About us
Membership
Membership of the Company is by invitation to people who are prominent in the business and commercial life of Worcester and Worcestershire and in control of, or heading, a commercial enterprise or organisation, which is being conducted to the highest possible standard. Membership of the Company represents both a privilege and a responsibility. Although membership confers few tangible benefits, it signifies an unbroken continuity between past and present, which differentiates this historic Incorporation from a professional association or social club.
The Company still elects its High Master at a Convocation Meeting, held on the Friday after Whitsunday at which meeting the High Master, following his election, appoints his Wardens and other Officers for the ensuing year. Two Beadles attend upon the Company at this and its other meetings which are held quarterly on the second Tuesday after each quarter day. An Annual Dinner is held at The Guildhall on the third Tuesday after Michaelmas.
Today The Clothiers Company serves as an interesting reminder of the powerful position occupied by such trade guilds in former times when they vied with the established authority of the Crown and the Church for influence and wealth. The Membership of the Company presently comprises a varied body of individuals, some with ancient family connections with the Company, others are elected from old Worcester families with long connections of trade in the City, but unfortunately the disappearance of cloth and allied wool trades from the City has resulted in a loss of any connections with such trades and only the trappings of the Worshipful Company's distinguished past now remain.
Members are expected to be willing to give their time and skills in support of the Company which may benefit from their expertise and experience by participating directly in civil society, and contributing to the funding of the Company.
With a career spanning several decades as a producer, chief executive, and board chair, Nic’s journey in the performing arts began from the ground up. Following his education at Nantwich Grammar School, Nic trained in acting and clarinet at the Welsh National College of Music and Drama, subsequently earning a BA Honours in English Literature from Cardiff University.
Nic’s early professional years provided an invaluable, comprehensive education in the inner workings of the theatre. He undertook foundational roles, from stage sweeping at the Cardiff New Theatre to serving as Assistant Stage Manager for the Welsh National Opera and a dresser for the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. As a performer, Nic appeared with both the Welsh Theatre Company and the Prospect Theatre Company, gaining vital stage experience that would ultimately inform his evolution into management.
Transitioning from acting to executive leadership, Nic began directing operations and producing theatre for companies across the United Kingdom, alongside international engagements in Italy and the United States. This highly active period required moving house annually for twenty years—a demanding schedule balanced alongside marriage and raising three children.
The nomadic chapter of Nic’s career culminated in his appointment as Chief Executive of Malvern Theatres. Tasked with a major turnaround, Nic successfully revitalised the venue's artistic programming, established its governing Trust, and spearheaded the extensive fundraising campaign required for a complete redevelopment of the site. Settling permanently in Malvern, Nic’s executive scope broadened nationally; he served as Chair of the English Touring Theatre and collaborated extensively with Triumph Proscenium on major West End productions, many of which premiered at Malvern. In recognition of these contributions to the arts and the region, Nic was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Worcester University.
Although now retired from full-time executive duties, Nic continues to contribute to the strategic governance of the sector. Nic currently serves as a Trustee of Landmark Theatres, where he also chairs the organisation’s dedicated production wing.
Outside of his professional commitments, Nic maintains a lifelong passion for sport. He previously played league cricket for Cholmondeley, Cardiff, and the Worcester Nomads. In recent years, competitive cricket has been succeeded by golf, a pursuit Nic continues to enjoy, if not entirely master.
