The National Horse Brass Society was founded by Terry Keegan in 1975 to cater for people interested in harness decorations, especially those for the heavy horse. Terry through research had built up a vast knowledge about brasses and published books on the subject. During the seventies many brasses of inferior quality were being cast for the souvenir trade so Terry started designing brasses of very high quality, had them cast and established the Heavy Horse Enthusiast the marketing outlet for his brasses. His daughter Alison Garbett has carried on the tradition and as well as their own retail sales they produce all the NHBS membership and special brasses.
Membership has for many years at around 350, of whom,17% are overseas in the USA, Canada, Europe South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
The Society arranges meetings and displays where you have an opportunity to meet like - minded people to gain knowledge and seek help and advice on collecting horse brasses. For the beginner you will discover the many books available on all aspects of collecting and hundreds of antique and modern brasses available to purchase at prices to suit all pockets.
Members receive an annual cast horse brass of changing design, two glossy Journals (January and July) and two Newsletters (April and October). Society members are encouraged to send in articles and pictures for the Newsletter and Horse Brass the NHBS journal. The more adventurous also send in designs for the annual membership brass.
The six most practical designs are selected by the Society’s brass designer and the drawings are submitted to the members who vote for what is considered the best. The designs are sent out with the AGM papers and the winning design announce at the meeting is then produced the following year
Comprehensive archives are available for reference and authoritative booklets of various types of decorations are regularly published. Titles are detailed in our Newsletters and currently there are a total of 14 publications each containing a wealth of text and photographs.
Those joining part way into a year, pay the full annual subscription and receive all Journal, Newsletter and member brass entitlements for that 12-month period.
We are a friendly informal group and there are always members willing to help each other especially new members. I do hope you will join us which can be done on line, or for those who wish to join by post, please go to the downloadable
Membership Renewal/Application Form.
Officers of the Society past and
present
Chairman
Ian Jones 2018 -
David Fletcher 2015 - 2018
Peter Lacey 2014 - 2015 (died in office)
George Willett 2007 - 2014
Barry Maltby 2002 - 2007
Terry Keegan 1998 - 2002
Malcolm Andrews 1979 - 1998
John Hopgood 1978 - 1979
Derrick Bradbury 1975 - 1978
General Secretary
Jim Speed 2014 - 2024
Peter Lacey 2012 - 2014
Steve Pink 2006 - 2012
Peter Willows 1996 - 2006
Terry Phillips 1995 - 1996 (in absentia)
Steve Pink 1990 - 1995
Dennis Green 1980 - 1989
Jeff Needham 1975 - 1980
Treasurer
Jeremy Stone 2022 -
Brian O'Riordan 2006 - 2022
Peter Willows 2005 - 2006
Clive Wrigley 2004 -2005
Gail Stone 2000 - 2004
Jim Elworthy 1996 - 2000
Peter Anderson 1982 - 1996
Gerry Thompson 1975 - 1982
Membership Secretary
The committee position of Membership
Secretary became recognised as an officer of the NHBS in 2004
Sue Hart 2020 -
Jim Speed 2018 - 2020
Mary Fletcher 2012 - 2018
Steve Pink 2004 - 2012
The following list was extracted from the first NHBS Journal "Horse Brass"