YEAR BY YEAR
2023
Chair ALISTAIR HALL
Vice-Chair PATRICIA STANKIEWICZ SOLOMON
Luncheon Secretary PAUL BENWELL
Deputy Luncheon Secretary SUE DUNK
Honorary Treasurer LYNDA BROCKBANK
Honorary Secretary ALISON GUY
Honorary Designer DAVID MARSHALL & ELIZABETH ELLIS
Honorary Publications Officer PAUL GUMN
The Committee JUSTIN HOBSON, MATT MCKENZIE, SUE BRADBURY, MARK JEFFREY, SEB LESTER
Charitable Trust COLIN McHENRY, MARTIN MORGAN, CATHERINE DIXON
SPEAKERS AND EVENTS
Luke Tonge & Daniel Alcorn
For our first talk of the year, Luke Tonge and Daniel Alcorn from Birmingham Design joined us in January for a Luncheon at Stationers’ Hall. They spoke with passion and energy about setting up and running the fantastic Birmingham Design Conference.
Keepsake
A lovely foldout menu designed by Honorary designers Elizabeth Ellis and David Marshall, featuring promotional posters created for the BDF.
Chris Riddell
The hugely talented illustrator, author, and political cartoonist Chris Riddell joined us in March at The Art Workers’ Guild. He did some fantastic live drawings as he recounted the fascinating story of his career.
Keepsake
I designed a tabloid newspaper of Chris Riddell’s favourite political cartoons from his 28 years at The Observer.
Elizabeth Ellis and David Marshall
Our Honorary Designers for the year spoke with joy and enthusiasm at our May Luncheon at Stationers’ Hall. The talked about the duality of running their letterpress studio, The Counter Press, and their graphic design practice, Counter Studio.
Keepsake
Elizabeth and David produced a beautifully crafted menu featuring a collection of Collective Nouns – all typeset and printed by hand.
Summer Outing
In July, 17 of us braved baking temperatures on the south coast to visit the brilliant Signs of the Seaside exhibition at Ditchling Museum of Art & Craft. We overnighted in Brighton before visiting the archives at the University of Brighton the next day. We had delicious food and drink and were joined for lunch by Matt Baxter, one of the Society’s previous speakers.
We ended the outing with a trip up the Brighton i360 for a birdseye view of the city. (Some members were later spotted riding the Galloping Horses on the seafront’s carousel – surely the sign of a good trip!)
Summer Party
Later that month we had our Summer Party at Stationers’ Hall, when fortunately it wasn’t quite as sweltering. It was a marvellously relaxed affair, with a brilliant book raffle for the Charitable Trust which raised over £500.
Chair’s Lunch
In August the Committee made its way across to east London, to visit London Centre for Book Arts, courtesy of members Simon Good and Ira Yonemura, who run the centre. We were given a tour and then tried our hands at hand-binding a concertina style booklet. We made our way around the corner for our meeting, and a delicious lunch, at Lanterna.
David Pearson
In September book cover designer David Pearson joined us at The Art Workers’ Guild, and gave us a hugely entertaining rundown of his career in books.
Keepsake
I put together an adaptation of one of Pearson’s John le Carré book covers.
The Quiz
In October we made our way to the St Bride Library for a magnificent and hugely enjoyable quiz. The wonderful Catherine Dixon set a brilliant array of entertaining and flumoxing questions, and the evening was hosted by the inimitable Colin McHenry, along with many other helpers. We raised nearly £400 for the Charitable Trust. Particular thanks to Catherine for going above and beyond and getting all the quiz materials to us despite having Covid.
Jon Gray and Jamie Keenan
In November we had our AGM at Stationers’ Hall, where book cover designers Jon Gray and Jamie Keenan gave us an enormously entertaining talk about their 10 Disputable Theories of Cover Design.
Keepsake
I designed a menu that doubled as a book jacket, listing Jon and Jamie’s 10 theories.
2022
Chair DEREK ALBISTON
Vice-Chair ALISTAIR HALL
Luncheon Secretary PAUL BENWELL
Deputy Luncheon Secretary SUE DUNK
Honorary Designer HELEN EWING
Honorary Treasurer LYNDA BROCKBANK
Honorary Secretary ALISON GUY
Honorary Publications Officer PAUL GUMN
The Committee JUSTIN HOBSON, SUE BRADBURY, PATRICIA STANKIEWICZ SOLOMON, LAUREN FULBRIGHT, MATT McKENZIE, PETER DANCKWERTS
Charitable Trust MARGARET HALL, STEPHEN BROUGH, COLIN MCHENRY
SPEAKERS AND EVENTS
After an enjoyable Christmas Party in the Humble Grape, Ron Grosset took us back 200 years ago to 1822, when George IV visited Edinburgh, guided by Sir Walter Scott; member John Mitchinson beguiled us with Laurence Sterne and his tales of Tristram Shandy.
John Mitchison talks about Laurence Sterne at The Art Workers’ Guild
Professor Alastair Mann gave Carol Kemp the welcome excuse to show off her creative skills again with the Jacobites ; and then James Boyle brought us back to Stationers’ with his tales of unlikely successes; Irene Friend taught us how to give voice to print at The Art Workers’ Guild.
Irene Friend at The Art Workers’ Guild
Is that Fake News? Tom Thomson informed us on that subject at the November Luncheon at Stationers’ Hall.
The Quiz
Chair’s team narrowly missed winning the Quiz when the Vice Chair’s team pipped them at the post.
The winning Awl or Nothing Team from London Book Arts, aided and abetted by Vice Chair Alistair Hall
Summer Outing
Our summer outing to Hull was a hoot 7. With thanks to G.F.Smith for hosting the start of our tour.
Members of the Society on the trip to Hull
2021
Chair PAUL HARPIN
Vice-Chair DEREK ALBISTON
Luncheon Secretary PAUL BENWELL
Honorary Designer GEOFFREY WARING
Honorary Treasurer LYNDA BROCKBANK
Honorary Secretary ALISON GUY
Honorary Publications Officer PAUL GUMN
The Committee JUSTIN HOBSON, MATT McKENZIE, PETER DANCKWERTS, SUE DUNK, ALISTAIR HALL, PATRICIA STANKIEWICZ SOLOMON
Charitable Trust MARGARET HALL, STEPHEN BROUGH, COLIN MCHENRY
Honorary Archivist LEONARD CHAVE
SPEAKERS AND EVENTS
Due to Covid, most of our talks were restricted to Zoom seminars. and we had to cancel the quiz night. But despite this, there were highlights!
In January, on Zoom, Anne Braybon showed us through the amazing TOWN magazine, and the work of its art director Tom Wolsey. And I stepped in to describe NOVA magazine.
In March Peter Grundy, aka Grundini, showed us a selection of his 40 years of Information Graphic Design, and told us many charming and humorous anecdotes about his design life.
In June Matt Baxter and Dom Bailey of Brighton-based design consultancy Baxter & Bailey prepared an excellent A-Z of their work for us — which they describe as Design for Good.
In September Patrick Burgoyne entertained us with the Print Highlights of his twenty years in the Editor’s Chair of Creative Review magazine.
In November Amber Weaver told us all about Femme Type, her wonderful campaign to promote and support women who design type, and who work with type.
Favourite Memory
Simon Callow
Winning Martin de Morgan's Limerick competition and having 'the poem wot I wrote' read out loud by the one and only Simon Callow. The limerick:
“De Worde is mightier than the de sword”,
Deaf poet heard on travels abroad.”
Had he mis-heard? mis-wrote, absurd.
Mis-led, mis-spoke, ear trumpet erred:”
Make lead, melt sword, is Wynkyn's word.
Chair’s Lunch
I entertained the committee members at my home — my son Peter helped prepare and serve three curries — Goan fish curry, Sri Lankan lamb curry and Keralan cauliflower and pineapple curry.
Summer Outing
We visited Farley Farm and Gallery in East Sussex, brilliantly organised the previous year’s Chair Carol Kemp. She organised craftsmen and women to do demonstrations of their skills at her home and a visit to a local vineyard. Carol was helped on the day by the brilliant Sue Dunk.
My Paperweight
I would like to thank Lida Kindersley of the Cardozo Kindersley workshop for organising the carving of my Chairman’s commemorative paperweight, and especially Vincent Kindersley for doing such a wonderful job of the carving. “I will treasure this forever Vincent — it sits in prime position alongside my desk, and it has already been claimed for the future by one of my sons, Peter, who luckily shares my initials”.
2020
Chair CAROL KEMP
Vice-Chair PAUL HARPIN
Luncheon Secretary PAUL BENWELL
Honorary Treasurer LYNDA BROCKBANK
Honorary Secretary ALISON GUY
Honorary Designer HILL KEMP
Honorary Publications Officer PAUL GUMN
The committee SUE DUNK, JUSTIN HOBSON, DEREK ALBISTON, BRIAN VERSTAGE, SUE BRADBURY, MATT McKENZIE, PETER DANKWERTS
Charitable Trust
MARGARET HALL, COLIN McHENRY, STEPHEN BROUGH
SPEAKERS AND EVENTS
Carol Kemp reintroduced the printed newsletter de Worde as most of our talks and lunches could not take place due to the COVID 19 lockdowns
ANTONY PENROSE - The Road is Wider than Long
The son of celebrated photographer and model Lee Miller and painter, photographer and founder of the ICA, Sir Roland Penrose, gave an illustrated talk at Stationers’ Hall about his father’s book.
The menu was printed by Typecast Colour Ltd, Fenner Paper supplied the paper and designed by Hill Kemp.
SIMON ESTERSON and JOHN L. WALTERS – Eye 100
Art Director and Editor spoke about Eye, the international magazine of graphic design and it’s 100th issue
ALISTAIR HALL - London Street Signs
Alistair spoke about his recently published book, London Street Signs, A visual history of London’s street nameplates.
Favourite Memory
Making balloon hats for the past chairmen to wear at the Christmas Party at the Cello Factory and dancing to the Colours of Jazz; Laurie Benwell playing the saxophone. Becky’s brilliant quizzes where I often got the giggles with the Zoom antics. Simon Callow reading out the Limerick competition winners.
The book of 100,000 Limericks was created by Martin Morgan and designed by Paul Harpin. The sliced pages made a limerick multiplier.
Quiz Night
During the lockdowns we had three quizzes, orchestrated by Becky Chilcott - thanks Becky.
Assorted members at the November AGM on Zoom
2019
Chair MARTIN MORGAN
Vice-Chair CAROL KEMP
Luncheon Secretary PAUL BENWELL
Honorary Designer PAUL HARPIN
Honorary Treasurer LYNDA BROCKBANK
Honorary Secretary ALISON GUY
Honorary Publications Officer PAUL GUMN
The committee DEREK ALBISTON, SUE BRADBURY, ALISTAIR HALL, MATT MCKENZIE, BRIAN VERSTAGE
SPEAKERS AND EVENTS
In November 2019, Andrew Johnston talked about the life and times of his grandfather Edward Johnston
I decided that mine would be the year of the book - hence…
ROB SHEPHERD - The Great Omar
Stationers’ Hall Jan 24th ROB SHEPHERD of Shepherds Bookbinders spoke about the Great Omar. ‘Softly spoken and fascinating about the most beautiful binding ever’
Our March 2019 guest speaker was Rob Shepherd Managing Director of Shepherds, Sangorski and Sutcliffe. As a book dealer, restorer and teacher, Rob set up Shepherds in 1988, conserving a tradition of fine binding, gilding and gold finishing going back over years. The Great Omar is, rightly, an obsession of his.
ADAM DOUGLAS - Fraud, Forgery and Fakery
Artworkers’ Guild 19 March
ADAM DOUGLAS of Harringtons on Fraud Forgery and Fakery in the Book Trade. ‘Speaker of the year who held the audience riveted - cut short by timing’
AARON ARCHER - The Future of Printing
Stationers’ Hall 16 May
AARON ARCHER from Pureprint on the Future of Printing
SUMMER PARTY at Stationers’ Hall
Stationers’ Hall 18 July - Book sale and a guitar band.
‘Fabulous guitar band who made Lynda cry – Game of Thrones a highlight’
PROFESSOR FRED DEAKIN on The Future
Tuesday 17 September - Evening reception at The Artworkers’ Guild
ANDREW JOHNSTON on the Johnston font
Stationers’ Hall 21 November
‘Andrew told us EVERYTHING he possibly could about his grandfather Johnston’s life’
Keepsakes and menus
19 March A leather bound W de W notebook and a book mark (Eichi)
16 May A placemat printed on the Pureprint random design generator
21 November A list of Oulipolian proverbs; printed by one Matt McKenzie
Placemats of the FULLY-BOOKED MANIFESTO plus the little leporello book INSIDE OF A DOG designed by Paul Harpin and made by the Chair
Menus were produced for every lunch; almost everything was designed by Paul Harpin and while I knew from the very beginning that his was work of the highest order, I really had no idea until the end of the year just what a huge amount of startling creativity he had produced. I was embarrassed about just how much I had asked him to do and should like to publicly apologise in this forum – sorry Paul. Almost all the paper was from Fenner’s - thank you Justin.
Favourite Memory
Pretty much any committee meetings; Lynda listening to the guitar band; Paul Benwell realising he had forgotten to book the Artworkers’ Guild.
Chair’s Lunch
SADLY CANCELLED DUE TO ILLNESS, although I did manage to produce a limited edition leporello book THE LITTLE BOOK OF COMMITTEES essentially as a stalking horse for my final keepsake
Summer Outing
On 15 August to the Getty Library and Gardens at Wormsley.
‘Perhaps the most beautiful collection of books I have ever seen’ I WAS TOO BUSY TRYING NOT TO LOSE ANY MEMBERS!
Quiz Night
We had one of Becky’s brilliant Quiz Night’s – I had put together a team of civilians for the very first one and they have insisted on coming to every single one since because they are so clever and so much fun – All hail the Beckster!
My paperweight
Breathtaking! I love it to bits– letter cut Martin Morgan (arranged in a way I have never thought of despite being brought up to write italic and bugger about with monograms and generally waste time doodling). Above my name is a classic sun curving round the top edge of the stone and onto the base. On the base there is a clever pun on my initials and W de W arranged with the date in Roman numerals. When we came out of the AGM, the Cardozo Kindersley Workshop had arranged cards depicting the weight down the centre of each table – which, while lovely, made it look like my memorial lunch! I see from the card that the work was done by Emily Bunton, who is evidently hugely talented as apparently she was only half way through her 3-year apprenticeship.
We created ninety-one individual place mat designs for the May luncheon using Pureprint’s Mosaic randomiser printing system
2018
Chair JUSTIN HOBSON
Vice-Chair MARTIN MORGAN
Luncheon Secretary PAUL BENWELL
Honorary Designer PAUL HARPIN
Honorary Treasurer ROBIN SMEETON
Honorary Secretary ALISON GUY
Honorary Publications PAUL GUMN
Others on the committee that year PAUL BENWELL, SUE BRADBURY, ALISTAIR HALL, PAUL HARPIN, CAROL KEMP, MATT MCKENZIE, BRIAN VERSTAGE
Others who attended committee meetings, but who may not technically have been committee members
Webmaster PETER DANKWERTS
Honorary Archivist LEONARD CHAVE
SPEAKERS AND EVENTS
In January 2018, Abram Games’ daughter Naomi talked about her father’s typographic work
NAOMI GAMES on Abram Games, Designs with Type
Tuesday 25 January - Luncheon at Stationers’ Hall
A talk by Abram Games’ daughter, Naomi, that focussed on his typographic designs for his incredible posters.
WE LOVE MAGAZINES — JEREMY LESLIE
Tuesday 20 March - Evening reception at The Artworkers’ Guild
Jeremy Leslie leads the magCulture studio, dividing his time between designing, consulting and writing.
He is a passionate advocate for editorial design, which he sees as an ever-changing discipline that has always adapted to new contexts.
MICHAEL JOHNSON - Johnson Banks & other stories
Thursday 17 May - Luncheon at Stationers’ Hall
Michael Johnson is the founder and creative director of Johnson Banks. As well as running a very successful and globally-recognised consultancy; he has written two books, been Chairman of D&AD; and an external examiner and visiting lecturer for numerous universities.
Summer Party at Stationers’ Hall
Thursday 19 July - Oranges and lemons cocktails at our Members-Only Barbecue, in the garden at Stationers' Hall.
LUKE GIFFORD —Like Never Before
Tuesday 18 September - Evening reception at The Artworkers’ Guild
A talk by Luke Gifford about his designs for the brand identity of the 2012 London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.
STEWART DREW - De La Warr Pavilion
Thursday 15 November - Luncheon at Stationers’ Hall
Our guest speaker, Director and CEO of the
De La Warr Pavilion Charitable Trust, told the story of the iconic modernist seaside pavilion
Linocut by Paul Harpin to accompany a talk by Stewart Drew director chief executive of the De La Warr Pavilion
Summer Outing
BERLIN - 21st and 22nd June 2018
Our visit to Berlin was hosted by Professor Erik Spiekermann, who gave us a 3-hour guided tour of the city. On the first day, after a light Lunch at local restaurant in Potsdammer Platz we visited the Kunstgewerbemuseum. On the second day we had a tour of P98A — Erik Spiekermann’s Gallery and Letterpress workshop..
Our summer outing was a trip to Berlin, where we visited the print studio, gallery and office of Erik Spiekermann
2017
Chair MARGARET WILLES
Vice-Chair JUSTIN HOBSON
Luncheon Secretary PAUL BENWELL
Honorary Designer ROB BANHAM
Honorary Treasurer ROBIN SMEETON
Honorary Secretary ALISON GUY
Honorary Publications Officer PAUL GUMN
Committee MATT MACKENZIE, SUE BRADBY, PETER DANCKWERTS, LEONARD CHAVE, PAUL HARPIN, CATHERINE DIXON, PHILIP MOORE, STEPHEN BROUGH, MARTIN MORGAN
SPEAKERS AND EVENTS
60th anniversary year
Paperweight by Jeremy Scott an apprentice at the Cardozo Kindersley Workshop, to celebrate 60 years of The Wynkyn de Worde Society — and presented as a gift of thanks to the society's outgoing Chair Margaret Willes.
26 January - Buffet luncheon and raffle at Stationers’ Hall
The first lunch in 2017 was an informal one, with jazz from Mrs Paul Benwell and Monday Jazz. Jeremy Tankard and Catherine Dixon in conversation
21 March - ‘The surprise of history in contemporary typeface design’.
2017 was the 60th anniversary of the WdeW Society, and Jeremy was asked to design a new typeface to mark the occasion
London Transport Museum Depot
4 April - Members only outing
Jerry White - Grub Street & the Marshalsea Prison, 1700-1842
18 May - Stationers’ Hall
Talk about ‘Grub Street & the Marshalsea Prison’
Summer outing
1 June - Magdalen Old Library and University of Oxford Botanic Garden
The summer outing was in Oxford. I gave a brief talk about the Botanic Garden, and we had a visit to the Old Library at Magdalen where we were shown 17th-century botanic books and documents and other treasures. We then punted upriver to the Boathouse Restaurant for dinner.
Members only buffet luncheon
20 July - at Stationers’ Hall
GEORGE GOODWIN - Benjamin Franklin
19 September - Artworkers’ Guild
‘Benjamin Franklin, Britain’s greatest renaissance man, America’s founding father, but foremost a printer’
MICHAEL HESELTINE - 60th Anniversary Luncheon
16 November - at Stationers’ Hall
The speaker at the formal celebration of the 60th anniversary was the Rt Hon Michael Heseltine (below). I was too nervous to remember what he said, but he did talk about his career as a publisher, as well as his opposition to Brexit.
Michael Heselltine, publisher, was guest speaker for our 60th AGM
Justin Hobson provided the paper. Rob Banham did the designs for the keepsakes and menus.
Favourite memory
Trying to herd Wynkyn de Worders into the punts during our summer outing to Oxford. Cats would have been easier!
Chair’s lunch
At my home.
Quiz night
We held the second quiz night at St Bride’s
My paperweight
A lovely heavy disk with the year and Wynkyn de Worde round the edge, and a golden sun on top.
2016
Chair BECKY CHILCOTT
Vice-Chair MARGARET WILLES
Luncheon secretary PAUL BENWELL
Honorary designer There wasn’t one designer, Becky had many: Seb Lester, Ness Wood, Rob Banham, Jeremy Tankard, Carol Kemp, Catherine Dixon, Alistair Hall, Sara Chapman
Honorary treasurer ROBIN SMEETON
Honorary secretary ALISON GUY
Honorary publications officer PAUL GUMN
Committee SUE BRADBURY, CATHERINE DIXON, PAUL HARPIN, JUSTIN HOBSON, MATT MCKENZIE, MARTIN MORGAN
Honorary Archivist LEONARD CHAVE
Website PETER DANCKWERTS
SPEAKERS AND EVENTS
Becky organised a fantastic committee visit to St Brides (where she is a very active organiser of their events) to see hidden gems in their archive and to visit the print room and library
We started off 2016 with a buffet luncheon in January where we celebrated 400 years since Shakespeare’s death and were serenaded by The Bookshop Band. We also held our annual book raffle to raise funds for the Charitable Trust. The keepsake for this luncheon was a postcard with gold foiling on black paper designed by Seb Lester, paper supplied by G.F. Smith and printed by Benwells.
In March, we were joined by fellow Member, Catherine Dixon at the Artworkers’ Guild where she shared her adventures in letterpress around Brazil with us. A keepsake was produced citing Paul Stiff ’s dogmas, designed and typeset by Rob Banham, with paper supplied by G F Smith. Printed by F E Burman.
At the May Luncheon, author Mark Forsyth took us on a verbal tour of London’s contribution to language. The menu, white ink printed on acetate was designed by Becky Chilcott, printed by F.E.Burman.
In July, a band of merry Members went mad in Dorset with a two day trip to Sherborne and Stourhead Gardens. A keepsake was designed and produced by Jeremy Tankard for the summer outing.
At the Summer Party where we sold a collection of John Woodcock prints in conjunction with the Edward Johnston Foundation to raise money for the Charitable Trust. And Carol Kemp hand lettered pebbles with each Member’s names for the keepsake.
In September, Danny Braverman shared the story of his great uncle Ab’s life which was documented illustratively on 3000 wage packets from 1926 to 1982. A keepsake was designed by Catherine Dixon to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Johnston typeface and printed by Phil Abel at Hand & Eye.
In October, we held the first of the annual Wynkyn de Worde Quiz at the St Bride Foundation to raise funds for our Anniversary Year. It was a roaring success we raised almost £800 which is a fantastic amount.
And in November we were meant to be joined by Roald Dahl’s official biographer, Donald Sturrock to celebrate the great author’s centenary – but due to unforseen circumstances, he was unable to attend and a selection of Roald’s Childhood letters were read out by the marvellous Colin McHenry. Prior to the luncheon members were treated to multicoloured drinks of frobscottle (as drunk by The BFG). The menu was designed and printed by Becky Chilcott at the St Bride Library with the fantastic help of Mick Clayton and St Bride Print Workshop with paper and envelopes supplied by John Purcell Paper.
The Christmas Party was held at the Royal Automobile Club with a star turn by Carol Kemp doing some stand-up comedy.
The Member’s Booklet was designed by Sara Chapman, printed by Benwells with paper supplied by Fenner Paper.
Jeremy Tankard generously designed for us a new italic typeface, De Worde, with funds going to our charitable trust
The type sampler for De Worde was designed by Alistair Hall
We commissioned Jeremy Tankard to design the De Worde typeface in my year with the specimen designed by Alistair Hall – paper supplied by Fenner and (I think) printed by Benwells.
Favourite memory
The whole year was wonderful – it was such a pleasure being Chair and making the year my own, but I do remember the joy I felt when I handed over the book to Margaret and could sit back and relax! I’m not sure I can remember any funny stories, I think I may have been too merry to pay too much attention!
Chair’s lunch and tour of St. Brides
I had a Chair’s lunch at Vinoteca in Farringdon. Afterwards, we were treated to a tour of the St Bride Library, given by Bob Richardson and Mick Clayton.
My paperweight
My chair's keepsake is flat and rectangular with a sun in the top left corner and crescent moon on the back in the same place with the moon forming the C of my BC initials with the date carved too.
2015
Chair PAUL HASLAM
Vice-Chair BECKY CHILCOTT
Luncheon secretary PAUL BENWELL
Honorary designer ROB BANHAM
Honorary treasurer ROBIN SMEETON
Honorary secretary ALISON GUY
Honorary publications officer PAUL GUMN
SPEAKERS AND EVENTS
A superb menu was designed by Alistair Hall for Michael Burman’s polemical talk about the future of print. Each guest had their individual name on their menu
January – Martyn Eustace – Two sides - Talk about the environmental sustainability of print and paper – The Menu was a rather Unique Traumathope
March - Daniel Mason – Talk about his work wioth Joy Division and other such great Luminaries – A foiled a5 card with Joy Division artwork
May – Michael Burman – Printing: sunrise or sunset?'
'Some thoughts about where we have been and where we are now in the hope of drawing some conclusions as to where we are going
Invitation to Lawrence Zeegan’s talk by Alistair Hall
Sep – Prof Lawrence Zeegan - History of ladybird books – each member was given an original ladybird book with a foiled WDW Logo on the front cover
Nov – Nick Newman – story of the Wipers Times, WW1 newspaper printed in the trenches , we produced a replica copy of wipers times, printed by Matt Mckenzie, designed by Alistair Hall
Alistair Hall and Matt McKenzie’s replica of the Wipers (Ypres) Times trench newspaper
Keepsakes were printed by Benwells, paper by Fenner and GF Smith , designs by Alistair hall
Favourite memory
The restaurant manager on our trip to the Lake District plying me with Grappa was a personal Highlight. Arriving 30 mins late for my AGM to hand over to Becky was a lowlight!
Chair's lunch
Our House,.
Paul kindly entertained the 2015 committee at his home
Summer outing
Lake district. Cropper Paper Mill, Brantwood house, John Ruskins House and Museum, Blackwells arts and crafts House and a delightful lake Windermere booze cruise.
2014
Chair JEREMY TANKARD
Vice Chair PAUL HASLAM
Luncheon secretary JUDITH BASTIN
Honorary Designer BECKY CHILCOTT
Additional design from Dale Tomlinson (The Members’ Handbook), Carol Kemp, Eiichi Kono, John Miles, James Alexander, Catherine Dixon, Phil Abel, and Nick Gill.
Honorary treasurer ROBIN SMEETON
Honorary secretary ALISON GUY
Honorary publications officer PAUL GUMN
Committee DAVID GADSBY, CAROL KEMP, MARTIN MORGAN, JOHN PARFITT, MARGARET WILLES
Hon Archivist LEONARD CHAVE
de Worde Editor PATRICK BRITTAIN
Web Master PETER DANCKWERTS
SPEAKERS AND EVENTS
Carol Kemp produced a calligraphic keepsake of ‘Robin Hood and the Tanner’ for the 2014 Summer Party that was sung by minstrel Dante Ferrara
23 January
Dan Rhatigan The infancy of the Monotype Library
We gathered and listened to Dan Rhatigan, Type Director at Monotype. Dan spoke to us about the early typefaces produced by Monotype. Illustrations of early Monotype fonts were used in Becky Chilcott’s menu design.
The keepsake was a Monotype drawing print AND a lump of lead cast by Hand and Eye, stuck on to a gold card printed by Hand and Eye Letterpress, Phil Abel, and Nick Gill.
Monotype drawing image was provided by Dan Rhatigan, printed by Westerham, Paper supplied by RK Burt & Co.
8 March
Alistair Hall Clients from Hell
At the Art Workers’ Guild we heard Alistair Hall to about his work for the Ministry of Stories. A truly inspirational project in all respects.
Attendees received a bar of Ministry of Stories chocolate
15 May
Mark Ovenden London Underground by Design
In May, the author Mark Ovenden presented an enthusiastic insight to the design of the London Underground. That day our tables were coloured and named as tube lines and we were passengers taken on a journey around one of our great design icons.
Eiichi Kono designed a keepsake for te Ovenden talk
17 July
Members’ Garden Party with minstrel Dante Ferrara
At the Members’ Garden Party on 17 July we joined Dante Ferrara, our minstrel for the day, in a rendition of ‘Robin Hood and the Tanner’. We also remembered our much-loved past Treasurer, Roy Fullick. Roy was responsible for much of the Society’s current success and is greatly missed. In memory, Roy’s family generously donated a bottle of one of his favourite wines to all who attended.
16 September
Sam Winston Exploring the written word in a visual world
We were back at the Art Workers’ Guild on 16 September to see and hear about Sam Winston’s type-inspired artworks.
20 November
Robert Green Reviving the Doves Type
Following the AGM on 20 November we listened to Robert Green talking about his revival of the infamous Doves Type. And he chose that day to show some of the actual type he rescued from the bottom of the River Thames.
Membership booklet was printed by Benwells, Paper by Fenner, Photos by Philip Moore, Design by Dale Tomlinson
For print we used The Lavenham Press, Benwells, Westerham, and Hand & Eye Letterpress,
For paper: John Purcell, GF Smith, Fenner Paper, and RK Burt & Co.
Favourite memory
Eating, drinking and having fun
Chair's lunch
Yes, in Cambridge at Windyridge
Quiz night
I think there was a tie in the St Bride quiz?
My Paperweight
Letter cut italic JT with flourishes (the J and the T bear a serif on only one side of their main stem!)
2013
Chair LYNDA BROCKBANK
Vice Chair JEREMY TANKARD
Luncheon secretary JUDITH BASTIN
Honorary Designer LYNDA BROCKBANK
Honorary treasurer ROBIN SMEETON
Honorary secretary ALISON GUY
Honorary publications officer PAUL GUMN
Committee BECKY CHILCOTT, PAUL HASLAM, DAVID GADSBY, CAROL KEMP, JOHN PARFITT, LIONEL PARKER
Hon Archivist LEONARD CHAVE
Web Master PETER DANCKWERTS
SPEAKERS AND EVENTS
Memories of the 2013 summer outing to Dublin — Guinness!!
24 January
Nicholas Friend Politics and the printed image – from Hogarth and Gilray to Scarfe and Riddell
19 March
Dr Rosamund Bartlett How Chekhov took on Tolstoy – a David and Goliath story.
The keepsake was an engraved shot glass (vodka toast to Tolstoy and Chekhov)
16 May
Jonathan Meades This font is hostile… that font is your friend’ On handwriting, antipathy to slab serif (Stymie), mistrust of copperplate, and discovery of Mistral.
16 July
Roger Eno Music: accordion in the garden and piano at lunch. Book costume promenade by students.
At this event in 2013 we had first alphabet typeface card keepsake.
The first Wynkyn de Worde Society alphabet card ‘A for Albertus’ was designed by John Miles, and they have been distributed to collect at our lunches over the last few years
17 September
Alice Rawsthorn
‘Hello World: where design meets life’
Designing is a basic human instinct – an attitude, not a profession
21 November
Terry Waite
‘Language and survival in solitude’
The keepsake was ’Solitude’, printed by Peter White, Bouncing Acre Press
Keepsakes from Lynda Brockbank’s year as Chair
Menus were designed by Lynda Brockbank
Shot glasses keepsake engraved by Lynda Brockbank
‘Solitude’ keepsake for the last lunch where Terry Waite was the speaker designed and printed by Peter White, Bouncing Acre Press
Menus were printed by Lavenham Press on Omnia Natural from Fenner Paper
Benwells, on Plike White by GF Smith
Menu printed on grey board. Cartoon on the reverse by Barry Fantoni from ‘Taken on Trust’ by Terry Waite.
Favourite memory
Dublin: dinner at Clonskeagh Castle with Irish musicians and our singing; members swimming at the Forty Foot, Trinity Library Archives talk; following Joyce in the pouring rain; seeing and hearing about the 'Proclamation of the Irish Republic’* at the National Print Museum.
*Proclamation of the Irish Republic, regarded as Ireland’s most famous piece of printed ephemera. Printed secretly on a Wharfedale stop cylinder press, at Liberty Hall, Dublin.
And
Terry Waite: you could have heard a pin drop while he read his poems
Chair's lunch
We had Dinner at my studio in Perseverance Works, Shoreditch, preceded by drinks on the roof and ended with the ‘Library of Chance’.
Summer Outing
DUBLIN
Thursday 20 June to Sunday 23 June 2013
We stayed at Trinity in student rooms.
20 June Private Tour of Chester Beatty Library – fine Qur’an bindings and Persian manuscript collection
Private visit to National Print Museum. Press and binding machinery. Ephemera including the Proclamation of the Irish Republic
21 June Private visit to Trinity College Library Archives
Followed by visit to the Library and Book of Kells exhibit
Private visit to Archbishop Marsh’s Library and garden
Practise writing with a quill
22 June Private visit to the Joyce Centre
Guided circular Joyce walk
Coach to Joyce’s Tower talk and climb and option to swim in the Forty Foot
Clonskeagh Castle Dinner (organic and plants-based) with musical performances
23 June Private view of Writers’ Museum
Lunch in Hugh Lane Gallery
Visit to Francis Bacon studio installation
I have a splendid casebound book of the outing made by members:
Photography: Philip Moore with Colin Dunn, David Gadsby, Alison Guy, Roy Millington, Terry Shapland, Leo Smith
Design: Colin Dunn
Printed and bound by Bookbinders of London on Mowhawk Superfine Eggshell
I have the printed itinerary, the Clonskeagh Castle dinner menu – and members printed keepsakes at the National Print Museum.
Extra events
A ‘grand treats not trickery’ party at the Artworkers’ Guild, with pumpkin competition.
A private tour of St Paul’s Library and Triforium with Librarian, Joe Wisdom, followed by Evensong in the choir.
A private view of the ‘Victoriana’ exhibition at the Guildhall Art Gallery with Curator Sonia Solicari.
2012
Chair COLIN DUNN
Vice Chair LYNDA BROCKBANK
Luncheon secretary JUDITH BASTIN
Honorary Designer JEREMY TANKARD
Honorary treasurer ROBIN SMEETON
Honorary secretary ALISON GUY
Honorary publications officer PAUL GUMN
Committee JUDITH BASTIN, PATRICK BRITTAIN, BECKY CHILCOTT, PAUL HASLAM, DAVID GADSBY, CAROL KEMP, JOHN PARFIT
LEONARD CHAVE (in attendance)
PETER DANCKWERTS (in attendance)
JEREMY TANKARD (in attendance)
SPEAKERS AND EVENTS
Keepsakes & menus from Colin Dunn’s year as chair in 2012
Christine Ferdinand – The Honest Debtor, the Reckless Insolvent, and the Rogue: Three Booktrade Bankrupts
There was no keepsake (in keeping with the theme of the talk)
The menu was copperplate script by Gerald Fleuss with prison-grub translations by Jeremy Tankard
Rosemary Wise – Drawn to plants: The art of botanical illustration. Keepsake was an A6 folded card with one of Rosemary’s botanical illustrations
Peter Ainsworth – Shadow Man: manuscript production in 15th-century Paris
The menu was in a Burgundian fortress style
Keepsake was Lyrics of Jacques Brel’s, Madeleine (designed by Catherine Dixon)
Garden Party and Tour of Stationers’ Hall (The first of these members-only events)
Daniel Chehade – Alan Fletcher’s colophon
David M Wilson – Imaging the Antarctic: the legacy of Captain Scott
Commemorative expedition biscuits, miniature bottles of port and brandy (labels designed by Carol Kemp) and a tin of pilchards for the menu (labels designed by Jeremy Tankard)
Favourite memory of your time as chair? Any funny stories?
How long have you got?
Chair's lunch
Yes. Mill Cottage (The Honorary Secretary’s estate)
Summer outing
Yes. The Whittington Press. We got inky fingers. Cast a 72pt ‘W’ in Caslon. Mooched around the Court. Visited Jenny Randall’s fabric printing workshop. Had a picnic.
Extra events
A guided tour of the exhibition, Royal Manuscripts: The Genius of Illumination, at the British Library
Summer Outing keepsake was a lead W and bespoke print
IN DETAIL: COLIN DUNN wrote in deWorde, our society newsletter — During my year as Chairman, it was noted that the Society’s stock of presentation wine glasses was dwindling. Although the embarrassment of being unable to bestow one upon a guest Speaker was unlikely to present itself, there was a pressing need to order a new batch. As the existing style was no longer available, the Committee members were tasked with choosing a different style of glass, and it was also felt that a new design might be appropriate.
Appropriately or not, I was ‘commissioned’ to produce the new design, and have subsequently been asked to provide a few words for de Worde with which to explain myself. Specifically, “how you approached the design given the limitations of the glass etc etc”. Limitations were indeed limiting. The design had to fit within an area of 260 mm x 24 mm, and this narrow band was to be positioned close to the top of the glass where the surface was relatively flat.
My strategy, as with most design projects, was to afford it all due respect and approach it stealthily, out of eye-shot, armed with a big stick. The starting point for the lettering was a copy of Chronicles of England that Wynkyn de Worde produced in 1520 using Caxton’s type (pictured above). The intention was to incorporate features of the typeforms whilst trying to ensure that the letterforms did not appear too closely tied to these historical forms. It is hoped that this conveys the sense of a society that is far from antiquated.
Wynkyn de Worde engraved wine glass — a gift to speakers
Colin’s design for the wine glass engraving
2011
Chair GRAHAM BECK
Vice-Chair COLIN DUNN
Luncheon secretary JUDITH BASTIN
Honorary Designer JEREMY TANKARD
Honorary treasurer ROBIN SMEETON
Honorary secretary ALISON GUY
Honorary publications officer PAUL GUMN
Committee JUDITH BASTIN, PATRICK BRITTAIN, LYNDA BROCKBANK, GERALD FLEUSS, DAVID GADSBY, CAROL KEMP, JOHN PARFIT
LEONARD CHAVE (in attendance)
PETER DANCKWERTS (in attendance)
PATRICK BRITTAIN (De Worde editor)
SPEAKERS AND EVENTS
The High Grove Florilegium was discussed by Henrietta Pearson and Nigel Frith in March 2011
Thursday 27 January Lunch at Stationers’ Hall
Jeremy Musson The country house in words
Thursday 17 March Evening reception Artworkers’ Guild
Henrietta Pearson with Nigel Frith
The Highgrove Florilegium
Thursday 19 May Lunch at Stationers’ Hall
Bevis Hillier How to get on in biography
Thursday 21 July January Luncheon at Stationers’ Hall
Professoer Michael Wheeler
The making of the King James Bible. At the event their was a pre-lunch exhibition about the Bible at Stationers’ Hall; and an afternoon visit to the Lambeth Palace Library exhibition hosted by Wynkyn de Worde Society member Giles Mandelbrote, the librarian there.
Summer Outing September
Cambridge
Visited Corpus Christi College — The Parker Library, Taylor Library and the Cardozo Kindersley Workshop
Thursday 15 September Evening reception Artworkers’ Guild
Gary Holt Olympics and designs
Thursday 12 July November Luncheon at Stationers’ Hall
Jill Paton Walsh On the future of the printed book
Chairman’s lunch
Loch Fyne restaurant Cambridge
Monday 12 December Christmas Party at The Artworkers’ Guild
With carols, accompanied by the Chairman on portable keyboard piano/organ
Honorary Members
Maurits Enschedé, Margaret Hall OBE RDI, Elliot Offner,, Herman Zapf HON RDI
Honorary Fellows
Leonard Chave, Gabrielle Falkiner, Gay Fullick, Roy Fullick, Lida Lopez Cardozo
2010
Chair JAMES ALEXANDER
Vice Chair GRAHAM BECK
Luncheon secretary JUDITH BASTIN
Honorary designer CATHERINE DIXON
Honorary treasurer ROBIN SMEETON
Honorary secretary ALISON GUY
Honorary publications officer PAUL GUMN
Committee LYNDA BROCKBANK, COLIN DUNN, GERALD FLEUSS, JOHN PARFITT, PATRICK BRITTAIN, PETER DANCKWERTS, JUDITH BASTIN, LEONARD CHAVE, CATHERINE DIXON, CAROL KEMP, COLIN MCHENRY
SPEAKERS AND EVENTS
A menu for Deyan Sudjic’s talk designed by Catherine Dixon
Deyan Sudjic, Design Museum spoke on the Language of Things based on his book of the same name. The keepsake was a transcript booklet designed by James Alexander, and printed by Phil Abel, Hand and Eye Press. The menu was designed by Catherine Dixon
Dominic Lippa, Pentagram
Dominic brought copies of Pentagram books to give away
Giles Mandlebrote, spoke on Lambeth Palace Library 1610 -2010 The first 400 years. Keepsake was a booklet on Lambeth Palace designed by James Alexander, and printed by John Parfitt. The menu was designed by Catherine Dixon
Dave Wakefied, 23 Press
Letterpress type specimen keepsake designed and printed by Dave Wakefield
Frances Spalding, spoke on John and Myfanwy Piper based on her book of the same name. The menu was designed by Catherine Dixon
Simon Garfield, spoke on Just My Type based on his book of the same name. The menu was designed by Catherine Dixon
Favourite memory
My daughter was born at Kings as dawn broke on the day of the May lunch. I remember thinking, through my sleep deprivation, that I could still make it to the studio, pick up the keepsakes and make it to Stationers’ Hall by 12 noon. Sanity prevailed and Graham Beck and Robin Smeeton stood in for me. I believe that the suggestion is for her to come to a lunch on her 18th birthday to celebrate. Less than 7 years to go. One other thing springs to mind which is that the Society produced a wonderful book to commemorate the death of Peter Guy which was designed by John Miles.
Chairman's lunch
The Punch and Judy Fleet Street.
Summer outing
Typographic bus tour. We hired a Routemaster bus and took a journey round London with a commentary by Phil Baines and Catherine Dixon. Ending at Doggett’s Coat and Badge pub on the south bank for a buffet.
Christmas Party
Held at the Artworkers‘ Guild?
My Paperweight
Slate cube about 8cm. Deeply cut with sun and initials "JA", gilded.
2009
Chair PETER DANCKWERTS
Vice-Chair JAMES ALEXANDER
Luncheon secretary JUDITH BASTIN
Honorary designer CATHERINE DIXON
Honorary treasurer ROBIN SMEETON
Honorary secretary ALISON GUY
Honorary publications officer PAUL GUMN
SPEAKERS AND EVENTS
Menu designed by Catherine Dixon for a talk by Joan Winterkorn
Sir David Eady (High Court Judge) – Defamation
Prof. Michele Brown – A medieval MS
Martin Frost – Fore edge painting
Patrick Scrivenor (writer and gamekeeper)
Catherine also designed and typeset the menu for the Scrivenor talk
Joan Winterkorn (MS expert), Bernard Quaritch
Favourite memory
The thing which really impressed me was Alison Guy’s invaluable help
Chair's lunch
Held at Dogget’s Coat and Badge
Summer outing
Merton College, Oxford. The library and grounds
Christmas Party
Yes
My Paperweight
A slate cube incised with the WdeW emblem, ’09' and my initials.
2008
Chair COLIN MCHENRY
Vice Chair PETER DANCKWERTS
Luncheon secretary JUDITH BASTIN
Honorary designer RUSSELL DOWLING
Honorary treasurer? ROBIN SMEETON
Honorary treasurer ROBIN SMEETON
Honorary secretary ALISON GUY
Honorary publications officer PAUL GUMN
Committee JAMES ALEXANDER, JUDITH BASTIN, GRAHAM BECK, PATRICK BRITTAIN, ROGER EVANS, GERALD FLEUSS, JOHN PARFITT
SPEAKERS AND EVENTS
Invitation for a 2008 talk designed by Russell Dowling entitled: Letraset, the liberated letter — by Colin Brignall and Dave Farey
Sir Christopher Frayling Rector of RCA. The importance of art education in the contemporary world and how this is not fully understood.
Keepsake: 151x105 bled/4pp with rounded corners/lithography/Wedgewood blue and black/solid blue pp1, 2 & 4 grid pattern p.3/Harding Printers/250gsm Offset.
Phil Baines and Catherine Dixon. The Central Lettering Record.
Keepsake: 105x80/ 32pp full colour/thread stitched spine/digitally printed by Icon Colour Limited/John Parfitt printing consultant/Stock cover 175gsm American Cotton and text 170gsm Hello silk.
Michael Hockney. Former advertising agency Chairman and CEO. Director of Christies. Chief Executive of D&AD 2003-2007. The future is bright for the creative industries in Britain or is it?
Keepsake: 54X134, folded four times and pasted to form a cube/electrostatic one side in red and black/Line illustration front, Society logo on back/ Centaur Communications/textured white cartridge.
Peter Bower. Forensic paper historian and paper analyst. Fakes and Forgeries: The Art of Deception.
Keepsake: 189x119 overall/6pp gate folded (each fold to a different width), with 95mm slits to accommodate insert/lithography/Paul Haslam at Paul Benwell/140gsm grey Plike/GF Smith. Insert ‘Bank of Peckham’ £50 note 93x169/4 colour/white bond.
Colin Brignall and Dave Farey. Letraset, the liberated letter.
Keepsake: A5 Sheet of letraset with wooden applicator.
Simon Loxley – Designer: Editor of St Bride’s journal, Ultrabold. A broken impression; the letters of of Frederick Warde 1922-1927.
Keepsake: insert/lithography/black, yellow and red both sides/3 halftone illustrations and Society logo/BAS Printers, Romsey/210gsm Canaletto Liscia. R K Burt & Co. Insert: 2pp black one side with Society logo in red/matching paper.
Who printed, provided the paper, and designed the menus and keepsakes?
Russell Dowling designed all keepsakes and menus, printers/paper as above.
Favourite memory
Actually I found the year quite stressful although I realised eventually the year would progress even if I wasn’t there, it seemed to have a momentum of its own! Quite proud of the fact I never touched alcohol at any of the events.
Chair's lunch
Held at photographer Steve Bielschowsky’s barge moored at Kew Bridge.
Summer outing
A wonderful guided tour of Durham Cathedral and the Library plus a visit to Alnwick Castle, its Library and Garden.
Extra events
We had a committee meeting at the Coach and Horses on Kew Green prior to the Chairman’s lunch.
2007
Chair STEPHEN BROUGH
Vice Chair COLIN McHENRY
Luncheon secretary JUDITH BASTIN
Honorary designer JAMES ALEXANDER
Honorary treasurer ROBIN SMEETON
Honorary secretary ALISON GUY
Honorary publications officer JOHN MILES
Committee GRAHAM BECK, GERALD FLEUSS, JOHN PARFFITT
Webmaster PETER DANKWERTS
Hon Archivist LEONARD CHAVE
Editor of de Worde PATRICK BRITTAIN
SPEAKERS AND EVENTS
50th Anniversary Year
Chair for 2007 Stephen Brough with his paperweight, and a fabulous standing stone presented to him on his retirement from his company Profile books, carved by the Cardozo Kindersley workshop
Thursday 18 January
Luncheon at Stationers’ Hall
Speaker: Lynne Truss
Subject: Why, commas really do make a difference. In which the author of the bestselling Eats, Shoots and Leaves gave a very amusing talk about punctuation and the differences it makes.
Keepsake: Copy of the speaker’s most recent hardback: Talk to the Hand, kindly provided by her publisher Profile Books. The text was designed by Geoff Green
Menu: designed by Peter Guy and printed by Cambridge University Press
Note: At the time I think it was a record turnout for a lunch.
Tuesday 20 March
Evening reception at The Artworkers’ Guild
Speaker: Gerald Fleuss
Subject: The Legacy of Edward Johnston. In which society member and leading light of the Edward Johnston Foundation Gerald Fleuss gave a wonderful and thoughtful talk on the work and impact of Edward Johnston.
Keepsake: The Legacy of Edward Johnston, a 96-page paperback published by The Society of Scribes and Illuminators and The Edward Johnston Foundation on the occasion of the exhibition at St Brides library in 2006
Thursday 17 May
Luncheon at Stationers’ Hall
Speaker: Clive Farahar
Subject: My life in Books. In which the Antiques Roadshow’s expert in antiquarian books gave us a tour of the ups and downs of his life
Keepsake: Book Design, a 24-page wire-stitched book containing ‘A few quotations from the masters of typography on lettering, typefaces, self-effacement, philosophy and love’. Compiled and designed by Geoff Green; printed by the Cloister Press; paper supplied by Fedrigoni
Menu: designed by James Alexander and printed by Benwell Sebard (below).
Friday 15 June
Summer Outing: Eton College and its library
About 60 members spent the day enjoying a tour of the college and a visit to Eton College library, where we were shown a selection of its great treasures which include: some 200 medieval and Renaissance manuscripts, over 200 incunabula including a copy of the Gutenberg Bible; more than 50,000 printed books of the 16th to 21st centuries, including the only known copies of more than 100 editions; important collections of materials by and relating to Thomas Hardy, Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Robert Browning. Members were split into two groups and either did the tour in the morning and visited the library in the afternoon or vice versa. The society took over Gilbeys Restaurant in the High Street for lunch, which was very jolly and resulted in some members nodding off during their visit to the library.
Thursday 19 July
Luncheon at Stationers’ Hall
Speaker: Hilary Spurling
Subject: The strange tale of Therese Humbert. In which the author of the prize-winning biography of Henri Matisse told us the story of Therese Humbert, who became one of the most powerful women in France but was a charlatan. Finally exposed in 1902, the safe in which all her money was reputed to be kept was found to contain just one trouser button and an Italian coin. Thousands of small investors and creditors were ruined, including Henri Matisse’s parents-in-law. The events had a deep effect on Matisse plunging him into depression and causing him to take his angst out on those such as his printers.
Keepsake: A copy of La Grande Therese by Hilary Spurling, a 144-page paperback with half tones; printed by Bookmarque and kindly provided by the publishers Profile Books.
Menu: Designed by John Miles and printed by Nicholas Russell of Cambridge Printers
10 August, Chairman’s lunch
The Chairman and his wife entertained the committee to lunch in the garden of their house on Peckham Rye. The conversation and the wine flowed and the Wynkyn de Worde sun shone. Keepsakes were copies of The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett and Cures and Curiosities inside the Wellcome Library, both provided by the publisher, Profile Books.
Tuesday 18 September
Evening reception at the Artworkers’ Guild
Speaker: Susan Allix
Subject: Balancing Acts: Words, Images and Dimensions in the Artist’s Book. In which Susan Allix, a Rome Scholar who set up her own private press in the early 1970s, gave an illustrated talk on the process she goes through in conceiving and making her books. She also brought along about 20 of her books for members to enjoy.
Keepsake: A Hafez poem translated by Gertrude Bell printed by Susan Allix and provided in a folder.
Monday 22 October
Evening display and auction of members’ work at St Bride Institute
Some twenty members displayed their work in the Bridewell Hall and Farringdon Room. Table displays showed the work of Clive Abbott, Humphrey Stone, Richard Lawrence, Alan Keeler, Catherine Dixon and Phil Baines, Richard Daynes, Peter Dankwerts’s Tiger of the Stripe, Benwell Sebard, Peter Guy, Eiichi Kono, John Miles, Cloister Press, Cardozo Kindersley Workshop, Lynda Brockbank, Tim Guy, Carol Kemp, Geoff Green, John Purcell, Harrington & Squires and Incline Press.
This was followed by an auction to raise money for the Charitable Trust. There were 26 lots donated by the following some of whom donated more than one lot: Tim Guy, Ron Costley, Richard Downer, Alison and Peter Guy, Graham Beck and Lida Lopes Cardozo, Carol Kemp and Andrew Hill, Leonard Chave, Lynda Brockbank, John Parfitt, Leo Smith, Richard Lawrence, Arthur Lockwood, Jane Stobart, Basil Harley, Paul Gumn, Ian Mortimer, Humphrey Stone, Alan Keeler, Harry Eccleston, John Miles and Eiichi Kono.
It was an amazing display of the range of talent that resides in the society’s members and the evening raised a substantial amount for the Charitable Trust. It was also a remarkable organisational feat, largely thanks to Paul Benwell.
Keepsake:
A slipcase designed by John Miles and printed by Benwell Sebard contained some 25 printed items supplied by all the exhibitors, plus a plan of the exhibition and a list of items in the auction.
Thursday 15 November, Service at St Bride’s Church culminating in the unveiling of a plaque designed and cut by the Cardozo Kindersley Workshop to commemorate Wynkyn de Worde, followed by dinner at Stationer’s Hall
Speaker: Sir Simon Jenkins
Subject: Fleet Street Then and Now. In which the well-known author and columnist and former editor of The Times gave an entertaining talk about our national newspaper industry from the days of hot metal and very powerful unions through to the current times.
Keepsakes:
Service sheet booklet of 6 pages plus cover showing the plaque on the front and an engraving of St Bride’s Church on the back; designed by Peter Guy; printed by John Parfitt
Grace composed by Canon David Meara for the occasion. Letterpress printed from metal type by Graham Moss of Incline Press.
The Making of the Memorial Slate to Wynkyn de Worde An 8-page A3 concertina printed in four colours; photographs by Philip Moore and the Cardozo Kindersley Workshop apprentices; designed by Philip Moore and Lida Lopes Cardozo with Russell Purdham and Jay Lewis; typeset by Jay Lewis and Elsie Whittle; printed by the Cloister Press.
Four-page folded list of those contributing to the costs of the Memorial Slate and the auction held in October. Designed by John Miles and printed by Cambridge Printers.
In our Own Words: The Wynkyn de Worde Society 1957-2007
A 96-page paperback with flaps containing selected quotes from members about the ethos, people, structure, events and legacy of the Society extracted from the oral history project carried out by Bridget Wilkins. Designed and typeset by Catherine Dixon; printed and bound by the Cromwell Press; Photographs by Phil Baines, Peter Dankwerts, Catherine Dixon and Michael Harvey; interview transcriptions by Nancy Campbell, Louise Cross, Lesley Nolan and Bridget Wilkins.
Menu: Watercolour by Alan Keeler and typesetting and design by Peter Guy; printed by Cambridge University Press.
One other keepsake was organised during my time - but I think was given out at the January lunch in 2008 when Colin McHenry was Chairman.
Forty Years On:
The Wynkyn de Worde Society 1997-1997
Plus 10
A supplement for the years 1998-2007
A 16-page illustrated booklet complied by Leonard Cave, edited by John Taylor, designed by Peter Guy and printed by the Cloister Press under the direction of Philip Moore who also took the photographs.
Other comments
All pretty memorable – a mixture of anxiety, fearfulness and great pleasure throughout the year, rounded off at the end with a great sense of relief and achievement.
2006
Chair THELMA ROLFE
Vice-Chair PAUL BENWELL
Honorary designer JOHN MILES / RON COSTLEY
Honorary treasurer ROBIN SMEETON
Honorary secretary PETER GUY
Honorary publications officer JOHN MILES
Honorary luncheon secretary ALISON GUY
Committee PAT BATLEY, PETER DANKWERTS PAUL BENWELL, MARGARET HALL, JENNY JONES, COLIN MCHENRY, COLIN POOLEY, THELMA ROLFE
Honorary archivist LEONARD CHAVE
SPEAKERS AND EVENTS
Fifteenth Century woodcut from from Parker's Dives & Paupers printed by Wynkyn de Worde.
Francis Bennett — Nielson Book Data
Battered, bewildered but unbeaten: reflections on twenty years of trying to change book trade practices
Keith O'Sullivan — Librarian, Canterbury Cathedral Library
An embarrassment of riches: A cathedral librarian's perspective and experience.
Philip Ziegler — Biographer
The legacy of Cecil Rhodes — the dream of an Anglo-Saxon Elite which would reshape the world. Keepsake designed by James Alexander at Jade design. Printing and paper by Keene Repro.
Robert Barnard — Crime writer and past chair of the Brontë Society
Bramwell Brontë – What happened between him and Mrs Robinson?
Menu for Robert Barnard’s talk about Bramwell Brontë
Summer outing
A privileged visit to Canterbury Cathedral Library and a guided tour of the Cathedral
Ian Beck — Book illustrator
Words and pictures
Jeremy Lewis – Allen Lane: the King Penguin?
Jeremy Lewis
Allen Lane: the King Penguin?
2005
Chair PAUL BENWELL
Vice Chair THELMA ROLFE
Luncheon secretary ALISON GUY
Honorary designer COLIN McHENRY
Honorary treasurer ROBIN SMEETON
Honorary secretary PETER GUY
Honorary publications officer JOHN MILES
Committee PAT BATLEY, STEPHEN BROUGH, PETER DANCKWERTS, MARGARET HALL (CO-OPTED) SHELLEY GRUENDLER, JENNY JONES, COLIN MCHENRY
Honorary Archivist LEONARD CHAVE
Honorary Members Harry Eccleston OBE, Maurits Enschede, PW Filby, Margaret Hall OBE RDI, Elliot Offner, Vivian Ridler, Hermann Zapf Hon RDI
Honorary Fellows Leonard Chave, Gabrielle Falkiner, Gay Fullick, Roy Fullick, Muriel Griundfeld, Lida Lopes Cardozo
SPEAKERS AND EVENTS
Chair’s paperweight for 2005
20 January
Lida Lopes Cardozo, Letter Cutter. Into the deepest point
Lida talked about her work and the Cardozo Kindersley Workshop. Keepsakes included items from the workshops
15 March
Ian Mortimer, Letterpress Printer. The hand press in the digital age
Ian talked of his work and in particular the hand printing of Banks Florilegium consisting of 743 line engravings in 35 solander boxes
Keepsake produced by Ian printed letterpress.
19 May
Edward King, Newspaper Librarian. Gotcha! Newspapers through the looking glass
A look at some of the notable editions of newspapers through the ages.
Keepsake, a ‘Newspaper’, designed by John Miles and printed by Benwell Sebard on Rajah Newsprint.
21 July
Bernard Battley, Printer. A small family business
Bernard spoke of the life of his family printing business with interesting insights of printing through World War 2 and programmes for the Globe Theatre
Keepsakes specially reproduced by Battley Brothers of mementoes from the war.
13 September
Francis Herbert, RGS Curators of Maps
Evening at the Royal Geographical Society. Francis showed some of the more individual items in the Society’s possession including the longest map. John Miles designed a keepsake of the Construction for a Zenithal Equal Area Projection.
17 November
Paul Atterbury, Graphic Historian. Atterbury’s Hobby Horses
Well known man of ephemera talked about typefaces, letter spacing, legibility and Helvetica. Trained as a graphic designer and a son of Westerham Press.
Stationery was designed by Colin McHenry using a new typeface from Dave Farey and Richard Dawson called Zemestro used throughout the year. Printed in one colour with WdeW logo foiled in different positions according to the season.
A Wynkyn de Worde Calendar showing all the events for the year was given to every member and submitted to the National Business Calendar Awards where it won the Typographic/Free Standing category trophy.
All Menus were designed by Colin McHenry and printed by Benwell Sebard on paper supplied by GF Smith.
de Worde 2005 was edited by Roy Coxhead and included the Membership List. Designed by John Miles and printed by Napier Jones.
The ‘Weight of Office’ A book of the memento paper weights carved by an apprentice at the Cardozo Kindersley Workshop and given to the outgoing Chairman. Designed by John Miles, printed at the Cloister Press on Fedrigoni Symbol Tatimi and enclosed in a red slipcase.
What is you favourite memory of your time as chair?
The Chairman’s Summer Lunch on a glorious day in our garden in Shoreham.
10 June
Summer Outing Greenwich. Guided tours of the Maritime Museum, the Old Royal Naval College and a talk on some of the treasures of the Caird Library. Lunch in the King William Restaurant.
13 April
National Art Library at the V&A in a joint event with the Edward Johnston Foundation. Talk by Rowan Watson, the senior curator. Keepsake, ‘de Worde to Johnston’ designed by Gerald Fleuss and printed by Cloister Press.
12 December
Christmas Party at the Bankside Gallery with a raffle ‘barked’ by John Taylor.
My paperweight
The paperweight is a cube with two faces of the WdeW sun logo extending on to the top where one ray becomes the ‘5’ of ’05’ in gold intaglio. My initials are on the other two faces in blue.
2004
Chair DAVID WAY
Vice Chair PAUL BENWELL
Honorary designer JOHN MILES / RON COSTLEY
Honorary treasurer ROBIN SMEETON
Honorary secretary PETER GUY
Honorary publications officer JOHN MILES
Honorary luncheon secretary ALISON GUY
Committee PAT BATLEY, PETER DANKWERTS PAUL BENWELL, MARGARET HALL, JENNY JONES, COLIN MCHENRY, COLIN POOLEY, THELMA ROLFE
Honorary archivist LEONARD CHAVE
SPEAKERS AND EVENTS
Woodcut from ‘A letter on the islands newly found by the King of Spain’
Stanley Wells – Behind the scenes at the RSC
Lunch at the Royal Shakepseare Theatre, Stratford upon Avon.
Sarah Tyake
Chief Executive of The National Archives
Patricia Lovett
Calligrapher
Lotte Hellinga and Tony Edwards
At the Artworkers' Guild
Summer outing to Cambridge
Visit to the Parker Library, Corpus Christi College and the Cardozo Kindersley workshop
Professor Felipe Fernandez-Armestro
Romances of the sea, Columbus undiscovered reading matter. The keepsake was a woodcut from "A letter on the islands newly found by the King of Spain' by Giuliano Dati, Florence, 1493. Printed by Benwell Sebard. Papeer by GF Smith.
Catherine Parr – Queen of Print
Dr David Starkey
Catherine Parr Queen of Print
2003
Chair PATRICK BRITTAIN
Vice-Chair DAVID WAY
Luncheon secretary ALISON GUY
Honorary designer JOHN MILES / RON COSTLEY
Honorary treasurer ROBIN SMEETON
Honorary secretary PETER GUY
Honorary publications officer JOHN TAYLOR
Committee PAT BATLEY, PAUL BENWELL, ALISON GUY, MARGARET HALL, JENNY JONES, COLIN MCHENRY, COLIN POOLEY, THELMA ROLFE
SPEAKERS AND EVENTS
The summer outing in 2003 was to Kelmscott Manor
Andrew Franklin (publisher, Profile Books) - Anglo-American book publishing.
Judy Hough author, historian - Beatrix Potter
Stephen Bourne printer to Cambridge university press - short run printing at C.U.P
John Donne The Dean of St.Pauls
Blake Morrison (Author and Journalist) - His novel based on Gutenberg and the invention of moveable type
P.D.James (author) — Jane Austen and detective fiction
What was the keepsake for the event? Alas, just one comes to mind: The Cambridge Emblem. This was a limited, cloth bound edition presented to mark the meeting when the speaker was Stephen Bourne
Who printed, provided the paper, and designed the menus and keepsakes?
Larman printers, C.U.P, Smith Settle
What is you favourite memory of your time as chair? Any funny stories? My final meeting - it was all over!
Did you have a chair's lunch? Where was it?
Yes at my house in South East London
Did you have a summer outing? What did you see there?
Yes to Kelmscott Manor
William Morris’s bedroom at Kelmscott Manor