Coachlines - January 2024
30.01.24 Junior Warden Mark Broadbent
Meet the Team – The Coachmaking and Carriage Driving Awards Sub-Committee
The Coachmaking and Carriage Driving Awards Sub-Committee is probably the Livery Company’s closest contact to the roots of its origins.
The committee was founded by Past Master David Shalit in 1979, who served as chairman for 25 years. During that time many well known ‘characters’ in the sport as well as coach-builders and harness makers have been presented with the award.
The Committee’s primary function is to select a candidate to receive the Coachmakers’ award at the annual British Driving Society show at Windsor in June, and so monitors, where possible, those still involved in the carriage making and restoration business, and associated crafts.
However, as such enterprises are fairly few and far between, the award is sometimes given to individuals who have demonstrated or given a significant contribution to the carriage driving world within their lifetime.
The presentation at Windsor is a spectacular occasion where many liverymen, their families and friends gather to celebrate carriage driving at one of its most prestigious shows, and has become a great social occasion for members of the livery.
The livery via the Carriage Driving Awards committee also supports the Coachmakers’ Training Bursary which inspires and encourages younger members of the driving community in the traditions and etiquettes of coaching. This is in line with the Coachmakers ideal of ‘an active Livery investing in young people’.
The Committee also discusses, and makes recommendations to the Charity Committee on other awards and events linked with the carriage making and associated leather industries. These include the London Harness Horse Parade, the Capel Manor harness making prize, the National Saddlery Competition, and supports the Carriage Foundation, the Sandringham Driving Trials and the Coaching Club Bursary.
Over the years it is this Committee that has provided connections with the Royal Family, as the late Prince Philip was an active member of the Committee, always very interested and encouraging in its activities. One of the winners of the harness making competition at Capel Manor, for example, now works at the Royal Mews, and is doing very well.
The Committee meetings take place in the Coaching Club room at the Royal Mews. The current Chairman of the committee is Junior Warden Mark Broadbent, a carriage maker and restorer himself, who has a direct insight into the business, and is the President of The Coaching Club. He is ably supported by a small but efficient committee which meets annually, consisting of:
Junior Warden Mark Broadbent, Chairman
The Master (ex Officio)
Past Master David Shalit MBE
Past Master Michael Kimber
Col. Toby Browne CVO, The Crown Equerry
Liveryman Richard James
Liveryman Andrew Reid
Liveryman Jimmy Jeffery
Hon Freeman Lady Cobham
The Clerk
In the future, the Chairman is keen to add a few names to the committee who are more associated with the carriage driving environment, and whom are ‘in the pipeline’ to becoming members of the livery.
For more information, or if you are interested in joining the Sub-Committee, please contact Junior Warden Mark Broadbent on enquiries@fenixcarriages.co.uk.