“Fan”tastic Facts

    1. Fan – an ardent devotee or a device for creating a current of air or a breeze – According to Wikipedia a “hand held fan may be any broad, flat surface that is waved back-and-forth to create an airflow.  Generally, purpose-made handheld fans are shaped like a sector of a circle and made of a thin material (such as paper or feathers), mounted on slats which revolve around a pivot so that it can be closed when not in use.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand_fan
    2. Did you know that the world’s first museum dedicated entirely to the history of fans and fan making, opened its doors in Greenwich, London in 1991.
    3. With a collection of over 4,000 fans, fan leaves and related objects dating back to the 10th century, including an extensive 18th and 19th century European collection, the museum includes a conservation unit, runs fan-making classes and produces it’s own collection of fans. For opening times, exhibitions and directions, go to the website: https://www.thefanmuseum.org.uk
    4. Fan makers have their own livery:  The Worshipful Company of Fan Makers, founded in 1709, is the youngest of the ‘old’ City Livery Companies being the last to receive a Royal Charter for nearly 300 years.  A small livery company, it is 76th in the Livery Company pecking order: http://www.fanmakers.com