On this day in 1932, George Bernard Shaw attended the first anniversary dinner of the Company of Newspaper Makers, held at Barber-Surgeons’ Hall. Master of the Company was American-born journalist Robert David Blumenfeld, editor of the Daily Express 1904-1932. Shaw and Blumenfeld can be seen in the image, here reproduced with permission of the Stationers’ […]
On this day in 1935, the second Walter Lawrence Trophy Presentation Dinner was held at Barber-Surgeons’ Hall, at which the award for the fastest hundred scored in the English cricket season in a first-class innings was presented to Harold Gimblett, then aged 21. Wisden’s 1979 obituary stated that the events of Gimblett’s entry into first-class […]
On this day in 1607 the Court Minutes recorded: Forasmuch as Francis Rowden clerk of this company hath lately buried his child of the plague which was carried through the gate of the hall of this company, by reason whereof there is express commandment from the Lord Mayor of this City that neither we the […]
On this day in 1720, the Court Minutes recorded: Samuel Rutter who was the apprentice of John Pemberton Citizen and Stationer and served M’ John Watts the Toothdrawer a member of this Company and his father in law was admitted into the freedom of this Company by Redemption for 31: 3: 0 Rutter’s prospective occupational […]
On this day in 1781: The Clerk presented to the Court a Lease from the New River Company to this Company for Supplying the Company’s Hall and Clerks House with Water which being Read & approved Ordered That the Company’s Seal be affixed to the Counterpart of the said Lease. The New River was commissioned […]
On this day in 1545, surgeon Robert Balthrop (1522-1591) was admitted to the Freedom of the Company of Barbers and Surgeons of London. The son of Richard Balthrop, ‘midwife’ to Jane Seymour, he had been apprenticed to Nicholas Alcock, surgeon to Queen Jane’s son Edward VI. Alcock bequeathed to Balthrop in 1550 his “russet worsted […]
On this day in 1682/3, Alexander Geekie (1655-1727) was admitted to the Freedom of the Company by Redemption, becoming Master in 1719. Surgeon, Fellow of the Royal Society from 1710, member of the Society of Antiquaries, Geekie was born in Baldowrie, Perthshire, later settling and making his career in London. Geekie assembled a collection of […]
On this day in 1308 the presentation and admission of Richard le Barber as Supervisor or Master of the Barbers took place at Guildhall before the Court of Aldermen : Richard le Barbour dwelling opposite to the Church of Allhallows the Less, was chosen and presented by the Barbers of London, on Tuesday next after […]
On this day in 1609 Sir William Paddy was replaced as Reader of Anatomy to the Company by Matthew Gwinne. The Court Minutes recorded: Att this Court upon the motion made by Sr William Paddy Knighte and at his earnest request and suite made to this Courte and uppon the surrenderinge up of his place […]
On this day in 1556, Henry Machyn recorded in his diary the funeral of Sir John Ayliffe (or Aylef): “The xx of October was bered ser John Olyff knyght and altherman, and sum-tym he was surganttunto kyng Henry the viijth, and after he was shreyff of London; and he had levyd tylle the next yere […]