After 650 years of not being a Chartered Company, the Worshipful Company of Fletchers petitioned for the grant of a Royal Charter in 2020.  The Royal Charter is granted by the Her Majesty the Queen and is an instrument of incorporation which confers independent legal personality on the Fletchers and defines its objectives, constitution and powers to govern its own affairs.

The documents were approved by the City Corporation and then submitted to the Privy Council, who granted final approval to affix the Great Seal on 26 May 2021.  The Charter was presented by the Princess Royal at the Fletchers’650^th anniversary banquet at Mansion House on 7 March 2022, the largest ever gathering of Fletchers and their guests.

It was not uncommon in medieval London for women to play an active part in their husbands’ businesses during the former’s lives, and also to continue these enterprises after their deaths, but the practice seems to have been particularly common among the Fletchers.  The Worshipful Company of Fletchers’ early quarterage registers regularly show widows assuming their husbands’ places on the latter’s deaths.  By the 1560s, when these lists began to separate out the leading Fletchers as ‘masters’, separate sections for the widows were also introduced.  In some instances, these fletcher widows make only a brief appearance, perhaps continuing payments to the Company only while winding up their husbands’ affairs, but in other cases it seems clear that they continued to run fletching businesses in their own right, and sometimes for prolonged periods.

From The Worshipful Company of Fletchers of London: The Early Centuries c. 1371 – c. 1571 by Dr Hannes Kleineke, 2021

Guildhall Library, London, MS 5977

On 7 March 2022 the largest ever gathering of Fletchers and their guests assembled at The Mansion House for the 650th anniversary banquet. We were honoured by the presence of HRH The Princess Royal, the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, the sheriffs and their consorts, and representatives from our military affiliates.  A carpet guard was provided by cadets from our RRF and Air force affiliates.

It was a wonderful occasion, with a real buzz in the air. We were inspired by music from the London Banqueting Ensemble, including the traditional Post Horn Gallop, and from Mark Wilde and David Owen Norris, who performed two of our Fletcher Songs.

Our charter and new grant of arms were on prominent display, thanks to the efforts of Deputy Master Stuart Robbens.  HRH The Princess Royal congratulated us on the grant of a charter, and the Lord Mayor raised a toast to the Company, for its next 650 years.

The Worshipful Company of Fletchers is led by the Master aided by a Court of Assistants and the Clerk. The Master is elected for a year and presides at all Fletchers’ functions.  Before the Master’s time in office, he/she plans several additional activities and trips for the year in addition to the usual calendar of events, and organises the famous Fletchers’ autumn holiday.

Their silver guilt Badge is formed as two cornucopiae with supporters above, one of a female figure holding a bow and arrow, the other a male figure blowing a horn, the top angel holds a bundle of arrows.  The centre shows the Company shield, in silver and black upon a pale blue enamel background.  The badge was made circa 1900 by C. Krall.

To celebrate their 600^th Anniversary, the Fletchers held a dinner at the Mansion House on 25^th January 1971 – the dinnercard is shown above.  The event was hosted by the Master C J Maples.  A five-course dinner was served along with Moselle, Bordeaux, port and brandy.