On Tuesday this week, a few mark-makers cut out of work a bit early. But instead of making a beeline for the pub, we formed a convoy and wound our way to Stratford-upon-Avon.

The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is a mark-making* client with very special buildings in its charge. As the name suggests, they look after the building where William Shakespeare was born, and several others besides that were closely linked to the Bard throughout his life.

Tuesday evening marked the opening of a brand new exhibition entitled ‘Famous Beyond Words’, and a delegation of mark-makers went to have a look around. We were greeted with prosecco (or elderflower pressé) and canapés, and were given free rein to wander the exhibition at our leisure.

A plethora of objects ancient and modern was on display for guests to admire. We saw items thought to have belonged to Shakespeare, ephemera associated with his plays from throughout history, and of course many a portrait of the man himself. The sheer number of figures of speech still heard in English today that are attributed to, or at least recorded in, Shakespeare’s plays, was truly amazing.

The evening was rounded off with speeches from the Trust’s chairman, Peter Kyle OBE; the interpretation project manager Nic Fulcher, who oversaw the creation of the exhibition; and chairman of Visit England Lady Penelope Cobham, who is also trustee of SBT.

All the mark-makers were proud to see the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust engaging visitors in such inspiring ways.