Fellowship is a key element of being a Glover so it is no surprise that the longstanding relationship between the Safran Zunft of Basel and the Glovers commenced with a friendly meeting.
It all started with a friendship forged in Wimbledon in the early ‘80s between Alderman Christopher Collett, (a Master Glover and Lord Mayor of London) and Richard Amstad, a senior Swiss banker working in the City of London and coincidentally living just 50 yards up the road from the Colletts’ home.
In the 1980s the Glovers Company was looking to expand its horizons and had introduced an associate category of membership to get around the former restriction that European and US citizens were not eligible to become Liverymen of the City of London. So Richard Amstad became one of the first four Associate Glovers in April 1984.
On joining Richard introduced the Glovers to the Basel based Safran Zunft. So October 1985 saw Dr Geog Krayer-Esher, then Clerk to the Zunft, and his wife attending the Glovers’ Annual Banquet - as did Richard Amstad and Christopher Collett, then Sheriff of the City of London.
Richard Amstad and Stephen Kirsch returned the compliment by visiting Basel for the Ash Wednesday celebrations in 1986; Richard Amstad and Ken Smith, Master Glover returned in 1988 and the rest is history! Master Glovers have been visiting for the Ash Wednesday celebrations ever since.
The relationship is not just based on Master and Meister visits, for example the Zunft Band came to London in 1988 to take part in Sir Christopher Collett’s Lord Mayor’s Show, and the Zunft has attended and marched in a number of Lord Mayors’ Shows since then. Glovers have strengthened the friendship by visiting Basel for Masters’ weekends over the years and in September 2025 Meister Oscar Olano led a Zunft visit to London.
The friendship between the Zunft and The Glovers continues to grow. Whilst the Zunft still only allows individuals from Basel to be members, the Glovers Company has been welcoming citizens from around the world as Liverymen since 1996 and we are delighted to count a number Zunft members amongst the Livery. Fellowship at its best!
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