The Fairbank Calligraphy Society takes its name from the late Alfred Fairbank, an eminent calligrapher and type designer who was largely responsible for the promotion of the use of italic script. His influence on the standards of italic handwriting was widely spread through the thousand teachers he instructed and encouraged to use this beautiful hand.
Alfred Fairbank was honoured by the Queen with the C.B.E. for his service to calligraphy. He has been called “the greatest exemplar and teacher of good writing in modern times.”
In 1976, Esmé Davis, Ann Tresize, Michael Hemming, Pamela Barlow Brooks, Jerry Barber, and Bob Levine met and planned the first public organizational meeting for November 30, 1976 at the Saanich Public Library. Names and addresses of interested persons were collected and the Victoria Society of Calligraphy and Italic Handwriting was born.
It was suggested by Michael Hemming, the first chairman of the society, that the organization adopt the name of the famed English calligrapher. By February of 1977, Mr. Fairbank acceded to this request. Later that year, Ann Tresize, Michael Hemming, Hugh Ruffell and Pamela Brooks visited Alfred Fairbank in England, to their personal enrichment.
