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Culture, history and society

Culture, history and society

Community spirit stems from London tradition

Glaziers Hall in London
In the heart of the city: the Worshipful Company of Scientific Equipment Instrument Makers is based in Glaziers Hall, next to London Bridge

Are you a young scientist who is keen to make contacts among senior academics and industry leaders? Or perhaps you already have lots of experience in science and engineering, and would like the opportunity to meet and discuss your ideas with like-minded individuals, and also give back by nurturing the talents of students and scientists who are just starting out on their careers?

If that sounds appealing, you might consider joining a unique organization that has emerged from some of the oldest traditions in the City of London. This modern livery company – an updated version of the original livery companies that were established in medieval times to manage trade within the City’s Square Mile – has a specific focus on scientific instrumentation, but shares many of the same ideals, traditions and privileges of its ancient counterparts.

Today, some 110 livery companies are recognized by the City of London. Each one is affiliated with a specific profession, ranging from fishmongers and drapers through to gunmakers and architects, and nearly all take the formal title of “Worshipful Company”. While the last of the old-style livery companies was created in 1746, a new breed of modern livery companies started to emerge in the 1930s – and among them was the Worshipful Company of Scientific Instrument Makers (WCSIM), which was founded in 1955.

From medieval London to modern science

Whether old or modern, all livery companies follow the same traditions and pursue two main goals: to share knowledge and fellowship among their members, and to support their community through philanthropy or charitable donations. “Modern livery companies allow members to make connections with other people in the same profession, while also supporting each other and funding charitable causes that are linked to their line of work,” says Misha Hebel, who is Clerk of the WCSIM – the most senior permanent employee in the livery.

STEM day at the WCSIM

Alongside fellowship and philanthropy, members enjoy the heritage and traditions of the City of London – although Hebel points out that members of the WCSIM are located throughout the UK and in other countries too. All the livery companies also share a common lexicon that’s been passed through the generations, with the term “livery”, for example, referring to the distinctive dress that would have been worn in the past to denote that an individual belongs to a specific trade.

Anyone connected with scientific instrumentation can join the WCSIM. Current members range from school and university students through to experienced scientists and engineers from both industry and academia, which always generates plenty of lively conversation and offers lots of opportunities for younger members to meet company CEOs or senior researchers.

Members benefit from insights gained across disciplines too. “You might get a physicist sitting next to an engineer, or an academic talking to a company CEO, and it can suddenly spark a completely different idea or solution,” says Charles Holroyd, a member of the WCSIM who is currently serving as the Junior Warden.

Holroyd joined the WCSIM as a Liveryman, the most senior form of membership, which is open to those with extensive experience in scientific instrumentation. Less experienced members usually join as Freemen, with the prospect of becoming full Liverymen as their career progresses. And, despite the name, both men and women can and do join the company at any level.

Students at school and university can be invited to join as Apprentices and Scholars, respectively. They are usually promising science or engineering students who have won a prize or competition supported by the WCSIM, such as the Arkwright Scholarships that are awarded to school students who excel in science and maths. “The hope is that they will stay interested in the livery as they progress through university and into a career connected to scientific instrumentation,” says Holroyd.

Connections count

Liverymen from academic and industrial backgrounds give back to the scientific community by giving younger members help and advice, whether about science and technology, career options, or how to start a new business. They also get involved in events and activities that encourage school students to pursue careers in science and engineering. “The WCSIM has a database of interests that makes it easy to link people together,” says Holroyd.

Dinner with the WCSIM

As Clerk of the WCSIM, Hebel spends much of her time organizing events that bring together the membership. They include informal trips and gatherings, as well as formal black-tie dinners that members enjoy for the “surroundings, the good food and wine, and the chance to dress up”. She also works closely with various committees and a small group of the most senior members, called the Court, which is headed by the company’s Master. The Master is elected from the members of the Court and changes every year, and part of the Clerk’s role is to guide each new Master and help them to represent the livery at important events in the City.

The WCSIM’s current Master is Ken Grattan, a professor of scientific instrumentation and Dean of the Graduate School at City University London, and a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Institute of Physics. “It’s partly about the fellowship and camaraderie, but also about the opportunity to give something back to the community,” comments Grattan. “We provide support to young scientists though grants and prizes, while more experienced members can act as mentors to early-career scientists and engineers who want to broaden their horizons.”

All members can attend the WCSIM’s events and have access to its Livery Hall in central London – an impressive building that the WCSIM shares with two other livery companies. Freemen can be granted Freedom of the City of London through redemption, which today is largely symbolic but in the past would have been their license to trade in the Square Mile. “It used to be a piece of paper that was kept in a little red envelope and had to be shown on entering the City in order to trade,” explains Hebel. Liverymen must also be Free of the City before they can be admitted.

Liverymen, meanwhile, have additional privileges. Only Liverymen can serve in the Court and become a Master, and they can also vote in the City of London elections for the Lord Mayor – the most senior person in the City.

Giving back

Apart from the Apprentices and Scholars, all members of the livery company pay an annual membership fee, called “quarterage”, which varies with age, and they are also encouraged to make charitable donations on an annual basis or through a legacy. Those funds are primarily used to support the younger generation of scientists and engineers, including student prizes and the prestigious Beloe Fellowship for post-doctoral researchers. Schools are also supported, with funding recently given to provide equipment and science exercise books at a nearby primary school.

Members can choose to take part in some of these initiatives, such as judging scientific competitions or giving careers talks in schools. And the WCSIM’s charitable activities extend to their own members, with the organization’s Almoner – currently experienced scientist Diane Howse – dedicated to keeping in touch with members who are sick or may need some sort of support.

While anyone connected to scientific instrumentation can join the WCSIM, joining a livery company is considered to be a lifetime commitment. Members take an oath when they join, which says that they won’t bring the company or their profession into disrepute, and also that they are committed to the philanthropic effort. Many of the events are held in London, which makes it easier for members in the UK to enjoy the fellowship offered by the WCSIM.

  • Anyone interested in joining the WCSIM as a Freeman or Liveryman can apply online, while the Clerk is always available to talk to prospective members on the phone. There are also regular Open Evenings; please look at the website wcsim.co.uk for dates.
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