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T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 1
Further information from the Sheffield Master Cutler advised
that a) all recipients and their escorts were invited to a lunch in
Cutler's Hall after the service and b) the Cutler's Company was
having two special chairs made for the service, for the Queen and
the Duke of Edinburgh by a Company member, using Sheffield
stainless steel. These would remain in the cathedral. The Cutler's
Hall, which is directly opposite the cathedral, was to be used for
the recipients to be received and duly identified before being
taken across to their seats.
The Almoner pointed out that we were not expected to give the
Queen anything in return. Apparently on one occasion an elderly
lady presented her with a jar of homemade marmalade after
receiving the purses!
And so to the great day. Needless to say, my wife Hazel had a
new outfit, and as the street was closed to traffic, we could not
take cars UP to the doors of the Cutler's Hall and had to walk
the final 200 yards. We hoped that the weather would be kind to
her outfit and my suit, and this proved to be the case as although
cold it was dry and sunny. We were taken across to the Cathedral
watched by the crowds gathered The Queen arrived spot on 11.0
am, with an escort of Yeomen of the Guard. There were four
processions, the Cathedral's, the Ecumenical, The Queen's and
The Royal Almonry. The Choirs of the Chapel Royal and
Cathedral were magnificent, and the music (I gather chosen by
the Queen) included Handel's stirring "Zadoc the Priest" which
is sung at coronations. During the service the Queen went twice
round the cathedral handing the Maundy money to each of us
personally. like many others I was surprised at how petite she
seemed. Amazingly, despite all that had to be achieved the
processions out were right on 12 noon (perhaps because there
was no sermon i), with the Queen signing the Visitor's Book at
the Cathedral door, following which she was greeted by a crowd
estimated at 10,000, and went across to a Civic lunch at the
nearby Town Hall.
The irony for me was that the cost of my wife's new outfit for the
event would have qualified me for assistance under the heading
of destitute! But regardless, the occasion was a memory of a
lifetime.
Rev Brian Cranwell after receiving Maundy Money from the Queen in
Sheffield Cathedral, with his wife Hazel.
Music at Stationers'
Your article about Dr David Clover, Director of Music at
Stationers’ reminded me of a coincidence that happened
only 3-4 years ago in Sheffield.
I was talking to another retired clergyman named John
Collie, and in the course of the conversation he mentioned
he had been at Highgate School. When I told him I had
been at Stationers’ he said “Oh, my father taught music at
Stationers’ for some years”. I realised that his father was
Norman Collie who ran the choir of which I was a member
at Stationers’. He had the nickname of ‘Hamilton’ though I
have no idea why.
This choir was invited to sing at St Paul’s Cathedral at the
first post war Stationers’ Hall crypt service on Ash
Wednesday in 1946. I still remember the first two lines of
the anthem we sang with its tune but have no remembrance
of the composer.
When John died a memorial service was held for him in
the church where he had been vicar for many years. During
the service two of John’s grandchildren played an
instrumental piece “Romance” written by Norman Collie
for his daughter’s 21st birthday.. Later, at the bun fight
following I told the grandchildren I remembered their
great grandfather. They must have thought I was as old as
Methuselah!
I remember mention of Clover in the Sheffield press when
he ran the youth choir. I wish I had known his connection
with Stationers. The musical side of life only consisted of
the choral practice one hour a week at Stationers in my day.
Rev. Brian Cranwell
Promotional programme to
encourage membership of the
Stationers’ Company
Our President was recently a guest at a Master and Wardens’
Luncheon at the Stationers’ Hall. When invited to speak, he
recalled his first visit to the Hall in 1966 as a member of the
school choir after singing the Ash Wednesday service in the
crypt of St. Paul’s Cathedral in the memory of John Norton who
died in 1612.
His comments reminded me that our relationship with the
Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers not
only takes us back to the days of our teens and the opening of our
school in 1861, but it also links us to the beginnings of the
printing industry in 1403.
There are 110 Livery Companies in the City of London, all
playing a part in maintaining the traditions of each guild and
industry from which they were created. Today, not only do these
companies provide a wide variety of social gatherings and a
network of business contacts, but there is also a strong ethic of
support for both charities and educational establishments.
Collectively, the Livery Companies of London donate over £50
million per year which is exemplified by the current investment
by the Stationers’ Company in the Stationers Crown Woods
Academy.
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