give it a go. If it all went wrong, I figured that everyone could learn from our mistakes. Luckily we have been celebrating huge progress step by step. I hope that we have secured a future for a more sustainable way of producing hot glass by demonstrating that it can be done” .
The studio more recently took extra steps to take more responsibility for the energy the studio consumes, A solar panel installation on the roof of Stourbridge Glass Museum not only provides energy for the museum but also feeds the studio. Like most of us the team have been enjoying the weather recently but even more so, throughout April. Data shows the system generated over 30% of the energy they used. The extra energy needed they purchased through a supplier (who supplies the national grid with 100% renewable energy). The relentless efforts have enabled the studio to run on a carbon neutral level.
With a host of eco friendly workshops led by Terri Malcolm and exhibits at Stourbridge glass museum the latest breaking news is that the team at Museum Won “Sustainable Project of the Year” at The Museum and Heritage awards. Up against the very best of the best in the heritage and museum world this is a huge accolade for the relatively new museum.
The judges were particularly impressed by Stourbridge Glass Museum’s Greener Glass initiative, an eco-friendly, upcycled glass exhibition showcasing a world-first achievement: a renewable all-electric hot glass studio run by Allister Malcolm Glass Ltd, pioneering a new benchmark in traditional high-energy crafts. The project demonstrates how deeply sustainable technologies can be embedded into capital projects to reshape the future of heritage practices.
“This award recognises the tireless efforts of our team, our artists, and our community,” said curator Harrison Davies. “We’ve only been open for three years, and to be honoured alongside such esteemed institutions is a testament to what is possible with creativity, dedication, and sustainable innovation.”
Members receive Freedom of the City of London
The Master and Clerk were pleased to attend the Ceremony of Freeman Tony and Elaine Cross receiving their Freedom of the City of London.
Coming Up – For your Diary
Monday 23rd June – Court & Livery Dinner at Painters Hall
Tuesday 24th June – Election of the Sheriffs
Tuesday 24th June – Lunch with the Master at Stationers Hall
Wednesday 9th July – Informal Supper Night for Members & Guests at L’Escargot.
Thursday 17th July – Masters’ Jolly – Shetland
