A group of some 50 Company members and their guests paid a fascinating visit to the tall-ship ‘Tenacious’ when she was moored in the West India Dock from 22nd to 26th September 2007. The vessel and her sister ship, ‘Lord Nelson’ are owned and operated by the Jubilee Sailing Trust, which is the charity selected by Master Horner David Oxley for the Company’s support during 2007.

Horners on the foredeck of Tenacious.

Both ships are designed to allow people from the ages of 16 to 92 (so far) and who have some form of physical disability to sail as equals with those who pretend to have none. The Horners were greeted with a glass of wine and shown round the ship by such a mixed crew drawn from the West London group of voluntary supporters of the Trust and known as the ‘2-6 Heavers’. After their tour they enjoyed a splendid buffet supper on board.

On Wednesday 26th September 2007 the church of St Mary Micheldever in Hampshire was full to the gunwales with friends and family to give thanks for the life of Elisabeth Asdell, wife for over 50 years of Honorary Court Assistant David Asdell, who has been a member of the Horners’ Livery since 1978. There were many members of the Company present, including the current Master and Mistress, David and Anne Oxley, seven Past Masters and their ladies and the Assistant Clerk.

Many tributes to the kind thoughtfulness of Elisabeth were made throughout the service and Honorary Freeman Dr Mary Hunt read the Gospel used on the 13th Sunday after Trinity (2nd September 2007), the day that Elisabeth died. It was appropriate that it told the story of the Good Samaritan, for to many present Elisabeth exemplified this role throughout her life. The Horners also remembered Elisabeth’s quiet but positive ability to organise many of their visits to venues selected by each Master, and she was at David’s side when it came to organising the first of these to Jeremy Spofforths home in France.

The Company has been saddened to hear of the passing recently of several old friends, including Honorary Court Assistant Harold Arthur (Hac) Collinson, who had been in the livery since 1959. An appreciation of his life and work by Past Master Dr Eric Hunt will appear in the next edition of Horn Blower.

At a recent meeting of the Court of Assistants of the Company two liverymen, who had died recently, were recalled by their contemporaries. Senior Past Master Clifford Welch spoke movingly of the life and work of Liveryman David Crabtree, who after a distinguished career in the Fleet Air Arm had made his mark on the world of plastics and packaging and had been a Founder Member of the Samaritans, and Past Master Charles Howe recalled the achievements of Professor Keith William Allen as a ‘guru’ in the field of adhesives. He mentioned that in his later years he had been the driving force behind the restoration of the Basingstoke Canal.

Winner announced of Design Innovation in Plastics Award.

2 July 2007 – A moulded plastic bag safety device has won first prize for its student designer in the Design Innovation in Plastics Award 2007 in the UK.

Sara Bellini, of Central St Martins College of Art & Design in London, designed two bag accessories which allow the user to hook their bag under their table in a bar or café, deterring thieves who usually take bags placed beside or hanging from chairs.

There were 102 entries from 14 UK universities for the 2007 awards, which have been held every two years since 1985, and are the longest running student plastics design awards in Europe. The awards are organised by The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and the Worshipful Company of Horners.

Bayer MaterialScience is one of the main sponsors and as part of her prize, Bellini wins a placement at Bayer’s headquarters in Leverkusen, Germany.

Chairman of the judges, Richard Brown of Hi-Technology Group, said: “The quality of all presentations was high. But the winner had interpreted the judges’ guidance and delivered not just one product but two, mass and niche market respectively, covering all aspects of the competition brief and thinking ‘outside the box’ to deliver a solution.