Founders' Sculpture Prize winner 2011 - 'Offshore Dissipation' by John Ensor

Founders' Sculpture Prize winner 2009 - 'Immersion' by Valentina Zlatarova

Founders' Sculpture Prize winner 2007 - 'Turning Man' by Sophie Dickens

Back to the Sculpture Prize Information

The third competition for the biennial Founders’ Sculpture Prize, launched last autumn, attracted some 35 entries. On the one hand, that was a smaller field than the entrants for each of the first two competitions. On the other hand, as the competition progressed, it became apparent that the quality had improved in inverse proportion to the quantity.

Founders' Sculpture Prize winner 2011 - 'Offshore Dissipation' by John Ensor

The first round was judged in December, just before Christmas, when the 35 entrants were whittled down to five finalists. The judges were: Tony Newman, for the Company; Nigel Boonham and Neal French, for the Society of Portrait Sculptors; Tessa Murdoch, from the V&A; Nasser Azam, the proprietor of Zahra; and Sonia Solicari, who has succeeded the late Vivien Knight as Curator of the Guildhall Art Gallery, which will host the Prize’s show in October.

The five selected finalists were: Nanna Drewes Brondum (a finalist for the third time), Pete Sherrard, Grant McIntyre, Christopher Parr and Rebecca Lyne as a joint entry, and John Ensor. At ‘the final’ on 19 April, the judges were impressed by the high standard of the maquettes and ideas submitted by all the finalists: there was no Robinsonian ‘weak link’. Nevertheless, the judges had little difficulty in selecting their winner, John Ensor, from Cornwall, although for the first time they also nominated a runner-up, Nanna Brondum, whose maquette will therefore be cast in bronze and retained by the Company, along with the winner’s full-size piece.

The Guildhall Art Gallery remains very enthusiastic about its involvement with the Prize, and the artistic cooperation of City institutions which the Prize now represents. It is likely that the Gallery will give permanent house-room to a display of the winning sculptures resulting from each competition for the Prize, on loan from the Company as trustee.

RCSH
28 April 2011

See the winning sculptures from 2007, 2009 and 2011.

cforms contact form by delicious:days

Rules
Click here to download the rules (PDF)

Entry Form
Click here to download the application form (Word Doc)

For results of the 2010-11 Founders’ Sculpture Prize, click here, or view images of the last three winning sculptures.

March 2012

Dear Liveryman 

There is quite a lot happening in the first half of this year and I would draw your attention to the following.  In particular early replies are asked for the Wine Tour. 

April    Monday, 23^rd             St George’s Day Dinner                                                Theatrical and musical entertainment (details already circulated) 

May     Sunday 6^th to and including Wednesday 9th                                                 Spring Tour to Glasgow (details already circulated) 

            Thursday 17^th           Wine Tutorial.  The details are currently being finalised – but  book early, application form attached 

June   Friday 8^th                   A group has been invited from the Founders to visit HMS Iron Duke in Portsmouth dry dock for a year’s refit.  It is not often one gets the opportunity to see a war shop from the keel                      upwards.  Please send me an e-mail if you wish to be included.

            Saturday 16^th                        A cricket fixture against the Coopers’ Company – family picnics,  teas, jazz.  A great family day out in the country.  Details attached.                                 

          Monday 18^th              The Annual Summer Dinner.  This year, as the Livery Dinner  was at the Mansion House on February, the Summer Dinner will be at Founders.  The wine and menu should not disappoint. 

            Monday 25^th              The annual Election of Sheriffs and lunch.  Details attached

            Tuesday 26^th to Saturday 30^th inc

              The Wine Committee Tour to Northern and Southern Rhône.

                                                PLEASE NOTE THE REPLY DATE.  Details attached 

            Friday  29^th                Bucher, Baker, Candlestick Maker

                                                 An excellent opportunity to see this Exhibition at the Guildhall  Art Gallery and to take supper at Founders’ Hall afterwards

Founders Company visit to HMS Iron Duke  

18^th - 20^th January 2012  

By kind invitation of the Commanding Officer, Cdr. Nick Cooke Priest, three members of the Company (Assistant Jeremy Knight, Liverymen Simon Danischewsky and Colin Steed) presented themselves at HM Dockyard  Devonport at teatime on Wednesday 18^th January in order to experience at first hand life at sea aboard our adopted ship, HMS Iron Duke.  Iron Duke is a Type 23 Frigate, first commissioned in 1992, and was completing her final sea exercises with a group of trainee navigating officers on board prior to going into drydock in Portsmouth for a major life-extending refit.  Iron Duke has a gross displacement of 4,000 tons and is armed with a 4.5 inch gun, Sea Wolf anti-aircraft missiles, Harpoon anti-ship system, Stingray ASW torpedoes, depth charges and a towed 2031 anti-submarine sonar array.  The capability is extended when the Lynx helicopter is embarked, giving over-the-horizon visibility of up to 300nm; prior to this visit, the prototype replacement Wildcat helicopter had been on board under test, and the hangar was therefore empty on this occasion.   Iron Duke has an official ship’s company complement of 190, but sailed on this occasion with a reduced roll of 139. 

After journeying separately from points East and West (the arrangements complicated by a last minute MOD operational order requiring a return to Portland rather than Falmouth), the party was installed in the Wardroom of the shore establishment HMS Drake, a most comfortable building at the heart of HM Dockyard.  Some debate amongst the party put the date of the buildings at c.1890, so it was clear that the rooms we were staying in had seen some of the finest days of the fighting Royal Navy, and the mess dining hall had a most impressive series of model fighting ships suspended from an equally-impressive hammer beamed ceiling.  The bedrooms were however rather more commodious than might have been found on board any of those vessels, and the food undoubtedly better.  Refreshed by dinner, in which ‘Baked Salmon’ turned out to be a peculiarly Devonian pronunciation of ‘Boiled Ham’, the party set out, as have generations of Drake inhabitants, to explore the livelier parts of the port, the Barbican in particular.  Sadly, a wet Wednesday night in January turned out to less lively than anticipated, and only four establishments were visited, along with important monuments such as those to the Pilgrim Fathers and the returning Tolpuddle Martyrs.  This was however sufficient to form a good impression of a range of West Country ales and the odd Plymouth Dry Gin.  Duly fortified, the party returned to base. 

After a hearty breakfast (the first of two that day), eaten in consideration of dire warnings of ‘Wind, NE veering N 5-7, occasionally Gale 8 at first; moderate or rough, occasionally very rough’, we were collected by a Young Officer from the ship, whose duties turned out to be as varied as this collection operation, returning the CO’s hire car, and ultimately navigating the ship into Portland on our return, a testament to the broadly-based training of the modern Navy.  We were welcomed by the Captain and given a nerve-calming cup of coffee before proceeding to the Bridge to witness casting off and embarkation from Plymouth.  The ship was expertly conned by another Young Officer, watched hawk-like by 20 or so other officers on the Bridge from the Captain down, all ‘Special Sea Duty’ men (those who would be called upon if anything went wrong) and the Founders party, and defended against all comers by four ratings manning the general purpose machine guns, 7.62mm automatic mini-guns and 30mm cannon; a daunting task, which was admirably discharged.  

After rounding up into the lee of the breakwater to discharge the pilot, signals were exchanged with HMS Dauntless, a Type 45 destroyer exercising in the bay, and Iron Duke proceeded with all despatch to her allotted exercise area, achieving a steady 27 knots with the aid of her Rolls Royce Spey gas turbines.  These engines, originally designed in the 1950s to power Buccaneer and Phantom aircraft, deliver over 26,000 horsepower and use 6 tons of diesel per hour, about the same as Iron Duke’s conventional diesel engines consume in 24 hours.  After 45 minutes, mindful of the Defence budget and no doubt also recognising the signs of incipient sea sickness in at least one of the party from the combination of speed and sea state, the Captain ordered the vessel to slow to more a sedate 11 knots under diesel power only for navigation exercises.  Whilst the trainee navigators got to work with their binoculars and dividers, the party retired to the wardroom for the second breakfast of the day, where we were joined by our tour guide and day-to-day host for the duration, the admirably-named Lt. Nelson McMillan.  

The rest of the morning was spent touring the ship’s engineering compartments, systems and stores.  We learned that the towed sonar array, an Ultra Electronics Type 2031, can deploy up to 5km behind the ship and transmit on various frequencies to jam submarine systems and in particular to make a most unpleasant noise in receiving earphones and so frustrate prying ears.  During the refit, the sonar will be replaced with the Sonar 2087, a Low Frequency Active Sonar consisting of both active and passive sonar arrays; in trials this apparently enabled the ‘destruction’ of the French nuclear submarine Perle, so we shall be safe against our NATO allies at least for the foreseeable future.  More practically for the crew, the area freed up by the removal of the very large cable drum will enable the installation of a much larger gym.  We inspected the various engines and were particularly impressed by the large and complicated gearboxes, one for each shaft, which deliver consistent and manageable revolutions to the propellers from the two GEC electric motors, in turn powered by four Paxman Valenta diesel generators.  When Iron Duke was deployed in the Gulf, the engine room was a favoured place to be because, although noisy, it had the best air conditioning on board the ship.  The engine compartments throughout are protected by automatic foam sprinkler fire control, with a double halon gas system for major incidents, and the escape routine was demonstrated to us, as being in situ during a halon blast is apparently not to be encouraged.  It was impressive to see male and female engineering ratings working side by side. 

We were generously entertained to lunch by the Captain in his cabin, and had a wide-ranging discussion about the role, constraints and opportunities for the Royal Navy in the current difficult financial and geo-political climate.  It transpires that this is likely to be Cdr. Cooke Priest’s final sea-going command, unless he is eventually appointed to command a flotilla or major asset such as a carrier, and it was clear that he is both accomplished and fulfilled in his role.  The recent deployment to the Gulf and to Libya was a key topic of conversation, and the ship and company clearly acquitted themselves admirably in both engagements.  In the latter, she put down over 25 rounds of 4.5in gunfire against targets threatening anti-Gaddafi supporters, and had to defend herself against seaborne threats with her light armaments, laying down defensive fire within 1 minute and 45 seconds of a threat being first detected.  

The role of Livery Companies in helping the Services was discussed, and the Captain explained that our support for the ship’s company in providing those relatively small but morale-boosting items not indented for by the Navy was a key means of sustaining the morale and welfare of the ship’s company.  In particular, our support for the forthcoming pre-refit dinner was particularly welcomed by the ratings, as it enabled them to invite their spouses and girlfriends (presumably on an either/or basis), which would not otherwise have been possible, reinforcing the sense of family within the ship.  We were also shown the ship’s bell, presented by the Founders at the time of commissioning in 1992. 

After lunch we toured the rest of the amidships below decks, including the medical facilities where the leading hand medical assistant explained his role and that of his ratings in day-to-day and emergency situations.  A doctor is embarked only when the ship is expected to go into action, and so a high degree of specialist training is required of the non-professional medics, one of whom is always on duty wearing a distinctive Red Cross tabard.  The ship’s command centre was a fascinating stop on the tour, for this is where the Captain and warfare officers fight the ship when occasion demands.  Looking rather like a film set  with its reduced lighting, banks of monitors and sensors and arcade-games-like chairs and joysticks, all the major weapons, radar and navigational  systems can be controlled from here.  The centre is located at the waterline in the dead centre of the ship to protect against missile strike, and all the systems have triple redundancy, with a three-way communications highway within the ship and across all major systems.  Particularly impressive was the ability to fire the 4.5 inch gun using no more than a computer screen and joystick; the gun is fully automatic in loading, aiming and firing and is gyro-stabilised to prevent the ship’s movement affecting its accuracy.  Big boy’s toys indeed; sadly, this was however a strictly hands-off part of the visit. 

Subsequently we visited the ship’s control (as opposed to command) centre, where emergencies are co-ordinated and the ship’s fire-fighting systems in particular are managed.  Earlier we had seen a fire fighting demonstration on the aft deck in which a human ‘flame’ was swiftly doused by breathing apparatus-wearing ratings.  All the ship’s company, from the Captain down, are expected to become proficient at this, although from his obvious enjoyment and ability to ‘grow’ and ‘retard’ according the volume of water directed upon him, the ‘flame’ was obviously a regular hand at the role.  An emergency drill was staged, as it is every Thursday, managed according to a script drafted in absolute secrecy by one of the warfare officers.  After a few minutes of controlled chaos, a ‘fire’ in the electrical systems was duly contained and put out.  Fire is a hazard taken very seriously on board, particularly in the light of the experiences learned during the Falklands war. 

Our final tour that day was of the main deck, where we realised that we had not seen the sea since before breakfast that morning.  We inspected the Sea Wolf and Harpoon weapons systems.  The former is a vertically-launched missile with an extra tracking system as a defence against low-flying aircraft and sea-skimming anti-ship missiles such as Exocet, and Iron Duke has 32 independently-firing cells controlled by fore-and-aft radar – essentially a fire-and-forget system.  The Harpoon is an all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile system, developed and manufactured by McDonnell Douglas, and eight missiles are carried. 

After watching the darken ship routine on the Bridge, we were stood down until a most amenable dinner with the officers in the Wardroom at 20.00, where an  impressive array of blue Iron Duke cummerbunds was matched measure for measure by a battery of blue and gold Founders Company ties over the rather non-traditional battleground of fajahitas and chilli.  Thursday night being film night, the Wardroom was then transformed into a cinema where the assembled company watched We Dive at Dawn accompanied by a leisurely game of Uckers and ice creams.  And so the party retired to bed in its requisitioned officers’ cabins after a most informative and quite exhausting day. 

Friday saw an 07.00 reveille and calmer weather, followed by breakfast in the Wardroom, over which the respective histories and traditions of Liveries and the Navy were discussed.  Thus sustained, the party proceeded to visit the main magazine, with its assorted 4.5 inch shells (which could barely be lifted by one man, being 5ft and weighing 28lb) and small arms ammunition, together with ceremonial weaponry harking back to an earlier Naval era.  The electric gun hoist was demonstrated with a drill round, and it was clear that this was an operation for which our Founders Company ties were eminently inappropriate attire if we wished to remain unscathed.  We therefore beat a hasty retreat up to the main deck where we saw the 4.5 inch gun from the business end, pausing for a team photograph.  We were allowed to climb into the gun turret, which is normally unmanned, and saw drill rounds being put through their paces.  The speed of operation was truly staggering, with the gun able to train, load, fire and unload at the rate of 26 rounds per minute, compared to an average rate of fire of 3 minutes per round during the Second World War. With a range of 26,000 yards, accuracy to within 25 yards and an ammunition complement of 270 rounds, this is a truly impressive weapon. 

The final exercise of the day was to embark in the sea boat carried by Iron Duke.  This is a 25-foot RIB with a water-jet engine which is davit-mounted and lowered fully laden and engines-running into the water at 5 knots.  Used extensively for patrols and defensive operations in the Gulf, this is a key close surveillance asset for the ship and the routine is regularly practiced.  The party, with the exception of the photographer, changed into survival suits, boots and helmets and boarded the RIB, being instructed to put their feet into the deck loops, grip the handhold and, above all, not to lean too far overboard when the boat was turning.  The boat roared off at some 25 knots, circling Iron Duke several times with Ensign flying and blue light flashing, looking highly piratical – so much so that a school of porpoises instantly materialised to join in the chase. 

Exhilarated by this escapade but delighted to be once more on relatively stable ground, a light ‘Fish Friday’ lunch was taken by the party in the Wardroom, before the ship’s officers all assembled for the pre-harbour briefing.  At this the Young Officer who would con the ship into Portland outlined the plan and the relevant Sea Duty officers confirmed the ship’s readiness for harbour.  The Captain having formally authorised the manoeuvre, we all proceeded to the Bridge for harbour.  With tugs standing by and a pilot on board, the ship was brought alongside in Portland in stately fashion at 13.30, the moment of warping up marked by the running up of the Union Jack on the jackstaff and the transfer of the Ensign from cross-trees to stern.  A final debrief took place in the Captain’s cabin, and the party was stood down and ready to disembark the ship by 16.00.   

And so was concluded a highly successful, informative and most enjoyable visit to HMS Iron Duke.  The team agreed over final refreshments in the Somerset tavern at Weymouth that it had been one of the most memorable experiences they could remember, and a huge privilege to have been able to see the work of the Royal Navy at first hand.  It was agreed that the Navy’s exploits and efforts are wholly understated by the press and underestimated by the public at large, and that any support which the Founders Company was able to give the ship and its company was most well deserved.  A few suggestions arising from the visit as to small but effective ways in which we could continue to support HMS Iron Duke, particularly as she emerges from her refit, will be communicated to the Clerk in the usual way.

Sports Sections

Captains of Sporting Sections are as follows

Golf:                Tony Cookson                        Tel:  01473 210336

Bridge:             David Lindop                         Tel:  0121 308 3163

Rowing:           Annie Davison (Crew Sec.)    Tel:  077 3235 4477

Shooting:         Colin Steed                            Tel:  01234 771910

Croquet:          Alan Ewart                             Tel:  020 8669 0165

                       Clerk (Hon Sec)                     Tel:  01273 858 700

Should you wish to register an interest and believe that your expertise has not been noted, please telephone the appropriate Liveryman or Secretary.

Miscellaneous

A new supply of cuff-links has now been received and these, together with ties, bow ties, blazer buttons etc. are available on request.  For lady Liverymen there are available hall marked silver brooches designed on the Founders’ salamander.  

A J Gillett

Clerk 

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Lunching out in the City

Several Livery Companies operate regular lunching facilities which are available to all Liverymen.  They are as follows.

Mondays – Ironmongers’ Hall – call 020 7776 2300 or luncheonclub@ironhall.co.uk

Tuesdays (usually first of month only) – Watermen’s Hall – call River Thames Lunch Club

    0800 915 0978 or info@lifeskitchen.com

Tuesdays (specific dates only) – Pewterers’ Hall – call Events Team on 020 7397 8198 or

   sales@pewterers.org.uk

Wednesdays – Roast Beef Carvery – Butchers’ Hall – call 020 7600 4106

Fridays (usually last of month only) – Curry Luncy – HQS Wellington – frequently fully

  booked and introduction through member of Master Mariners’ Company usually required.

  Enquire on 020 7836 8179

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FOUNDERS’ COMPANY ITEMS FOR SALE

If you would like to purchase any of the following items, please contact the Clerk on founderscompany@aol.com.  Payment will be taken by direct debit.

Founders’ Blazer Buttons       Set of 6                       £25

Founders’ Cuff Buttons         Set of 6                       £20

Founders’ Cuff-links                                                  £35

Diary Covers                                                               £10

Founders’ Bow Ties                                                    £35

Founders’ Ties                                                            £30

For those who have joined a Tour

Founders’ Tourer Bow Tie                                          £30

Founders’ Tourer Cummerbund                                 £50

Founders’ Tourer Cummerbund & Bow Tie               £80

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The Hall in 1848, when occupied by The Electric Telegraph Co.

The Worshipful Company of Founders is one of the oldest Livery Companies of the City of London, and can trace its existence back to 1365.

The craft of Founders of London was one of the earliest medieval guilds formed to protect the interests of its members and to promote high standards of quality and workmanship in articles of bronze and brass.

For the most recent summary of activities undertaken by the Company and its members, please download the latest copy of The Founder.

The Weoley Cup

Welcome to the website of the Worshipful Company of Founders, one of the oldest Livery Companies of the City of London.

There are three available rooms of varying designs and capacities: the Livery Hall, the Parlour and the Masters and Clerks’ Room.

For a virtual tour of the venue, click here.

Hire and catering are managed by It’s The Agency.  Please visit their website and email or call them on 020 7871 0577.

Livery Hall

The largest room for hire, the Livery Hall is dominated by the large porthole windows that bathe the room with natural daylight and overlook the gardens of St Bartholomew the Great.

The room can cater for up to 100 guests.

The Parlour

The beautifully decorated, traditional-style Parlour situated on the ground floor is perfect for receptions, smaller presentations, meetings and lunches.

Masters and Clerks’ Room

The intimate and sumptuously furnished Masters and Clerks’ Room on the first floor is suitable for smaller meetings or dining.

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For room plans and detailed guest capacities of the venue, see the hall hire page on the It’s The Agency website.