Tudor Collars Reunited

LONDON, September 26, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

Exceptionally rare Tudor Collars of Esses, commissioned and presented by Henry VIII, reunited at the St John Eye Hospital Fundraiser. 

One of the oldest and most famous Livery Collars is the Collar of Esses, which has been in continuous use in England by successive Lord Mayors of London since the 1532; when Henry VIII commissioned and presented a golden Collar of Esses to the then Lord Mayor Sir John Allen.  The Collar has been used by every Lord Mayor since.

In 1546 Henry VIII presented another near identical Collar of Esses to the Justice of the Common (JCP) Pleas Sir Edward Montague. The icons have been delineated as a pair.

These collars may not have been in each other's presence since the moments their owners would have brushed against each other in the busy hallways of Henry VIII's court. They were however, reunited last night at the St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group fundraiser at Mansion House.

St John Eye Hospital shares its history with the Order of St John, who originally established our first Hospital. In 1540 Henry VIII supressed the Order and closed its headquarters, Priory Church. Due to this entwined history, it is therefore fitting that these two Tudor Collars of Esses, given by Henry VIII, were reunited at the St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group fundraiser last night in the presence of Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, along with the Lord Mayor Fiona Woolf, Arab ambassadors, entrepreneur and owner of one of the Collars Christopher Moran, news presenter Jon Snow, actress Vanessa Redgrave, and other esteemed guests. A charity auction also took place at the event where funds were raised so that the St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital can endeavour to save more sight, and change more lives.

St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group is the only charitable provider of expert eye care in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, treating patients regardless of ethnicity, religion or ability to pay. Our flagship hospital in Jerusalem, satellite clinics in Gaza, Hebron and Anabta, and our mobile outreach team which travels across the West Bank bringing eye care to isolated communities, ensure we have the greatest possible reach and impact.

To receive more information or photographs of the Collars or the event, please contact St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group: +44(0)20-7553-6965 or diana.safieh@stjohneyehospital.org