Birmingham family firm scoops trophy order for top golf event
Nov 30 2009 by Jon Griffin, Birmingham Mail
A SMALL Birmingham company has made a glittering name for itself with golf’s top brass – after being hired to produce a new trophy for a prestige tournament.
Digbeth-based AE Williams was chosen to produce a new trophy for the Challenge Tour, contested by golfers competing for slots on the following season’s main PGA European Tour.
The Brummie firm, the oldest family-run pewter-smiths in the world, won the trophy contract following an approach from European Challenge Tour marketing and operations co-Ordinator Mark Aspland.
Sam Williams, whose dad David runs the firm with business partner Stephen Johnson, said: “I received an email advertising tickets for the European Tour and I sent one back to see if they were interested in something like cufflinks or other merchandise.
“Within two weeks I had an email from Mark Aspland wanting a new trophy made for the Challenge Tour, something unique and contemporary that has never been done before.
“The whole body was cast and polished by hand.
“It was only because of the patience, dedication and skill of the team here that we were able to create a contemporary trophy for a modern-day event, from the largest collection of antique bronze models in the world.”
Mr Aspland said: “Our season-ending event is the Challenge Tour Grand Final, where 45 players compete for the top 20 places to qualify for the European Tour.
“For the last few years we have used two Waterford Crystal trophies for the Grand Final Winner, and the number one player in the rankings.
“But with the rebranding that was completed at the turn of the year we thought it a good time to move away from crystalware and onto something slightly more contemporary and interesting.”
The golf trophy order came months after the Digbeth-based firm played a key role in a memorial exhibition at Hampton Court Palace, marking the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII’s accession. The firm supplied more than 500 pieces of pewterware, helping to recreate the early 16th century atmosphere.
AE Williams was founded in 1779 and has supplied pewter materials for films including Titanic, Braveheart and Harry Potter.
