The Worshipful Company of Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers

The Company is delighted to announce that Assistant Dr Karen Watts, the Company's curator and archivist, is the winner of the City Livery Club Root and Branch Award, for her contribution as Curator & Designer of the highly successful Treasures of Gold & Silver Wire exhibition that was staged in the Guildhall Art Gallery in the autumn of 2023. Karen, who is a Visiting Research and Teaching Fellow at the Institute of Medieval Studies, University of Leeds; Professeur de Patrimoines et Archéologie Militaires, Ecole Du Louvre, Paris; and Curator Emeritus, Royal Armouries Museum , Leeds; has had a long career as a museum curator whilst teaching postgraduate courses and supervising PhD students. Karen said: “I am honoured and thrilled to receive this prestigious award for our commemorative exhibition whose purpose was to draw together and showcase the celebrated historic London trade, craft and continuing collaborative work between all the City of London Livery Companies”. 

The Company is delighted to announce that Assistant Dr Karen Watts, the Company's curator and archivist, is the winner of the City Livery Club Root and Branch Award, for her contribution as Curator & Designer of the highly successful Treasures of Gold & Silver Wire exhibition that was staged in the Guildhall Art Gallery in the autumn of 2023. Karen, who is a Visiting Research and Teaching Fellow at the Institute of Medieval Studies, University of Leeds; Professeur de Patrimoines et Archéologie Militaires, Ecole Du Louvre, Paris; and Curator Emeritus, Royal Armouries Museum , Leeds; has had a long career as a museum curator whilst teaching postgraduate courses and supervising PhD students. Karen said: “I am honoured and thrilled to receive this prestigious award for our commemorative exhibition whose purpose was to draw together and showcase the celebrated historic London trade, craft and continuing collaborative work between all the City of London Livery Companies”. 

Last week the Chair of the Charity Committee and the Clerk visited the Royal School of Needlework at Hampton Court along with other Livery companies. They were shown work from all three years of the degree course alongside commissioned work that the RSN are doing. The skill and imagination of the students was breathtaking.

On the 8th April the Company held its annual service at St James Garlickhythe followed by dinner in Vintners' Hall. The guest speaker was HH Wendy Joseph KC, the Master Pewterer. Five other Masters and their Clerks attended along with representatives from our Service affiliations.

The Master, First Warden and Clerk were honoured to be guests of the Zunft zu den Drei Königen (3 Kings Guild) our sister Guild in Zurich for the Sechseläuten. Hosted by their Master, Rolf Bühler, and Liveryman Walter Isler and Freeman Peter Wild.

The Master and Clerk visited a project that they are supporting by the Build Up Foundation at the Somerford Adventure Playground in Tottenham. It is always good to visit a charity that the Company supports especially when it is unleashing the potential of young people.

The Master, Wardens, Past Masters, Liverymen and Clerk attend the annual United Guilds' Service at St Paul's Cathedral.

8th January saw the Company at Vintners' Hall for the Installation of the Master. Mrs Catherine Carr was re-installed for a second year. Mr Roger Carter was appointed at Hon Asst Master and Mr Henry Hobson was installed as Fourth Warden. The Company also clothed six new Liverymen.

Congratulations on the award of an MBE in the New Year's Honours List to Liveryman Paul Hughesdon. He is recognised for his work at the RAF Benevolent Fund as Director Grants, Services & Programmes which he took on after retiring from the RAF as an Air Commodore.

The Master managed to catch up with two of our Freemen, Megan Brown and Jessica Jue, at the Bishopsland Silversmithing and Jewellery Exhibition and Shopping Experience at Cutlers Hall.