Glass makers honoured with MBEs

Two people with close connections to glass have been awarded MBEs in the first New Year’s Honours list of King Charles III, recognising their public service. They are John Reyntiens and Barbara Beadman.

Glassblower John Reyntiens, of Reyntiens Glass Studio, received his award for services to art and heritage. John is most well-known for the bespoke stained-glass window at the North End of Westminster Hall in the Palace of Westminster, which was gifted to Her Majesty the Queen for her 2012 Diamond Jubilee.

Speaking at the time of the installation, Michael Ellis MP commented, “John’s work has received universal acclaim and as well as a great talent and skill in the ancient traditions of stained glass, John dealt expertly with the complexities of working at a World Heritage site.”

More recently John’s team replaced the North Dial clock face of the iconic tower housing Big Ben at the Houses of Parliament in London.

Another recipient of an MBE is Barbara Beadman who has been awarded an MBE for her services to the glass industry.

She is Immediate Past Master 2022 of the Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers of London and, while she has now retired from glass making after 25 years in the sector, she remains involved in the industry through Board membership of the British Glass Manufacturers Confederation and being a Court Member of the Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers of London. Until the closure of the Broadfield House Glass Museum in 2017 she was Chairman of the Friends of the Museum for 20 years.

Barbara’s achievements include reintroducing the teaching of glass beadmaking to the UK in the 1990s, for which she was made a Founder Honorary member of Glass Beadmakers UK.

Main image: John Reyntiens in 2012 with one of the Westminster Hall panels made for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.