Happy New Year! 2021 Talking Prompts kicks off with what lay behind the innovation and expansion of use of Borosilicate glass and reducing CO2 with seaweed ‘fertilised’ by glass. More fascinating facts about the development and use of that wonderfully versatile material – glass.
As Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich John first encountered the Glass Sellers in 1983 when the then Master Jim Bell asked him to be his principal speaker at our Mansion House Banquet.
Tempted by the mysteries of the East, he volunteered for service in the Gurkha Engineers and was approved by the Colonel of the Regiment, the magnificently-monocled General Lancelot Perowne. His first posting was in Malaysia, where he built bridges and roads, exercised in the jungle, and trained Gurkha recruits. Keen to pursue his early fascination with Russia and life behind the Iron Curtain, he persuaded the system to let him train as a Russian Interpreter, spending 18 months at a special school in Beaconsfield and lodging with Russian émigrés in Paris. There followed 2 years at GCHQ as a reward for his efforts. Next, back to the Gurkha Engineers, then in Hong Kong, trekked in Nepal, married, served in Northern Ireland, attended the Staff College, posted to the Ministry of Defence, back to the Gurkha Engineers in Hong Kong, where he was tasked with forming a new engineer squadron and moving it to Chatham. Thereafter 6 months at the National Defence College and 6 months in the Falkland Islands, followed by 2 years commanding the Depot Regiment Royal Engineers in Chatham.
Towards a UN Declaration: International Year of Glass 2022
On 23rd September 1952 he was admitted as a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers following in his father’s footsteps. His father [Major RFC, Cyril Herbert Nathan FCA] had joined in June 1926 and was Master in 1934-1935. Cyril became an Honorary Member in 1951 and died in September 1977.
Michael was clothed in Livery 24th March 1953.
Hearty Congratulations to Liveryman Matthew Demmon who this week it was announced would become the new President of British Glass in January 2021. He will be taking over from Saint-Gobain Glass UK’s Managing Director Steve Severs.