2018 Farmery Gathering

[Richard ll presents the sword to the Mayor of Lincoln]

Saturday September 29th 2018 will see the eighteenth international Farmery gathering, once again in the village hall at Bracebridge Heath, near Lincoln (LN4 2LB).

Anyone with a connection to the surname Farmery or an interest in the programme is welcome to attend.

•10.00am Registration and Coffee

•10.30am Welcome and Introductions [Alan Moorhouse]

•10.45am "The Lincoln Sword" [Richard Storey]

•11.45am DNA update [Graham Farmer/Alan Moorhouse]

•12.00pm Open/workshop session

•12.30pm Lunch (at leisure)

•1.45pm Afternoon session commences

•2.00pm "What a Victorian Gentleman Wore" [Gareth King]

•4.00pm Group photograph

•4.15pm Tea

•4.30pm Close

Following a more than 21 year career in the Prison Service Richard Storey had an unexpected opportunity to "escape" and look for another path.  He started chauffeuring the Mayor of Lincoln in October 2013, thinking it was a stop gap until he found a "proper job", and five years later finds himself as Mayor's Officer, to one of the oldest Mayoralties in one of the oldest cities in Britain at Lincoln Guildhall, a role that includes carrying the Lincoln sword at civic occasions.  The Tudor Guildhall has been used since 1520, occupying the whole second floor of the Stonebow, and still plays host to Full Council meetings and City Council events. It houses numerous pieces of regalia, including the sword of Richard II, Mayor’s Chains of Office and Mayor’s posy ring.  Richard Farmery, cordwainer of Lincoln St Martin, was the Lincoln Sword Bearer in the 1680’s.

Gareth King from Ashby de la Zouch is a primary school teacher and has always had an interest in history and enjoys talking about it; he has a particular interest in Victorian era clothing styles. 

On the day amongst other documents that I have available will be print outs of every Farmery family in the 1939 Register, which was taken in order to issue identity cards and ration books, so you will be able to see where your Farmery relations were living at the outbreak of the 2nd World War!

For those wanting to make a weekend of it a number of us are staying at the Ibis Hotel Lincoln (free sign up gives a 10% discount on room rates) on Friday and Saturday night and there will be the options of an informal gathering at an adjacent eatery on Friday evening, a more formal dinner in Lincoln on Saturday evening and a local visit on Sunday morning.

This is non-profit making event and for the day there is a nominal charge of £8.00 to cover hire of the hall, speakers and refreshments.  There are a number of pubs adjacent to the village hall or you are welcome to bring a packed lunch and eat it there,

For more information or to advise that you plan to attend the gathering please email me.

[The provisional dates for next year are Saturday September 28th or October 5th 2019]