59/356/3

This green sash with silver fringes has a printed square of silk depicting the arms of the Ancient Order of Good Shepherds. It is decorated with an eight pointed star, a padded crest and tassel in silver, red and green, and a small rosette with a silver tassel. It bears the words ‘Unitas Benevolentia et Concordia’ (Unity, Benevolence and Concord). The sash belonged to the donor’s grandfather, who was active in the Order at Sulhampstead, Berkshire. The Ancient Order of Good Shepherds is believed to have been absorbed into the Ancient Order of Foresters, a large Friendly Society formed to provide some insurance for members against sickness or death.

MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – ‘Description: Sash – green with silk printed square depicted arms of Order of the Good Shepherd. // Wording: Unitas Benevolentia et Concordia // 8 pointed star with padded crest [?] and tassel (silver/red/green) // Small rosette with 7 stranded tassel – silver. // Silver fringes. // Dimensions: 230cms long x 15cms wide // Associated information: Regalia of Order of Good Shepherd believed to be absorbed into Order of Foresters.’, Letter, H. J. Potter to MERL, 1959 – ‘…I’m sorry I cannot give the history of the regalia as they were only discovered when turning out after my father’s death, but I vaguely remember hearing him say that Grandfather was once a prominent figure in the old Whitsun celebrations of the Order of the Good Shepherds but no-one seems to have heard of them for many years & if you have nay record of the Order I should be very interested to hear from you. My Grandfather worked all his life at Sulhampstead under the Lloyds Family, first as plough boy then ploughman, & later drove the steam ploughing tackle with anchor & later senior driver when two engines were used, & spent at least 20 years as walking foreman at the Abbotts Farm. He was finally pensioned off after serving Sir George Watson about 15 years in an advisory capacity…’, MERL Miscellaneous note, Margaret Fuller – ‘It is probable that the three pieces of tartan decoration are not part of the set but they were given with the other items.’