AOF Medals

Trustees were pleased and grateful to receive recently from a generous supporter of the Trust what has been identified as the oldest AOF medal yet located. With a second medal of slightly later date, they originated from the Barnsley area of the West Riding of Yorkshire.

It was on 12th August 1839, with the presentation of the multi-pointed, star shaped medal, that the presentation of the medal took place, with the recipient being named. The inscription read ‘Presented to Bror Willm. John Stocks by the Carlton & Barnsley Dist. Of Ancnt. Foresters for his past services as Dist. Master August 12th 1839.’

The term ‘District Master’ was effectively declared obsolete at the AOF annual delegates meeting held at Stalybridge in August 1837, ‘District Chief Ranger’ becoming the accepted title for the post of Chairman of an AOF District. Thus the implication may be that Bro Stocks had served in that capacity at an earlier period in the District’s history.

William John Stocks was a farmer at Carlton, not far from Barnsley, where he was a member of Court “Lord Wharncliffe”, No. 288 of the AOF. He had probably been a member of the Court since it was founded as a Royal Order Court, prior to the establishment of the AOF in August 1834. At that time he was named as one of the founders of the Court.

Roberts Challenge Shields (1)

Membership Competitions were notable features of 20th century Forestry. These gave Order members in Courts throughout the British Isles the opportunity to actively contribute to the fundamentally important issue of attracting new members.

In 1929, the then High Sub Chief Ranger (HSCR) of the Ancient Order of Foresters, Bro. Joseph Roberts announced his intention to donate two shields to be competed for annually in the run up to the forthcoming centenary of the Order in 1934. One was for the Court recruiting the highest number of new adult members, the other for the Court achieving the greatest percentage increase in adult membership.

At the Cardiff High Court meeting of August 1931, Bro. Roberts, now High Chief Ranger made the first presentation of the Shields. Winner of the numerical shield was Court “Perseverance”, No. 3278, based in Kentish Town, north London. The accompanying image shows Bros John  Burrows, the long serving and much respected Court Secretary, W F Clark, and an unidentified Court member at the HCM following the inaugural presentation of the shield. Winner of the percentage shield was Court “Royal Victoria”, No. 2288, from Singleton in Sussex.

AOF District chains from Scotland           

Trustees were delighted to receive, through the good offices of Pat Stewart, a fine collection of five AOF Scottish District chains. Each with its decorative pendant and links is an attractive object. Equally important is their significance as a lasting testimony to Order members who achieved the distinction of serving as District Chief Ranger (DCR) or chairman, in their own location.

The Glasgow District chain dates from 1908/9. It was presented by members of Court “Heatherbell”, No. 5599, to commemorate the achievement of one of their members, Bro. John Brown, on being elected High Chief Ranger (HCR) of the Order. Names of PDCR’s up to 1949/50 are recorded. The chain is of the design introduced by the EC to the design of Bro W C Eaton in 1903.
           
Dundee DCR’s from 1876, the year in which the District was formed, through to 1926 are identified on the chain. Also identified are, from 1926 the names of DSCR’s up to 1988/89.

The Greenock District chain of office dates from 1927, being the first chain that the District possessed, and replacing the DCR’s Ribbon which had been used for ‘fully thirty years.’ The chain was supplied by the EC, being of chaste design, with the centre medallion bearing the words ‘Greenock District – AOF’. On the reverse of the pendant is the inscription ‘Greenock District Instituted 1842.’ The first DCR to wear the new chain was Bro. W E Graham and on it are recorded DCR’s up to 1940.

At a celebratory supper held in April 1930, Bro. John K Taylor, a past member of the Executive Council, presented the Perth District chain to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the District on 12th April 1880. Bro. William Pickard had the honour of being the first DCR to wear it. All of his predecessors are recorded on the reverse of the pendant. The last name shown on the chain is that for 1953/54.

On 23rd January 1932, members of Court “Standard”, No. 4604, which met in Newcastle, presented a chain of office for the Edinburgh District.  Bro J H Carmichael, of Court 4451, the DCR 1932/33 is the first name on the links with those of subsequent DCR’s for the next 40 years are recorded, up to 1974/5.

The Trust also has in its collection a number of English and Welsh District chains of office, all providing similar useful information about members who served as District Chief Rangers.

Presentation clocks

The culture of friendly society Orders gave members the opportunity to acknowledge the efforts of those performing outstanding duties. In addition to the recognised forms of inscribed medals or jewels, sashes, etc., sometimes more personalised items were awarded. Foremost amongst these were presentation clocks. Sometimes elaborate and ornate, sometimes functional, each was an expression of feelings of respect. As a tangible record of a member’s commitment, often inscribed on a brass plate on the front of the clock, these are significant items, in terms of both family and Forestric history.

The clock illustrated was presented to Bro C F Beaven in 1951 by fellow members of Court No. 2448 ‘for services rendered including 40 years as Trustee.’ There were at least three generations of the Beaven family active in Forestry throughout the 20th century and our thanks go to Mrs P. Beaven for donating this clock, and other items, to the Trust.

Many clocks have finished up a long way from home. An enquiry to the Trust about an inscribed presentation clock from its present owner in the USA, revealed its origins in the English Home Counties in the late 19th century!

Puttick Collection                               

One of the most generous donations of privately collected friendly society objects has been made to the Trust by Edgar Puttick, and his wife Pamela. Both were formerly very active in the Brighton District of the AOF. Over many years they built up a diverse collection of sashes, ribbons, collars, aprons, jewels, badges, metal claps and embellishments. These relate not only to the AOF but also other Orders, such as the Oddfellows (MU), and other mutual societies.

The clasps and embellishments came to the Trust ready mounted on a display board, a consequence of Edgar’s talking to and showing his items to interested groups in the Brighton area. The presentation board has been incorporated in the Trust’s display, complementing the existing display of Court Officers sashes.

A New Zealand Court Secretary

A short while ago a descendant of an emigrant to New Zealand contacted the Trust to see if we had any details if his ancestor. Nothing unusual in that, we are often approached by enquirers from Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Although the Trust holds no original source material from outside the UK, we were able to track him down from the annual Foresters’ Miscellany.

Andrew Horace De Lacey, who was born in Guernsey, emigrated to New Zealand in 1873. He became Secretary of AOF Court “Marquis of Normanby” at Carterton, New Zealand in 1887, holdng the post until 1893.  In June that year he was tragically killed, aged 48.  Whilst he was Secretary the Court had its own premises, the Foresters Hall, Belvedere Street, where the 60 to 70 members met to conduct business. .

Quite amazingly, a postcard (see illustration) from over one hundred years ago addressed to Bro. De Lacey, as Court Secretary, recently came into the possession of the Trust, as a result as a generous donation by one of our regular supporters. We thus have a tangible link with an individual identifiable in both Forestric and family history.

Female Foresters in the USA

An indication of the difference in approaches to female membership taken by AOF members in the UK and USA is reflected in the differing structures adopted for female membership. In the UK, from 1892, all-female Courts were authorised, with, from 1898, mixed Courts also being approved.

In north America, the Subsidiary High Court (SHC) for the Atlantic, Central and Southern States, the SHC of the Pacific Coast, and the SHC of Canada, established the aptly named Companions of the Forest to accommodate female members. Around 1906, however, the SHC of the AC&SS established a new structure, called the Maid Marian degree. The accompanying illustration shows a Maid Marian degree recognition badge.

As in local branches of the Companions of the Forest these were called Circles. Slow to increase in number, in 1909 the “Pride of Ansonia” Circle was established with a meeting place at the Masonic Halls, Main Street, Ansonia. The illustration shows a ribbon and badge from the Ansonia Circle.  Generously donated to the trust by one of our trustees these two items add to our currently sparse collection of non-UK related Forestric items.

Foresters Dance card

During the 1840’s and 50’s meeting the often pressing needs of widows and orphans’ was something dear to the hearts of many friendly society Order members.  In the Foresters’ many local Funds were established by Courts and districts.  The money needed to support a Widow and Orphans Fund required all sorts of fundraising activities to be undertaken. Often fetes were organised, most famously the annual London United District Crystal Palace fete which raised money for their W & O Fund from 1855.

The accompanying Dress Ball dance card tells us a little of the efforts made by members of Court “Little John”, No. 1517 of the AOF in Birmingham.  On Tuesday 28th December 1852, under the patronage of the Mayor, H Hawkes, Esq., a full programme of 28 dances was presented at the Town Hall, in aid of the Courts Widows and Orphans Institution.  Polkas, Quadrilles, Valses amongst others offered an energetic evening for those supporting the Ball. Providing the music was Messrs Hayward and Tilley’s Quadrille band, which consisted of between thirty and forty performers.

Hopefully well supported, things were not quite all that they seemed. Court No. 1517 was, at the time of the Dress Ball, suspended from the Order for non compliance with the rules of the Birmingham Midland District, of which the Court was a member. Suspension had taken place in 1849, so the members of the “Court” had clearly continued to operate as if nothing had affected their status. As far as can be established, it was never reinstated.

What’s in a name?

It was not uncommon for members of a Foresters’  Court  at some point subsequent to the Court’s foundation to change its name. We seldom have records to show why this was done, so often it is a matter of speculation as to reasons. Equally we very rarely have any documentation indicating the precise moment when the change was made. The accompanying  illustrated document is therefore  something  of a rarity. This is a letter of authority from the Executive Council of the AOF issued by the Permanent Secretary, Thomas Ballan Stead, advising of a name change in February 1893.

Court “Admiral Massingberd”, No. 6961, was granted a dispensation in late 1882 for meetings to be held at Great Milton in Oxfordshire. Admiral  Vincent Amcotts  Massingberd  is, perhaps, a name not now readily recognised by many, other than naval history anoraks. Born around 1822 he had, it appears, a successful  career in the Royal Navy. He died towards the end of 1889, and subsequently the link between the name and the Court weakened.

Someone, we don’t know who since no Court records have survived to be deposited with the Trust, suggested a name change;  in February 1893, the Executive Council, based that year in Bristol, authorised the name “Ashurst” for the Court, and Thomas Ballan Stead, the Order’s  Permanent Secretary, sent out the letter shown here. Questions a’plenty are raised, but at least we can observe how one small part of the process of Order administration worked as a result of the survival of this 116 year old document.

Roberts Challenge Shields (3)

We are delighted to have received two images in connection with our earlier accounts of the introduction of Forestric awards for efforts made to increase membership during the 20th century. They come from the grand-daughter of Frank Alfred Pilcher, in 1931 Chief Ranger of Court "Royal Victoria", No. 2288, at Singleton in Sussex, England. The Court won the inaugural completion for the greatest percentage increase in members.

The upper picture shows Bro. Frank Pilcher. It was he who accepted the Roberts Challenge Shield Shield at High Court and brought it back to Sussex. He was met off the train in Chichester and the shield was paraded through the city. He is still remembered fondly by members of the local AOF branch and was also a Parish Council Chairman. Bro Pilcher is shown with the shield in the back garden of his home Hill View, Singleton.

The lower picture shows Court members and children, including Bro Frank Pilcher and his son Frederick Pilcher gathered in front of the Court banner, in Glebe Meadow, Singleton after the parade. We are pleased to display these photos as a lasting testimony to all those members who throughout the 20th century, made strenuous efforts in the name of the Ancient Order of Foresters, in particular Bro. Frank Pilcher.

19th century clock bearing the original Foresters Arms

Thanks to the interest of a clock collector, unconnected with the Foresters, we are delighted to have acquired for the collection a charming wall clock, decorated with a hand painted depiction of the original Foresters Arms, as in use from 1834 to c. 1892. The story behind its addition is that the collector, seeing the clock advertised for sale at auction in Surrey, England, took the effort to seek out information about the illustration, which was not mentioned in the auctioneer's catalogue, and located our website. An e-mail to the Trust instigated urgent consultation amongst trustees to decide about bidding, and this resulted in success at auction just three days later. Within a week, the clock was paid for and in the Trust's possession.

The clock dates from the mid-19th century and was made in Bavaria, in what is now Germany. It is described as a continental wall clock with two train movements. There is no inscription as to maker or owner, nevertheless the well preserved representation of the Foresters Arms makes this a significant addition to our growing collection, and our thanks go to the considerate well wisher who brought it to our attention.

John Tudor's sash

The death of the Rev John Tudor in August 2009 brought to an end a long connection with the Foresters. His impressive record of attending and preaching at the annual High Court meeting began in Ayr in 1980, when he took as his theme 'bridge-building'. For nearly thirty years he performed the role of High Court Preacher almost continuously, making his last appearance at the 2008 High Court at Scarborough. He was also actively involved with the fund raising Charity Stewards UK Trust, a dedicated body of Foresters who did much to raise funds for a wide range of charities.

The Foresters Heritage Trust was honoured to recently receive from Cynthia, John's widow, the sash he wore in his official duties as chaplain to the AOF. It is white, with a green stripe on both edges, decorated with a single letter C, made of metal, sewn on, and gold fringes. This will make a unique addition to the existing wide variety of sashes, ribbons and collars held in the Trust's collection.