This is a special feature from past Master and Clerk, Jan Boyd speaking at Charter Night.
Master, Past Masters, Wardens, Fellow freemen, and Guests
I would like to take you through a journey of almost 20 years, – my journey, but one I have shared with many of you.
It must have been sometime in 2006 or 2007, when I first met my predecessor and mentor Richard Auger. Somehow, Richard had become aware that I had time on my hands, having recently retired, and that I was in some vague kind of way looking for a “good cause” to occupy my new found hours. He asked if I would look at some paperwork and from time to time would drop papers through my door for comment, and later took me on a tour of our almshouses at Fairford Place. I was elected to the Freedom of the Shrewsbury Drapers Company in 2008. Richard led me down the route to Master and then to Clerk.
Let us see what we, the Shrewsbury Drapers Company, have achieved over the past 2 decades.
Almshouses
From 20 almshouses, 16 at Fairford Place, and 4 at St Giles, we now have 51 with 8 more well on the way to completion.
The early years were challenging. We were gifted 5 almshouses at Holy Cross. They came with some beautiful, unstable and ultimately expensive chimneys. But more importantly, they came with land. We could build more almshouses.
The site had its problems. It was liable to flood, it was a designated recreational green space and there was restricted access. But there were other issues. A planning application for 21 one bed units was refused. Current housing policy was for 2 bed units – which suited neither our potential residents nor our budget.
Government policy changed – we could build one bed units after all, but then we were caught in a “stand off” between the Homes and Communities Agency, – the source of much of the money required to build, – and the Charity Commission. Government did not understand the concept of almshouses! To comply with “equality and diversity” legislation, the HCA required our “social housing” to be available to all whereas the Charity Commission was adamant our “almshouses” could only be occupied as stipulated in our charitable objects – basically single, elderly, women, and, in the case of Holy Cross, of the Protestant faith.
A deputation was sent to Westminster to meet with the Housing Minister and a deputation, including Richard and I, was sent to Taunton to meet with the Charity Commission.
The result was:
- we changed housing legislation to recognise almshouses, albeit in a limited way;
- we created two new charities, Shrewsbury Drapers Company Charity which would own the almshouses (a requirement of both HCA and Charity Bank) and Shrewsbury Drapers Holy Cross Ltd which would run the almshouses;
Exciting times for me, as a lawyer, in the middle of it all.
An exchange of two small pieces of land, improved access to the site and allowed us to reposition the proposed building, which in turn allowed four additional 2 bedded units to be built. 25 units in all, with potential accommodation for up to 29 residents!
Drapers Place was completed at the end of 2016 and officially opened by HRH Duke of Gloucester in Spring 2017, when he presented The Almshouse Association Patron’s award.
In 2019, the Haberdashers’ Company, gifted us 4 almshouses in Newport. The money from the sale of 3 unoccupied cottages became the seed funding for our current development at Fairford Place, – the refurbishment and conversion of 12 studios into 12 one bedroomed flats and the building of 8 new ones – commenced last year, to be completed before the end of this year.
Two, multi-million pound building projects, – not bad for a group of volunteers.
TDC
Twenty years ago, the Textile Design Competition was small but perfectly formed and held in Summer in St Mary’s church. My suggestion that the exhibition should form the backdrop for our Guest Night reception, resulted in both being held in November in St Mary’s, which is absolutely freezing at that time of year. The reception and exhibition are now held in the Library – much warmer.
The exhibition has expanded to include Key Stage 3 and 4 children from schools across the county and attracts students and amateurs from all over Shropshire and the Marches. We had 137 entrants in 2024.
Each year, a winning student has the opportunity to design a piece of work that will go into commercial production. The fact our sponsors now get to see the exhibits has encouraged far more interest and involvement from them, and in March this year the London Drapers held an Education Dinner in Drapers’ Hall, London and 3 of our Gold Award Winning students had their work on display.
Other Guilds
We have strengthened our bonds with other Guilds and Livery Companies. The London Drapers have supported us for over 30 years. Without them we could well have withered on the vine, but we have flourished, and we now have connections with the Haberdashers, the Woolmen, and the Weavers Livery Companies of London. We have forged links with the Incorporation of Weavers, Fullers and Shearmen of Exeter, the Merchant Adventurers of York and the Merchant Taylors also of York with whom we share the delights of an old Guild Hall, – and we have inspired the Coventry Drapers and Worcester Clothiers to sponsor textile students.
We now hold two Guest Night Dinners each year. Visitors comment on the warm welcome they receive in the wonderful surroundings of our ancient guildhall. The Shrewsbury Drapers Hall Preservation Trust also goes from strength to strength, only last year completing a major kitchen renovation, jointly with Rhubarb, which would have been unheard of 20 years ago.
Governance
I am proud to say that when I was elected Master, over a decade ago, I was not the first female Master, I was number 4. Our current Master, Nancy Sykes Waller is number 8. All this, when many long-established guilds and livery companies are only now beginning to elect female Wardens and Masters, and some regional guilds are yet to elect their first female members!
What may very well have been a personal first, was when I stood at the Master’s and Clerk’s Luncheon at Drapers Hall, London to respond on behalf of the Guests. While I concede a woman may well have stood there before me, I am willing to bet I was the first Clerk.
In 2021, we were awarded the late Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, which I am told is the equivalent of an OBE for a voluntary organisation, – all the more impressive because it covered the Covid years. 2022 was a watershed year for the Drapers – we lost 4 long standing stalwarts of the Company: Brian Ratcliffe, Gordon Woods, Mike Maxwell and Maurice Galliers. The following year we lost Richard Auger, and in the last few days, Elaine Adams and David Tudor. All of whom I think could be considered in their individual ways as being driving forces within the Company.
But all is not doom and gloom, in 2023 we welcomed 4 new Drapers, 12 in 2024, 5 in 2025, with hopefully with one more to come. All bring new skills and enthusiasms with them.
The future is bright for the Shrewsbury Drapers Company. I have been part of the transition from the old to the new and it has been a privilege to share this journey.
Personally
I have met people from diverse walks of life, including members of the Royal Family, in dramatic and historic settings. Just as our forebears “ventured” to Oswestry, I have “ventured” to London, Exeter, Worcester, Cardiff, Coventry, York and Richmond Yorkshire, the latter often fraught with hazard. The various London Livery Company Halls are magnificent, and their wines are amazing.
I have attended 3 “White Tie” dinners, possibly 100 “Black Tie” dinners and one Royal Garden Party. I have some very glamorous frocks in my wardrobe.
I have served 9 Masters and worked with 4 Company Secretaries not to mention many Almshouse Management and Charity Committee chairs, – and now it is time for me to stand down.
When Richard Auger stood down after 11 years as Clerk, we awarded him a gavel. I not entirely sure why as he no longer had any need for it! But we put his name on it and presented it to him. He subsequently handed it to me, and very soon now, I will hand it over to my successor, Lyndsey O’Loughlin. I know it will be in safe hands. I have every confidence in her and wish her every success as Clerk.
Jan Boyd
Master 2014 -2015 Clerk 2016 – 2025
