08/10/2025
The Waddingtons Story:
Guest were truly privileged to combine a curated tour of the Leeds Discovery Centre, a unique museum storage facility which preserves 1.3 million objects including Waddingtons’ ephemera
https://museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk/leeds-discovery-centre-c7h1
with two fascinating presentations, Fighting for Freedom, the little-known history of print in the Second World War and, Fighting for Survival, personal revelations behind the scenes of Waddingtons’ battles with Robert Maxwell.
As part of an initiative by Northern Stationers, organised by Liveryman Robert McClements, to collaborate with other like-minded organisations the party comprised of Stationers, members of the BPIF (British Printing Industries Federation) and Brigantes, the Association of City of London Liverymen in the North of England. It was awash with Liverymen of many companies including our own Master, Past Master Robert Flather and PMs from The Worshipful Company of Bakers, The Worshipful Company of Clockmakers, The Worshipful Company of Woolmen and The Tribal Leader of Brigantes.
Dr Henry Irving gave a fascinating illustrated talk, Fighting for Freedom, on the history of print in the Second World War. He explained how the government mobilised commercial techniques to produce all manner of materials before exploring a colourful episode in the history of the Leeds printing firm Waddingtons. He explained how the firm entered the shadowy world of military intelligence as part of a plan to use board games to smuggle escape kits into Prisoner of War camps.
John Watson OBE, Past Master, The Worshipful Company of Makers of playing Cards presented, Fighting for Survival, a unique personal insight, that was full of private experiences and a great deal of humour, to the Waddingtons battles with Robert Maxwell the British media proprietor, politician and fraudster. Maxwell’s death on 5 November 1991 shocked the country. Shock turned to anger within weeks when a £460m hole was discovered in the pension funds of his companies - but not Waddingtons.
Liveryman, Richard Walker, provided direct door-to-door transport for the train travellers courtesy of Network Rail’s help - a secret parking place that circumvented the efforts of Leeds City Council to make the train station completely inaccessible without a two-mile run through the one-way system (designed to reduce Leeds’ carbon footprint!).
The Yorkshire Buffet was excellent and catering generous. It was good to know that there was no waste as the Discovery Centre has a plan in place to provide any surplus to a local charity.
Ryan Lee, Ryvacious Productions, captured the occasion:
Photographs - https://ryvacious.shootproof.com/gallery/28432038/
Video - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nvsBU41K5900JSsEWuFukqeZAiZoG9aX/view?usp=sharing
