CLAS AGM 2011

We were full to bursting at the 2011 CLAS AGM at the British Library with people coming not only from the UK but Germany, France and other countries. Yet another outstanding year of bumper number of entries for the CLAS Art and the Letter Exhibition, with many stunningly breathtakingly wonderful, that it made us all proud to belong to a society of such talented people. There were quite a few entries, too, from those starting out in calligraphy and it was good to see their entries displayed alongside those with more experience.

Our two new CLAS Fellows, Cathy Stables and Helen Scholes also put on exhibitions of their work, which were a delight to the eye and confirmed their new status as being at the top of the CLAS Ladder of Progress.

Alan Cole Director of the Museum of Writing at the University of London put on a great exhibition of many mediaeval writing implements, which were all fascinating.

Tim Noad, CLAS Honoured Fellow displayed his exquisite artworks, many with gold and delicate lettering, and it was a real treat to see the original of his St Cecilia book. This was close to the special once-in-a-lifetime exhibition of Dorothy Mahoney's work on vellum. Dorothy was perhaps Edward Johnston's greatest student, taking over many of his classes when he was unwell and completely when he retired, and showed that the tradition of Edward Johnston, for letters lively, crisp and sharp were as important to his students then as they are to us today.

Other exhibitions included National Diploma entries and entries for the CLAS Certificate of Competence on Colour and Texture.

The lunch hour proved to be an opportunity as well to visit the British Library to use the special CLAS 10% discount voucher in the Bookshop as well as see the manuscripts in the Treasures exhibition and the Evolving English special exhibition.

We had special presentations at the AGM in the morning of engraved crystal glasses by Pat Chaloner and special badges designed by Mary Noble for Charles Huff, CLAS Treasurer, and David Lloyd, CLAS Protocol Officer both for being 'Man of the Year', and then after presentations in the afternoon it was straight on to Patricia Lovett's talk on Gold on Parchment - How Mediaeval Manuscripts are Made'. She had just returned from lecturing and teaching at Harvard, and took us on a whirlwind tour of manuscripts, their makers, the tools and materials they used, and the processes and techniques.

It was a good day for all, and many left the British Library inspired by manuscripts, letters and lettering.

CLAS AGM Day 2012

The 2012 AGM Day will be held in the Conference Centre of the British Library on 10th March 2012.

Click here for details and an application form.