It was another splendid Brigantes Breakfast.
On Friday 25th May over 360 people, including 26 Masters, 52 Past Masters and 10 Bakers went to the Royal Armouries in Leeds.
Quite a few of us were treated to an illuminating lecture by Dr Karen Watts, Curator Emeritus of the Armouries, as well as a demonstration by the librarian - dressed in full armour! Both she and he were able to dispel some myths about the inflexibility of armour.
We were also told about a breastplate dated 1591 which was of special interest to us as Bakers because it was for a baker! We found it in the museum and discovered that the name of its owner was Pavel Weddersborg, Free Baker of Lüneburg. He did not have a coat of arms and so a pretzel, used by German bakers as a trade sign, was inscribed on it.
They were followed by “Figaro” a quartet of entertaining singers. The icing on the cake was a speech by our own Past Master David Bentley, one of the prime movers in the Brigantes and organisers of this event to whom our thanks are due.
It was a great way to spend a Friday. We look forward to next year’s Breakfast when we mere Southerners will, I hope, be allowed north again to celebrate with our Northern friends.
Stephen Kramer
Master
