Skinners’ Company History Group

The History Group serves as a forum for members of the Company interested in exploring the Skinners’ long and remarkable history. It was set up at the end of 2007 following the successful lecture on Sir Thomas Smythe given at the Hall by Dr Ian Archer of Keble College, Oxford. ‘Membership’ consists in nothing more than asking for your name to be put on the circulation list.

The Group’s Committee aims to arrange a series of events throughout the year, ranging from lectures or talks from people, both inside and outside the Company who have expertise in a particular field, to presentations or local tours. The events are primarily for Skinners, but there will generally be scope to welcome guests, as many topics will be of interest beyond the Company. The Group is self-funding, so a small charge to attend events may be made.

If you would like to be on the circulation list of the Group or if you have any suggestions and ideas for future activities, do please get in touch with the assistant clerk Mervyn Bassett at: beadle@skinners.org.uk

or the Committee Chairman, Professor Colin Seymour-Ure at:
C.K.Seymour-Ure@kent.ac.uk.

Below are some of the events which have occurred at the Hall and dates for future events:

• Monday 21 November 2011, 5.30pm – 8.00pm
  Given by David Walsh at Skinners' Hall
  David Walsh, formerly Second Master of Tonbridge School, will be publishing in early November his book entitled A Duty to Serve: Tonbridge School and the Second World War. Drawing on the book, this talk shows how the School itself was affected by the war, starting with some difficult decisions for the Skinners' Company about possible evacuation in 1940. The talk illustrates the extraordinary diversity and sacrifice of Tonbridgians' war experiences – from the Battle of Britain to the River Kwai, from Pegasus Bridge to the horrors of Buchenwald and Belsen. A Duty to Serve has been researched and written from many different sources, including the reminiscences of over 100 OTs who either fought in the war or were at school in those years. The talk will be illustrated with photos from school and private archives. Copies of the book will be available for purchase.

• Historical Meal
  This is still very tentative. We have an introduction to Ivan Day, an applied food historian based in Cumbria. (See his website at www.historicfood.com). We also have contact with an historian at Lincoln College, Oxford, Dr Perry Gauci, who is an expert on food history. There is therefore a range of possibilities, such as an historical meal preceded by a lecture, or one without the other, or some other variation. It would be helpful to have expressions of interest, however tentative.

• Outings
  At present the Committee are regarding these as only a possibility. For example Ian Archer’s account of Sir Thomas Smythe’s memorial in the church at Sutton-at-Hone (in countryside in the angle of the M25, M2 and A2) might make a suitable focus for a visit.  

• Other subjects of interest
  Interests drawn to our attention by members of the Company include the Company’s pictures and plate; its connections with the East India Company; the formation of the Livery; trade with Muscovy and America; the Restoration period; and the scope for an oral history programme.

• Part-time archivist?
  The Skinners are one of only two of the Great Twelve that do not employ an archivist (generally part-time). We hope to find out more about what the others’ archivists do and to see if there are lessons for us.

 

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