The Stationers’ Company is organising an event titled ‘Is there a place for handwriting in a digital age?’, to debate this important subject.
The event, sponsored by Manuscript Brands, will be held at the magnificent 350-year-old Stationers’ Hall in London on Monday, October 23. It is open to both Members and Non-Members of the Stationers’ Company, and will be live streamed.
The introduction of the Penny Post in England in 1840 and commercial Christmas cards three years later resulted in a huge rise in literacy and revolutionised communication, assisted by a speedy delivery service.
The arrival of the internet nearly 150 years later has had an equally dramatic impact on the way we communicate through the written word, yet sales of personal stationery, greeting cards, notebooks, diaries and writing instruments are as strong as ever.
The Stationers’ Company was founded in 1403 and is the City Of London Livery Company for the £70 billion Communication and Content Industries.
“While some argue that there will be no place for handwriting in the future, there are many who hold a completely different view” said Liveryman Christopher Leonard-Morgan, who founded the London Stationery Show and Handwriting Matters campaign.
“There is growing evidence of the advantages and benefits of writing by hand and these will be discussed by a panel of industry leaders who will separate the myths from the facts, and address the challenges and opportunities which lie ahead.’’
The event will be chaired by Helen Esmonde, the Stationers’ Company’s first Lady Master, whose publishing and stationery business produced stationery for the UK’s major retailers, including John Lewis, WHSmith, Paperchase, Waterstones and Liberty, for over 30 years.
Speakers include Graham Craik, sales director of Pentel and chairman, Writing Instruments Association, Amanda Fergusson, CEO, Greeting Card Association, and Dr Mellissa Prunty, chair, National Handwriting Association and divisional lead and reader in Occupational Therapy, Brunel University, London.
