The National Horse Brass Society

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The Church Stretton Meet

 R.J. Bradshaw.

The 2010 Meeting. 

The popularity of this, our first meeting of the year, speaks for itself, (see below) but this year has to be one of the best attended ever.  Once again, all the old favourites were there with Mark Robert's collection taking centre stage, Allan Brewer and Alan Field in the wings and even one or two collections that we had not seen before. 

  Right; a shot of the hall taken from the balcony of the Sylvester Horne Institute.  A great turnout this year with now fewer than nine committee members present this year.  The displays were especially good, and with plenty also on sale here today, most go away with something for their collections.

Members often travel from far and wide to attend this meeting, with several from Devon and Cornwall and Sussex, though the furthest travelled again this year was Jeff Crocker from Australia.

Below; Alec Hopkinson of Chesterfield, with his collection which makes a very fine display indeed.

 

  Below; Angela Standen and her collection which is particulaly rich in award brasses.

Below, Geoff Geden, who came up from near Ipsden, (our October fixture) bringing part of this collection dedicated to the memory of Andrew Macdonald a founder member of the society .  This collection contained many fine examples of dated, early brasses, and other desirable types. 

  

 Once again, the day, so eagerly anticipated goes by so quickly and as we set off for home we look forward to next years meet with just as much anticipation, and until then, we still have our Canwell meet to look forward to, (Sunday 1st August) and of course Ipsden; so, if the Lord's a willin' and yer creeks dont rise, we'll see yer 'fore long? 

 

The 2009 Meeting.

Sunday the 17th of May saw a wet day for our meeting this year, so just as well we were indoors and did not notice it until it was time to leave!!!

Despite the weather another good meeting was had by all and there were several nice collections to look at this year.  As usual, Mark Roberts came down from North Wales and brought his big collection for us to look at again, which is always nice to see.

 Left;  Ian Jones (kneeling) and Ralph Chapman discussing the various merits of items in Mark Roberts's large collection, which fills the entire stage at this meeting. 

It is always nice to see this extensive collection and perhaps pick out those items that we might like to find one day;  The effort required to load this collection and travel with it both ways is never easy for Mark (who is over 80 years of age) so well done once again, and to all those who helped to port it in and set it all up. 

  

Left; Allan Brewer and his collection  This is also another nice collection to look at. Allan is also a talented leather worker and does fine work mounting new brasses and repairing old items that have suffered the ravages of time.  Yet again a great deal of effort was required to get this collection here today, so well done Allan for contributing to another great meeting here today.  

Also present today was Gron Williams who travels from the same part of the world as Allan (above) and is able to share the trip therefore reducing their Carbon Footprint;  At least no-one can say that horse brass collectors arent green eh?  Those who know Gron will tell you his passion (apart from Real Ale) is of course Brewery Brasses and Gron bought part of his collection to show us today.

    Left; Gron Williams and his representative collection of Brewery Brasses.  Gron is also the author of two NHBS publications on the same theme, which are extremely informative. 

Once again however, the day goes by so quickly and once the raffle was done and dusted, members drift off home after another great meeting. 

So thanks once again to Stan Benton who organises this very popular meeting, and all of those that helped to make the day such a success and to those who travel from near and far to buy, sell, and just to look.  We hope to see you again next year, and if you cant wait dont forget our next meeting which will take place on Saturday 8th August at Canwell near Sutton Coldfield.

Hope to see you all there.  

 

 

 The 2008 Meeting

 Once again, this popular meeting came and went so quickly this year that it often seems as if we have dreamed it, but I am sure that many will agree with me when I say that this year’s get together was probably the best yet, and certainly one of the best attended.

(Above left, Mark Roberts collection, which always creates a lot of interest and right, Steve Pink's collection of nosebands, and a fine example of a specialist collection  

 One thing that is always clear to members is the sheer hard work that organiser Stan Benton has put into the day.  No fewer than five collections were on display this year with old favourite, Mark Roberts taking centre stage of course, and one or two previously unseen collections this year.  Our Secretary, Steve Pink, brought his collection of nosebands that he likes to specialise in, and Allan Brewer was in attendance again, and his collection is certainly growing.

  

 The first of the new collections was that made by Mark Svensson (above), which was pleasingly different in having a distinctly Scottish flavour.  Mark, a saddler from Kent, has kept Clydesdales for a number of years and so his collection favours the Clydesdale style of decoration with high, “Brecham” style collars and the ornamentation being mainly white brass.  Mark came a long way for today’s meeting so well done Mark, and we hope to see you again next year.

 Alan Field (above) also travels long distance coming from Sussex and he brought some of his collection for us to look at today.  It is always nice to see good quality items and there is no doubt that his representative brasses here today are all high in quality and are much sought after types, most of which are on our “wish” lists, so well done Alan.

 The First Prize for mileage this year however, surely has to go to Jeff Crocker (below photographed here with his wife and Stan Benton, centre) who came all the way from Australia.  I do not think it is possible to beat this record and it is always nice to meet with overseas members, so we hope their journey was worthwhile and that they will return home with a few examples that will serve as reminders of the day.

 As usual, the day was gone all too soon and once the raffle was done and dusted, we set off for home around 4pm, on one of those afternoons that this meeting is famous for.  There is certainly something about this meeting that makes the journey worthwhile however far we have to come. Indeed, some of our collectors arrive in the general area a day or two previously and like to take in the heritage sites such as Stokesay Castle and Acton Farm Museum and the general beauty of the area as well as taking a ride around the local antique shops.  There is of course a good antique centre in Church Stretton itself and of course, if you are around a day or two previously, then there is also Stan’s shop at No 1 Burway Road in the town.  See you all next year! And well done Stan for another great meeting. 

(Below, Stan in his shop at No 1 Burway Road in the town, which specialises in Measham (barge) ware, and clocks and barometers, as well as a good selection of miners lamps, brass and copper wares, and of course the odd horse brass!!!

  The 2007 Meet

 This meeting has certainly become a firm fixture for NHBS members in their social calendar.  I think the last meeting (May 2007) was even better attended than 2006 and even the weather did not serve to dampen anyone’s spirits, with this week marking the start of the wettest summer in living memory.

Left, the Sylvester Horne Institute; the venue of the Church Stretton Meet.

The stalls in 2006 need no description from me as I can add a photo or two which gives us an idea of some of the items on offer here.   We can also see the sheer scale of Mark Roberts’ fantastic collection, which was, once again set up in all its glory on the stage for us to marvel at.  It is amazing to think that this was Church Stretton No. 6, and, like all the other meetings I always find this day such a pleasure.  I suppose, as always, it is the meeting of old friends, the banter, and the sheer entertainment value that is the most important thing.  As always, I realise that I am already looking forward to next years’ meeting with just as much anticipation as I had for today’s get together. As I drive home I also realise how easy it has become to take these meetings for granted so take a bow all those that arrange and attend and receive a hearty “well done” for always making this meeting such a success.

Left; Mark Roberts and his collection, which always takes several hefty members to cart it in. 

Collections like these are of course the stuff of legend and many members are heard to comment which specimen they would most like to add to their own collections.  This collection is always a pleasure to see, so well done Mark, we hope to see you again at the 2008 fixture in May.