The National Horse Brass Society

We were formed to cater for persons interested in harness decorations for the heavy horse. Each year our members receive a horsebrass, two journals and two newsletters. Authorative booklets on the various types of decoration are regularly published.

About Us

Founded 1975

The National Horse Brass Society was founded by Terry Keegan in 1975 to cater for people interested in harness decorations, especially those for the heavy horse. Terry through research had built up a vast knowledge about brasses and published books on the subject. During the seventies many brasses of inferior quality were being cast for the souvenir trade so Terry started designing brasses of very high quality, had them cast and established the Heavy Horse Enthusiast the marketing outlet for his brasses. His daughter Alison Garbett has carried on the tradition and as well as their own retail sales they produce all the NHBS membership and special brasses.

Membership peaked at about 600 but is currently running at around 200 members, 20% of which are overseas in the USA, Canada, Europe, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

Meetings and Displays

The Society arranges meetings and displays where you have an opportunity to meet like – minded people to gain knowledge and seek help and advice on collecting horse brasses. For the beginner you will discover the many books available on all aspects of collecting and hundreds of antique and modern brasses available to purchase at prices to suit all pockets.

Membership Benefits

Members receive an annual cast horse brass of changing design, two glossy Journals (January and July) and two Newsletters (April and October). Society members are encouraged to send in articles and pictures for the Newsletter and Horse Brass (the NHBS journal). The more adventurous also send in designs for the annual membership brass.

The six most practical designs are selected by the Society’s brass designer and the drawings are submitted to the members who vote for what is considered the best. The designs are sent out with the AGM papers and the winning design announce at the meeting is then produced the following year

Published Booklets

Titles of published booklets are detailed in our Newsletters and currently there are a total of 21 publications each containing a wealth of text and photographs.

Those joining part way into a year, pay the full annual subscription and receive all Journal, Newsletter and member brass entitlements for that 12-month period.

We are a friendly informal group and there are always members willing to help each other especially new members. We do hope you will join us which can be done online, or for those who wish to join by post, please go to the downloadable

Membership Form

Officers of the Society past and present

Chairman

Ian Jones

2018 -

David Fletcher

2015 - 2018

Peter Lacey

2014 - 2015 (died in office)

George Willett

2007 - 2014

Barry Maltby

2002 - 2007

Terry Keegan

1998 - 2002

Malcolm Andrews

1979 - 1998

John Hopgood

1978 - 1979

Derrick Bradbury

1975 - 1978

General Secretary

Jim Speed

2014 - 2024

Peter Lacey

2012 - 2014

Steve Pink

2006 - 2012

Peter Willows

1996 - 2006

Terry Phillips

1995 - 1996 (in absentia)

Steve Pink

1990 - 1995

Dennis Green

1980 - 1989

Jeff Needham

1975 – 1980

Treasurer

Jeremy Stone

2022 -

Brian O'Riordan

2006 - 2022

Peter Willows

2005 - 2006

Clive Wrigley

2004 - 2005

Gail Stone

2000 - 2004

Jim Elworthy

1996 - 2000

Peter Anderson

1982 - 1996

Gerry Thompson

1975 - 1982

Membership Secretary

Sue Hart

2020 -

Jim Speed

2018 - 2020

Mary Fletcher

2012 - 2018

Steve Pink

2004 - 2012

Founder Members

The following list of Founder Members was extracted from the first NHBS Journal “Horse Brass”

Events & Activities

Our spring fixture arranged by Stan Benton is held at the Silvester Horne Institute in Church Stretton in Shropshire early May. Since 2022 the AGM has been held in the afternoon following the meeting, previously being held in March at The Walsall Leather Museum. Church Stretton has always been a favourite meeting for many members and well worth the trip to this wonderful part of the world, especially if you are staying over. Good food and drinks are available at the hall, and at the pub opposite.

Silvester Horne Institute,
60 High Street, Church Stretton,
Shropshire, SY6 6BY

The Ipsden Village Hall was the venue our last fixture of the year in the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside on the first Saturday in October. This ran until 2019 and unfortunately never recommenced after the Covid break. It is, however, our ambition to organise some additional events and activities so visit this page from time to time to look out for developments.

Details of past events may be found in the archive section which is a good source of details and pictures from our past activities.



News Items

If you have news items to add to this page please contact the Website Editor Jeremy Stone

NHBS Newsletters

Since the formation of the NHBS in 1975 a newsletter has been produced for the membership and mailed out twice a year as a part of the membership package. Its objective was and still is to inform Society members of the latest news, to produce articles of interest and to advertise the many publications and special brasses over the years. The current Editor is Karma Glos who will be pleased to hear from you should you have a story to tell or an article to share.

It is the ambition of the committee in order to save on printing and postage to encourage as many members as possible to agree to receive the colour pdf edition by email.

Handwritten Newsletter 1976

When the newsletter started it was produced regionally, the earliest regional edition found in the NHBS archive is No 3 beautifully hand written by NHBS founder Terry Keegan and would probably have been written in 1976 for the Midlands and North Wales Region. The first National edition came out in March 1981 and the number then went back to 1.

The hand written copy of this early newsletter can be seen by clicking on the image.
Newsletter Number 3 1976 – This is a scan of the hand written document.

Shop

Books and brasses are available to purchase by anyone not just members, please follow the instructions on the page. Alternatively books, brasses and other goods can also be bought the old fashioned, mail-order way as advertised in the newsletter and journal.

Membership Brasses

For those who are building a collection of membership brasses you can now purchase the brasses below at a very reasonable cost. Non-members are welcome to purchase them by entering 00 in the membership number box.

Do take time to look at other pages of the Website to discover the benefits of becoming an NHBS member.

Shop More

Special Brasses

For those who are building a collection of membership brasses you can now purchase the brasses below at a very reasonable cost. Non-members are welcome to purchase them by entering 00 in the membership number box.

Do take time to look at other pages of the Website to discover the benefits of becoming an NHBS member.