On Tuesday 9 March 2021 the Worshipful Company of Fletchers gathered virtually to commemorate and celebrate its 650th anniversary. The date was as close as we could make it to 7 March, the date in 1371 when representatives of the Bowyers and Fletchers appeared before the mayor and aldermen to ask for sanctions against four men who had opposed the earlier agreement (of which, also, we do not know the exact date) that the Fletchers should be separated from the Bowyers.
After a warm welcome from the Master, we were enthralled by Liveryman Hannes Kleineke’s illustrated talk which brought to life the early Fletchers and the city in which they lived, whetting our appetite for his book on our first centuries which will be sold later in the year in aid of the Fletchers Trust.
The Master Stuart Robbens led us all in raising a glass to the next 650 years, and the Learned Clerk Kate Pink demonstrated the updated website, 650 logo and all, with thanks to Liveryman Rob Slatem. The first set of the 65Ojects commemorating our history, put together by Liveryman Josie Gowler, were launched, with the rest to follow over the anniversary year.