It has been 3 months since my installation on April 22^nd  and already I have represented the Upholders at nearly 40 events. These have included Beating the Bounds of St Andrew’s by the Wardrobe and a Civic Luncheon with Castle Baynard Ward Club, Services at St Paul’s, being presented to the Princess Royal in her role as Centenary Master of the Guild of Freemen and the weekend at Ironbridge with 83 other Masters and Prime Wardens and also Sheriff Ian Luder.

I have also had the privilege of presenting our Company’s prizes to the talented students of Upholstery, Soft Furnishing and Furniture Restoration at London Metropolitan University (LMU). We were delighted to learn that the lobbying of MPs and other bodies on behalf of our Livery has paid off and the Upholstery Course which was planned to end this summer will continue.

The Warden to the Trade committee are exploring opportunities for our Livery working with the AMUSF, to become even more involved with this course and also to award qualifications in Upholstery to individuals.  The same committee is also exploring possible links with Interior Designers in line with the 1747 definition of an Upholder “This Tradesman’s Genius … (is) a Connoisseur of every article that belongs to a house.” 

 At our Audit Court meeting, I was delighted to clothe Malcolm Hopkins, Senior Lecturer in Upholstery at the AMU and Barry Lewis as Liverymen. We also agreed to form an affiliation with HMS Triumph to continue our connection with the submarine service of the Royal Navy. 

Our recent Common Hall provided a rare opportunity for the Livery to raise matters directly with the Court and to expand on the strategy statement on the events cards distributed in April. I look forward to an eventful autumn which will include my sponsored walk around all 40 Livery halls accompanied by liveryman David Johnson.