Company of Turners
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The Worshipful Company of
Turners is 51st in order of precedence of the 107 Livery Companies of the
City of London. Receiving its Charter in 1604, the Company succeeded the
Guild of Turners whose origins are believed to date from late in the
12th century.
The present Company is small but enjoys a lively membership who share common
objectives: to promote the craft of turning, to participate in the life of
the
City of London and to support related charities. The Company consists
of about 170 Liverymen together with about 45 Freemen.
The Company is governed by a Court of Assistants found from from within the
ranks of the Liverymen. The Court is chaired by the
Master who is supported by two Wardens, the Deputy Master (the immediate
Past Master) and up to 24 Assistants - approximately half below the chair
and half above.
The Clerk is "Chief Executive" of the Company and is responsible for its
general administration and day-to-day management. Reporting to the Court
are several specialist
committees.
The Company's primary objective is the promotion of the craft of turning in
every aspect, with special emphasis on technical and technological
education, the cause which it has championed for more than a century. This
objective is addressed in a number of ways:
Bursaries One or more
bursaries worth up to about £8,000 in total are available every other
year to assist talented turners to achieve their professional aspirations
and enhance their future career opportunities. The awards are open to UK
resident turners of high ability whose work is well regarded.
Competitions
In the year without a Bursary award, the Company sponsors a
turning competition in a number of classes, some open, and others
restricted.
Awards to the Services
The Company maintains a close relationship with the technical branches of
the
three armed services although the relationship with the Army's Royal
Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) is particularly close for
historical reasons.
Professional Turners
For several years, professional turners have been invited to join the
Master and members of the Court in an annual Craft Meeting. A notable
result of the Craft Meeting was the establishment, in 1984, of the
Register of Professional Turners. Craftsmen who have demonstrated
their high standards of design, execution and finish, to one of the
assessors appointed by the Company, are eligible for inclusion in the
Register and are entitled to place labels on their products as an assurance
to prospective purchasers.
Another important objective of the Company is to participate in the life of the governance of the City of London. The constitution of the Corporation is enshrined in a Charter from William I. It differs from the constitution of other municipalities in a number of ways, the rights given to Liverymen being the most unusual example. In other municipalities, councillors are elected by the local residents registered on the electoral roll, the Mayor is elected by the councillors while the Sheriffs are selected by the Sovereign.
Within the City of
London, local government is the responsibility of the Court of Common
Council which consists of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Common Councilmen.
While the Aldermen and Common Councilmen are chosen by the electors of the
Wards of the City, the Lord Mayor, Sheriffs and other officers are chosen in
the Guildhall each year solely by the Liverymen. "Common Hall", as it is
known, is summoned by precept from the Lord Mayor to the Master and Wardens
of the Livery Companies.
The final major objective of the Company is the support of related
charities. Part of the finances of the Company are placed within a
Charitable Trust. This is augmented by donations from the Company and
members of the Livery. The Court's policy has been to concentrate on giving
to deserving causes connected with the Company, the Craft or the City.
As with other City Companies, the giving of hospitality is a very old
tradition with the Turners, who prize the friendly atmosphere of their
functions, foster good fellowship among the members and seek to ensure the
strongest possible corporate spirit within the Company.