Boulton 2009 News

MATTHEW BOULTON RETURNS TO SOHO HOUSE FOR HIS BICENTENARY LAUNCH - Added 09.01.08



People attending the launch of Boulton 2009– the celebration of the bicentenary of Boulton’s death – (held at Soho House at the end of 2007) were in for an unexpected treat.   The highlight of the evening was an opening address given by a VIP guest par excellence – Matthew Boulton himself!

Chris Bailey of Andrew Ashgate Associates did the excellent job of impersonating Boulton, speaking with great pride of his many achievements and his home town of Birmingham, and all in an authentic 18th century Brummie accent.  Opening speeches were given by Kay Alexander, Chairman of the Wardens of The Birmingham Assay Office, and by Councillor Ray Hassell, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Sport.

Dr. Sally Baggott, Curator of The Birmingham Assay Office is proud of the association of the organisation’s links with Matthew Boulton. “Of all of the enterprises with which Boulton was involved, The Birmingham Assay Office has proved the most enduring, still carrying out today the statutory duty with which it was charged in 1773,” she said.  “The Office is keen to ensure that the bicentenary of Boulton’s death is celebrated in a manner befitting Birmingham’s most famous son. This is an excellent opportunity to stimulate public interest in Boulton, and to educate the public about his many and various achievements as one of the leading figures in 18th century society. It will also give us the chance to put Birmingham on the map, both nationally and internationally.”

Matthew Boulton is captured with The Birmingham Assay Office Curator Dr Sally Baggott (Left) and Chairman Kay Alexander (Right) during the launch event at Soho House of the Boulton Bicentenary 2009.

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