Started by the late Sir Peter Gadsden who was Lord Mayor in 1979/80, this was the 35th such event. It was attended by Masters and Consorts of 102 Livery Companies. The weekend was organised by the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust.
After a rather frustrating journey with several diversions because of traffic accidents, we arrived at the Holiday Inn in Telford where all participants were accommodated. Early that evening the bar was filled with many familiar faces before we moved on to the first organised function which was a black tie dinner at Coalbrookdale, the home of cast iron. Excellent company, food and wine and a jolly group each way on the coach made this a splendid evening.
On the Saturday we were split into four groups and taken to various museums, coming together for lunch and then continuing the tour. Ironbridge was at the heart of the Industrial Revolution and the tour included the old furnace where pig iron was smelted, museums of caste iron, sagger makers, Coalport china, tiles and a replica Victorian Village with shops all beautifully displayed and very interesting.
Unfortunately the Ironbridge itself was clad in plastic and undergoing renovation. There was however a model!
In the evening we were treated to The President’s Summer Ball. An evening where at the end of the meal there was an opportunity to dance and let your hair down – which many of us did!
This was a superb weekend among many friends and acquaintances from the Livery.
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