Incorporated in 1709 during the reign of Queen Anne but very active as the Guild of Fan Makers from at least the reign of Charles II, today’s Fan Makers’ Company is the youngest of the ‘old’ City Livery Companies being the last to receive a Royal Charter for nearly 300 years and becoming the 76th Livery Company in order of precedence. Those that have followed have usually been incorporated by the City alone.
Mike joined the Fan Makers in 1995 from its affiliated TA Army Unit, 217 Field Squadron Royal Engineers (EOD) Explosive Ordnance Disposal with which he servedfor 10 years until 1999 from Sapper to Captain. He trained as Geologist which led to a 40 year career in the energy sector. He advises international energy companies and governments on managing their international energy asset portfolios. He is married to Charlie and they have 2 boys. They have a 13th Century Gate house in the Dordogne, which Mike has spent the last 10 years renovating from basement to roof.
Mike also enjoys golf, rifle shooting and walking. Mike prefers watching rugby to football having been involved intraining the Ealing Trailfinders and loves watching most forms of cricket. Cooking and good food is another regular hobby which Mike is looking forward to enjoying more of during the weekday events that forms a key part of a Master’s year.
Antony joined the Fan Makers in 1990. In 1966 age 16, he was in the first public school football team to visit and play in Czechoslovakia. This experience of life ‘behind the curtain’ left a lasting impression and held him in good stead for all the challenges that arose to marry his wife Albena in 1973.
Qualifying as a Chartered Surveyor in 1974 he became a Fellow in 1983. Was a Partner in White Druce & Brown Chartered Surveyors in the West End Est 1890, through mid 70’s to mid-80’s then, for 8 years, with US Partners and commuting to the USA monthly, developing Golf and Tennis Resorts, managed by Four Seasons Hotels in Scottsdale Arizona, Hawaii, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.
He is a Member of the Berkshire and Royal Cinque Ports Golf Clubs and had the honour to be Captain of the Fan Makers Golfing Society in 2010, which he still avidly supports. He currently owns and runs Milestone & Collis, Chartered Surveyors in Twickenham Established in 1890.
Dinesh commenced his career as project engineer in the automotive industry and then went on to establish an energy conservation business in the 1970s.
Dinesh was introduced to Fan Makers by Past Master Peter Lush in 2009. Dinesh said “I had known Peter for about twenty years, mainly through shooting, when he invited me to a dinner at Skinners Hall. As someone who was oblivious to the existence of Livery Companies, I was awestruck by the entire event”.
He is married to Valerie and has four children and five grandchildren and is now retired and living in the Cotswolds.
Since joining the Fan Makers, Dinesh has been actively involved with the Livery Committee, the Recruitment Committee and Fan Makers Shooting Society.
The earliest known version of the Fan Makers’ Company arms is seen in Maitland’s History of London of 1739 and show a large fan below a shaving iron, a bundle of fan sticks and a frame saw, all tools of the fan stick maker’s trade. The crest of a hand holding an open fan is first recorded in 1780. The shield and crest had been used for many years before they were formally granted by the College of Arms in 1991. The heraldic supporters in the arms symbolise different aspects of modern mechanical fan making and were granted in 2015. The Company began its association with the mechanical fan industry early in the 20th century and has since had many Liverymen and Masters from this field.
The griffin on clouds holding a multi-vaned aircraft jet fan reflects the use of high-performance fans in aviation engines. The City of London dragon standing on the steps of a building represents the use of fans in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning provided by building service engineers.
The blue and red wings symbolise the cooling and heating effect of fans. The six bladed fan represents the many other uses of fans in the modern world from cooling computers and drying wet hands to ventilating the Channel Tunnel.
The Fan Makers are regulated by a governing body which is today referred to as the Court (the Board of Directors) composed of the Master elected for one year, two Wardens from whom the Master would normally be elected, and 13 Assistants. In addition there are two elected officers- the Clerk, who provides the administrative support for the Company, and the Beadle, our Master of Ceremonies.
Saddlers' Hall is a livery hall located in the City of London, near St. Paul's Cathedral. The hall was originally built in 1395, but has undergone several renovations over the years. The current building was designed by Robert Hooke and completed in 1689. The interior of the hall is adorned with impressive artwork and furnishings, including a 17th-century staircase and a portrait of Queen Elizabeth I.
Learn moreTo promote the friendships and connections that are built within the livery, we house a number of societies wherein our members can socialise and share in their common interests, all with a little competitive spirit.
The Shooting Society welcomes all members who enjoy shooting to join them at the annual inter-livery clay shoot. Other shooting events, both clay and game, are held each year on an ad hoc basis. There is no membership fee and each event is attended on a pay as you shoot basis. It’s all about enjoying the day and whatever your standard of shooting you’ll fit in.
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The Society was established in 1932 and the following year became a member of The Livery Companies Golfing Society which organises the Prince Arthur Cup, the most prestigious golf competition in Livery circles.
The ethos behind the Society is for friendly social occasions with the standard of play being of less importance.
