The Master's Gift 2022

At the end of his term of office as Master, Richard Fuller kindly presented the Brewers’ Company with a magnificent silver statue of the Fuller’s Griffin.

The Griffin has wings and is therefore female (as male griffins do not have wings). Historically, the mythical animal was the guardian of treasure which is why it was highly regarded as a trademark. It originally belonged to Reid’s (Griffin) Brewery in Clerkenwell from when it was established in 1763. When the Brewery closed in 1899 the Griffin trademark and name was acquired by Fuller’s who have used it since then. The piece was commissioned based on a bronze trophy that is awarded to the Fuller’s Pub of the Year and was made by Styles Silversmiths in Hungerford.

After the Great Fire in 1666, when the first Brewers’ Hall was destroyed, the Brewers’ Company pawned its silver collection to fund the construction of a new Hall and, sadly, this was never redeemed. In more recent years, Masters have generously presented the Company with gifts such as this, which celebrate the brewing industry and the Brewers’ Company’s strong connection to its trade. This beautiful Griffin will be displayed proudly during formal Company events in the future and the Brewers’ Company is extremely grateful to Richard Fuller for this gift, which not only looks wonderful, but will serve as a memento of his extraordinary contribution as Master Brewer during a very challenging time.