UpbraidThe Newslet ter of

The WorshipfulCompany of Upholders

The WorshipfulCompany of Upholders

Issue 12 - Summer 2008

Masters Message

For your Diary

11th SeptemberCourt & DinnerTallow Chandlers’ Hall.Dinner 7.00 for 7.30pmLiverymen & CompanyGuests

29th SeptemberElection of Lord MayorGuildhall followed byluncheon at FurnitureMakers’ Hall. 11.30am applyto Clerk for security pass andvote

16th OctoberMansion House Banquet.7.00 for 7.30pmLiverymen, Freemen &Guests

20th NovemberVisit to Whitechapel BellFoundry 5.30 for 6.00pmLiveryman, Freemen &guests

15th JanuaryCourt & DinnerCarpenters’ Hall 7.00 for 7.30pmLiverymen & Guests

12th FebruaryChurch Service & Dinner.St Michael, Cornhill 6pm,Dinner 7.00 for 7.30pmArmourers’ HallLiveryman, Freemen &Guests

19th MarchCourt Ladies DinnerWatermen’s Hall7.00 for 7.30pmCourt & Guests

During the year the Master isalso hoping to arrange visitsto the Rolls RoyceFoundation, the ThamesRiver Festival and in duecourse to HMS Triumph

It has been 3 months since myinstallation on April 22nd andalready I have represented theUpholders at nearly 40 events.These have included Beating theBounds of St Andrew’s by theWardrobe and a Civic Luncheonwith Castle Baynard Ward Club,

Services at St Paul’s, beingpresented to the Princess Royal in her role as Centenary Master ofthe Guild of Freemen and theweekend at Ironbridge with 83other Masters and Prime Wardensand also Sheriff Ian Luder. I havealso had the privilege of presentingour Company’s prizes to the talented students of Upholstery,Soft Furnishing and FurnitureRestoration at London MetropolitanUniversity (LMU). We weredelighted to learn that the lobbyingof MPs and other bodies on behalfof our Livery has paid off and theUpholstery Course which wasplanned to end this summer willcontinue. The Warden to the Tradecommittee are exploring opportunitiesfor our Livery working with theAMUSF, to become even moreinvolved with this course and alsoto award qualifications inUpholstery to individuals. Thesame committee is also exploring

possible links with InteriorDesigners in line with the 1747 definition of an Upholder “ThisTradesman’s Genius ... (is) aConnoisseur of every article thatbelongs to a house.” At our AuditCourt meeting, I was delighted toclothe Malcolm Hopkins, SeniorLecturer in Upholstery at the AMUand Barry Lewis as Liverymen. Wealso agreed to form an affiliationwith HMS Triumph to continue ourconnection with the submarineservice of the Royal Navy. Ourrecent Common Hall provided arare opportunity for the Livery toraise matters directly with the Court and to expand on the strategystatement on the events cards distributed in April. I look forwardto an eventful autumn which willinclude my sponsored walk aroundall 40 Livery halls accompanied byliveryman David Johnson.

Master, Richard Nevard

Upholding our Charitable ActivitiesIn my report I include details following our decision thisyear to support two new and significant projects by the stan-dards of our Company.

Many of you will know the connection that the companyhas with Hampton Court Palace and some of you will recallthe fascinating tour given by Past Master Bert Chapmanshowing us the restoration work following the fire. In 2007we were able to assist again with the renewal of QueenCaroline’s Throne Canopy at a cost of £1,000. For thoseinterested the canopy can be seen at the Royal Apartments inHampton Court, ask for Queen Caroline’s AudienceChamber and one of the assistants will direct you.

Those who attend the church service in February willrecall the contribution of the choir at St Michael’s Cornhill.Unfortunately the choir had a funding crisis in 2007 and itlooked as if it might cease to function. The Company wasasked with others to support the choir with a commitmentover three years. Given the pleasure that the choir has givento the Company over the years it seemed entirely appropriatethat we should commit about £3,000 of our charitable fundsspread over a three year period.

In addition to the donations identified above we were able tosupport the following:-

Nine retired upholsterers identified by the Warden to theTrade at a total of £2,250. Awards and bursaries tostudents of upholstery totalling £4,900.The Lord Mayor’s Charitable Appeal of 1,000 guineas, plus20 other charities.

Payments to the pensioners and the total amounts paid foreducation and charity exceeded £12,000, an achievementthat has only been made possible by the support of ourLiverymen. On behalf of the trustees I extend our thanks toyou all for your support throughout 2007 and look forwardto your continued support during the current year.

Our total charitable funds were just under £70,000 atDecember 2007. These have been enhanced during the yearby a most generous legacy. Both the Peter Jackson Charityand the Neville Hayman Charity are able to receive legaciesand these are free of inheritance tax in the estate of thedonor. If any liverymen or freeman would like furtherdetails please do not hesitate to contact me.

Past Master Hugh Taylor

Upholding the Craft of the UpholstererPRIZE GIVING at London Metropolitan University, 11th JuneA visitor to the recent Open Day was heard to remark “just to think in my day it took three or evenfour years to get to this standard’’! This neatly sums up the gratitude we and the students owe to the tutors, Malcolm Hopkins, Alex Law, Mathew Gates in the Upholstery section and Denise Tree,Jacqui Wasef the Course Organiser and Maggie Loughran the loose cover queen, from the Soft Furnishing Department.

Below are the First Prize winners for 2008:City and Guilds Level 2 UPHOLSTERY Louise RichardsonCity and Guilds Level 3 UPHOLSTERY Nicole MaysCity and Guilds Part 1 SOFT FURNISHING Hilary WilsonCity and Guilds Part 2 SOFT FURNISHING Mahbuba ChoudhuryDerek Austin Award for Cabinet Making level 2 James Burlack & Viraf MehenteeDerek Austin Award for Cabinet Making level 3 Prakash Patel & Daniel TomlinsonDerek Austin Award for Restoration Level 3 Anita Garner

COURSE CLOSURESLast year the University announced the closure of the Upholstery and Soft Furnishing Courses as from July 2008. This setback produced letters of complaint to MP’s and Ministers from liverymen. The replies received in every case explained that the Universitywas an autonomous body and therefore not within their jurisdiction. What they did not explain however was that the withdrawal ofgovernment funds for Further Education left the University in an impossible position. We like to think however that following thelobbying of MP’s and the notification of the Upholders concerns to the All Party Parliamentary Committee for Furniture under theexcellent Chairmanship of Madeleine Moon MP the situation has eased.

NEW COURSESThanks to Professor Falconbridge, Charlotte Gorse and their colleagues at the University the content of the courses will not differbut the accreditation of City and Guilds has been withdrawn. Discussions continue on how our Livery and the AMUSF working inpartnership might have greater involvement with this course. Students will now pay a portion of the cost, £850 for one day a weekfor thirty weeks, but, doing our sums we realise that this is not viable without funding from the university budget. So a very bigthank you. For details of courses contact: Malcolm Hopkins m.hopkins@londonmet.ac.uk

FIRE! On the afternoon of June 25th Malcolm Hopkins looked out of the upholstery workshop window at the University and wasmore than a little surprised to see flames licking at the window sill. He hurtled downstairs as the alarm bell sounded and joined theothers at the assembly point some distance away and the building was soon safely cleared. Commercial Street was closed to traffic as ten fire appliances played onto the roof of the university from the building opposite.We understand that the damage on the fifth floor at the back of the building is extensive. The students’ work in the upholstery department at the back of the fourth floor suffered severe water damage, but luckily some of the students had taken their work awayat the end of term. At the time of writing there is no definite news as to when the University is likely to reopen but the target is to beready for students at the start of next term.

Past Master Bert Chapman

CHEAPSIDE STREET FESTIVAL AND MARKET, 19TH JULY

Hilary Wilson

A street festival and market was held in Cheapside and adjoining streets onSaturday 19 July as part of the London Festival of Architecture. Cheapsidebecame a contemporary ver-sion of the medieval marketfor which it became famous.The name derives from theOld English word ‘cheap’,meaning market, and theroads leading off it still bearnames that relate to goodsoriginally traded there -Honey Lane, Milk Street,Bread Street and Poultry. The Worshipful Company ofPoulters returned geese andchickens to Poultry to launchthe Day, while alongside theUpholders, Carpenters,Masons, Paviors, Bakers,Blacksmiths,

Farriers and their dray horses demonstrated their unique crafts. The eventproved to be a great success and many people were drawn to the Upholstery

demonstration on two chairs bynew Liveryman MalcolmHopkins and Louise Richardson,Upholders’ first prize winner atCity and Guilds level 2 from theLMU. Amongst the visitors toour stand were Deputy andLiveryman Robin Eve andSheriff elect George Gifford andhis wife. There was musical entertainment from theWorshipful Company ofMusicians jazz quartet.

The day also gave the publicand architecture professionalsalike an insight into the City ofLondon’s major regenerationplans for Cheapside.www.cordwainer.co.uk/news.php?idnews=27

Louise Richardson and Malcolm Hopkins at Cheapside

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New Warden to the Trade InstalledOne of the first acts of the New Master was to Install Stephen Chapman as Warden to the Trade succeeding hisFather Bert in the role. Bert was appointed in 1991, theUpholders’ first Warden to the Trade in modern times and hasserved since then apart for a break while he was Master.After presenting him with a book on all the Livery Halls theMaster noted “Bert’s energy and enthusiasm has been behindmany recent initiatives and I know that we will not let himrest even though he has passed his badge of office on.”

Merit Awards are given by the Livery to companies engagedin the Soft Furnishing orUpholstery Industry, that can provea consistently high standard ofcraftsmanship, client and suppliersatisfaction and business integrityof their enterprise. The most recent winner Giles Bray is seen here collecting his award from the thenMaster Peter Lawton at the JanuaryCourt Meeting. The Upholders are

proud to work with The Association of Master Upholsterersand Soft Furnishers and the Guild of Traditional Upholsterersto develop our craft.

Recently working with theConstruction Liveries Groupand The Livery CompaniesWood Group, the Upholdershave started developing aseries of awards atApprentice, Journeyman, andMaster levels to recognise and bring to public notice themany fine craftsmen working in the traditional upholstery,bespoke upholstery and soft furnishing sections of the indus-try. Sir Michael Latham, Chairman of the Chairman of theConstruction Industry Training Board and Skills Council forConstruction will present Master Craftsman awards onOctober 15th at a ceremony arranged by the ConstructionLivery Group in Glaziers Hall.

Upholding the Craft of the Upholsterer

ART IN ACTION EXHIBITION- WATERPERRY, Nr. Wheatley, Oxfordshire 17-20 July

The Wood Group of Livery Companies comprising theCarpenters, Joiners & Ceilers, Upholders, Turners and theFurniture Makers gave demonstrations of their craft at thispopular exhibition held from 17-20 July. The Upholders wererepresented by two of our Liverymen, Gregory Cupitt Jonesand Roy Theobald, each upholstering items of seat furniture inthe traditional manner, to give the visitors at least some ideaof the techniques and eye for line required to produce an itemthat is in keeping with the period of its manufacture.

City of London Briefings

The City of London Corporation’s Livery Committee runs aprogramme of briefings for Liverymen, Freemen and theirpartners. These are highly recommended by the Master. Thebriefings will take place on the following dates atInnholders’ Hall from 5-8pm:

Wednesday 15th October 2008Wednesday 12th November 2008Wednesday 18th February 2009Tuesday 5th May 2009Wednesday 14th October 2009

The Briefings provide a short introduction to the work ofthe Corporation, especially the relationship with the LiveryCompanies. There will be an opportunity to ask questionsof the speakers and the presentation is followed by a lightbuffet providing the chance to mix with other Freemen andLiverymen.

Applications may be made through the Clerk, Mrs Jean Cody.

About 25 liverymen attended the Common Hall held on 10th Julyat the International Wine & Spirit Centre near London Bridge. Thepurpose of this special meeting was to explain the new directionset by the Court and the activities initiated to support this.

Past Master Christopher Hayman outlined the steps being taken toattract additional liverymen to join the Company. A new brochureon “Benefits and Privileges of Membership” is being produced.Interviews of candidates for the Livery will take a different formin future. Candidates will be shown a PowerPoint presentationwhich is intended to ensure that new members understand whatthey are joining.

The Master explained the process of becoming an Upholder.Christopher reminded liverymen that he acts as sponsor of newcandidates, guidingthem through therather laboriousprocess of becominga Freeman of the Cityand then a Liverymanof the Company. Any current liverymanwho wishes tointroduce a new candidate should contact Christopher.

During his presentation,the Master, RichardNevard, showed ananalysis of theCompany’s sourcesof income and theheadings of ourexpenditure. Inanswer to a question,Past Master HughTaylor made it clearthat the Company has nothing to hide in its annual accounts andthey can therefore be made available to any liveryman who asksto see them.

In our efforts to widen the scope of the Livery, the Master is makingan approach to the British Interior Designers Association becauseof their obvious interests in upholstery and soft furnishings. OurCompany already co-operates with four other companies in theWood Group. Members of the Upholders are also exploring a relationship with the Construction Liveries Group.

The Upholders’ Merit Awards will continue to be used both torecognise first class workmanship and to increase the awareness

of the Upholders in the upholstery trade. As an example of theCompany’s influence, the Master mentioned that lobbying by ourLivery had helped to prevent the closure of the Upholstery andSoft Furnishing Courses at London Metropolitan University.

It was pointed out that the scope of our trade also includes manufacturers of upholstery for vehicles, public transport, restaurantsand the like. Past Master Alan Kinsey proposed that members ofthe funeral industry should be attracted into the Company becauseof the Upholders’ historic involvement in this trade.

It was agreed to create a database of Liverymen’s interests torespond to invitations from other Liveries to sporting and socialevents. Amongst suggestions from the floor was one for some“low cost” events to be held, especially for younger liverymen, and to

experiment withstarting dinners at an earlier time as this may be moreconvenient for members catchingthe last train home.

Wynn Gilham askedwhether the Companycould sell a range ofCompany productssuch as umbrellas.Alan Kinsey repliedthat, in order to be successful, theseitems need to beassociated with specific events.

An outline was givenof the Company’scharitable activities.Support for individualsincludes awards and

bursaries for younger people entering the trade and modest financialassistance for those at the end of their careers. Then there is support for the restoration of historic items of upholstery and softfurnishings such as Queen Caroline’s throne canopy, theChamberlain’s throne at Guildhall and a seat at Bevis Marks synagogue.

The Company spends about one quarter of its charitable resourceson contributing to City charities. The Master told us he will be tak-ing part in the Annual Inter-Livery Walk of City Livery Halls on18th September to raise money for our charities and is looking forsponsors.

Liveryman Steven Dollond

Common HallCOMMON HALL DISCUSSES FUTURE STRATEGY

Official photographs for our major events may be purchased from www.sharpphoto.co.uk (select gallery, livery events, Upholders)The studio, 20 Brownlea Gardens, Seven Kings, Ilford, Essex IG3 9NL Phone 020 8599 5070 Fax 020 8599 4474

Gerald Sharp Photography

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Court News

Our Clerk Jean Cody has announced her intention to retire in 2010. This is a key role ensuring the smooth running of our Livery and also representing it onmany occasions. The Court is considering how the needs of the Upholders’ might best be served and would welcome contact from anyone, particularlyLiveryman or Freeman, interested in the position.

The Court &Committees

Many people have asked how ourCourt is organised. The following isa rough guide:

The Court Chairman- The MasterThe court is the principal decisionmaking body of the Livery. It has upto 28 members; Master, Wardens,Past Masters and Court Assistantsbefore the Chair. HonoraryAssistants and Honorary SeniorAssistants may also attend but donot have a vote. The Clerk recordsthe minutes.

Past Masters’CommitteeChairman - PastMasterChristopherHayman Thisinfluential com-mittee recom-mends to theCourt Officers for the year, member-ship of committees and recommendsnew Court Assistants after inter-viewing them. Its membership is allPast Masters and the current Master.Meets 2-3 times a year.

Planning Committee Chairman - Junior Warden, JulianSquire This com-mittee is respon-sible for longterm planning aswell as helpingprepare theWardens for theiryears as Master.The chairman isappointed fromthose CourtAssistants approaching the Chairand remains until they becomeMaster. Membership is Master,Wardens, IPM and up to 4 others.Meets on ad hoc basis between 2-4times a year.

Interview Committee SecretaryPast MasterChristopher HaymanTwo members of this committeeinterview candidates wishing tobecome Liverymen or Freemen andmake their recommendation to the

Court. The secretary guides candi-dates through the process of joiningthe Livery.Warden to the TradeCommitteeChairman - Warden to the Trade -Stephen ChapmanThis energetic committee organisesour events in support of theTrade and ensuresour Livery is represented at theWood Group andthe ConstructionLivery Group.Through its mem-bership it ensures we work closelywith the AMUSFin matters affecting the Upholsterytrade.Finance CommitteeChairman - The Honorary Treasurer,Past Master Joseph Byllam BarnesThis committeerecommends thebudget for eachyear (January -December) to theCourt and ensurescompliance withapplicableaccounting regulations. It also hasoversight of the Investment andCharity Committees. Membershipincludes the Master and Wardens.

Investment CommitteeSecretary - Aubrey CoxThis small committee of investmentprofessionals isempowered tomanage the company’s invest-ed funds.Peter JacksonCharity & NevilleHayman CharityCommittee Chairman - a Trustee The committee is responsible formanaging our charitable funds,donations and ensuring compliancewith the Charities Act. Its member-ship includes the 3 trustees of ourcharities.

Publicity Committee Acting Chairman - The MasterThis committee prepares the annualissue of Upbraid and also has over-sight of our Website and other material.

Court News The Court has met on four occasions since the last publicationof Upbraid. In September there wasan extended discussion of theStrategy paper which wasapproved. A summary of this paperis included on the events cardspublished at the Installation court dinner and discussed at the recentCommon Hall. The January Courtmeeting is our Election Court. Theofficers for the ensuing year wereproposed by Past MasterChristopher Hayman as Chairmanof the Past master’s Committee andapproved by the Court. At the Aprilmeeting Richard Nevard was dulyinstalled as Master and JulianSquire as Junior Warden. Due toillness installation of the SeniorWarden Elect Rev. John Cowlingwas postponed. The Audit Courtmeeting held in the Aldermen’sCourt Room Guildhall in Juneapproved the accounts for the yearending 31st December 2007. At allmeetings the LMU, finances, attendance, awards and recruitmentwere discussed.

New JuniorWarden Installed

Julian Squire became a Liverymanin 2000 and member of the Court in2007. He lives with his wife Susan inthe Cotswold village of Sherston inWiltshire and has two children.

Born in central London, he spentthe first 20 years of his businesscareer with Gardner Merchant. Heparticipated in the company’s management buy out from TrustHouse Forte in 1992. In 2002 hefounded Infracare Group whichbecame a major property developerof premises for occupation by theNHS.

He sold the business in 2007 andnow spends his time travelling andmanaging a diverse portfolio of personal investments. Julian was afinalist in the 2006 Entrepreneur ofthe Year.

Personal interests include music,shooting, skiing and driving toursaround Europe. He is a governor ofWestonbirt School.

Obituaries

Michael Horton BaylisMichael Horton Baylisof Highgate was bornon 19th November 1919and died peacefully inWales on 6th August2007 after a short illness. He served theLivery as CourtAssistant from March1980 and then generouslymoved aside to becomean Honorary SeniorAssistant in order foranother liveryman tobecome a CourtAssistant. He wasSenior Partner atRichard Ellis. He leaves a wife, Mary.

David BakerDavid was clothed inthe Livery in January1985. His wife, Audrey survives him.

Harold EdwardStephen HuntHarold was a longstanding Freeman of the Company whopassed away in 2007.

Mr David Baker 2.4.26 - 9.7.08A devoted family man,he is survived by wifeAudrey, daughter Helenand two grandchildren. A service of thanksgivingwas held on 21st July.David was a quantitysurveyor and was well known in his neighbourhood for hisbee keeping.

Upholding the City

New Sheriffs electedThe annual election of two Sheriffs for the City of London took place onthe traditional date of Midsummer’s Day at Guildhall. After the electionthe Master Richard Nevard and voting Liverymen enjoyed lunch atPainter Stainers’ Hall along with Liverymen from 10 other LiveryCompanies.Alderman Roger Gifford (Cordwainer ward, on right in photo) and GeorgeGillon (also Cordwainer ward, on left) wereboth elected to serve as Sheriff and will takeup their duties on 26th September, ready tosupervise the election of a Lord Mayor on 29thSeptember 2008. Alderman Gifford was elected to the Court ofAldermen in 2004. He has spent 30 yearsworking in international merchant banking inthe City and is currently UK Country Managerfor SEB (Skandinaviska Enskilda Bank). He isalso chairman of the Association of ForeignBanks, which represents overseas banks basedin the UK. He is a liveryman of the WorshipfulCompany of Musicians and the WorshipfulCompany of International Bankers, a trustee ofSt Paul’s Cathedral foundation, St Paul’sCathedral Choir School Foundation and King Edward’s School Witley. Hehas a strong involvement with music and the arts and is Chairman of the

English Chamber Orchestra. He is married to Dr Clare Taylor and betweenthem they have six children.Mr Gillon became a member of the City’s Court of Common Council in1995 and sits on a number of committees including Policy & Resources,City Lands & Bridge House Estates, Port Health & EnvironmentalServices and the Safer City Partnership Board. He spent 14 years inGlasgow as a Chartered Surveyor before moving to the City in 1979.Latterly he spent 16 years as a partner at commercial property consultants

Drivers Jonas. Mr Gillon is a livery-man of the Chartered Surveyors’Company, having served as Masterfrom 2002-2003. Other positions hehas held include Governor of the Cityof London’s School for Girls, theChartered Surveyors’ Charitable Trusts,the Caledonian Club Charitable Trustand the Honourable Irish Society.The Sheriffs’ duties include attendingthe Lord Mayor in carrying out hisofficial duties, attending the sessions atthe Central Criminal Court in the OldBailey and presenting petitions from

the City to Parliament at the Bar at the House of Commons.

www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/media_centre/files2008/new_sheriffs.htm

New Livery CompanyMay saw the 108th Livery Company come into being as the Worshipful Company of Security Professionals was granted its Letters Patent.Part of the criteria for this final step is to have more than £300,000 in the Company’s Charitable Trust Fund and £50,000 in the General Fund.(Under these criteria the Upholders might not be able to become a Livery today! - ed.)Over 400 people gathered in Mansion House to witness the Company gaining livery status at the hands of Windsor Herald, Major William Hunt.The Drill Team from the RAF Regiment performed in Guildhall Yard.

For more Livery news see the Livery Live section of www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

FATHERS AND SONS

Some Upholders achieved distinction through their childrenrather than through their craft skills in furniture making andupholstery or through business acumen.

John Howard was admitted as a Freeman in 1710 and becameMaster in 1734. He is recorded as working from “The Talbot”,Long Lane, as an upholder, appraiser and dealer in tapestries andOriental carpets. When he died in 1742 he left handsome for-tunes (always helpful!) to his children.

His son (1726-1790) also named John, achieved fame as a philanthropist and prison reformer. His appointment in 1773 asHigh Sheriff of Bedfordshire where he lived at Cardingtonwas surprising for a dissenter and brought him into contact withprisons. Shocked by what he saw he rode into neighbouringcounties to view their prisons and went on to tour, on multipleoccasions, the entire country. In effect, he appointed himselfchief inspector of prisons and gave evidence to the House ofCommons on corruption, abuses, diseases, and the evils of theprison hulks. His writings, especially “The State of the Prisons”,were hugely influential although he was no sentimentalist. Healso toured all the major European countries searching for whatwould be called “best practice” in later times. It is said he travelled 50,000 miles and spent £30,000 of his own money. At

age 50 he was unknown but at 60 he was internationallyfamous. He died of typhus in Kherson, southern Russia wherehe is buried. There is a memorial to him in St. Paul’s Cathedral,a statue in Bedford, and-unusually for a civilian- his death wasreported in “The London Gazette”. His name lives on today inthe Howard League for Penal Reform.

Court Assistant & Hon. Archivist John Houston

The above is from a series of articles on Fathers and Sons -more in future Upbraid issues.

John Howard, Bedford

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Naval Links Since the recent HMS Upholder was sold to the Canadian Navy and HMS Newcastle was put into reserve the Upholders havenot had an affiliation with any current Naval vessel. So it was with pleasure that at the Audit Court meeting the court approvedthe forming of an new affiliation with HMS Triumph.

She is a Trafalgar class, hunter/killer, nuclear-powered submarine, commissioned in October ‘91. After her refit in Plymouth itis hoped that her sea trials period in particular will provide potential for short visits to the boat by members of the Company.As the youngest of the “T” Boats she is due to continue in service until 2022. Triumph’s current Commanding Officer isCommander Sykes Royal Navy.We have learnt from the Canadian Navy that HMCS Chicoutami (formerly HMS Upholder) isin dry dock in Halifax and there are no immediate plans to re-commission her.

Also sharing the Upholder name is TS Upholder - the home of Chelmsford Sea Cadets. The Master recently joined Lt CdrLincoln and his staff for their Sea Sunday Dinner. Afterwards he said “I came away with the impression of a thriving unit over60 strong with an enthusiastic leadership”. The Sea Cadets will be forming a stair guard at our Mansion House Banquet.

New Freemen and Liverymen.

Patricia Ann Ayres (Sept 07)

I am married to David whobecame a Liveryman in June2007. My love of the city, itsbuildings and traditions beganwhen I started work there inthe 60s after leaving school.David and I started our ownproperty business in Essex inthe 80s. We have a son anddaughter and two grandsons(who I hope will beLiverymen one day). I am amember of Farringdon WardClub, the Guild of Freeman,and a Governor of my LocalHospital Foundation Trust. Myhobbies are travel, dancing,walking and scrabble.

Surinder Kumar Beerh(sept 07)was sponsored by Ray Usherand Derek Thornton.

Robert Nicholas Ward(Jan 08)

Rob is a ProfessionalIndemnity Insurance specialistand is Managing Director ofSennet Insurance Services Ltd.based in Canterbury where herelocated after thirty years inthe City which he visits fre-quently. He enjoys travel,cookery and most of the goodthings that life has to offer.

Ian A C Taylor CA(Sept 07)Ian was educated at LorettoSchool in Edinburgh and in1966 qualified as a member ofthe Institute of CharteredAccountants of Scotland.Throughout his working life,he has been associated withthe Lloyd’s insurance market,initially in Glasgow and in1969 moving to the City of

London, where he hasremained apart from an inter-lude of four years in Nigeria inthe early eighties. In recent years, Ian has beenactive in local government,serving for two terms asChairman of Chobham ParishCouncil. He married Victoriain 1970 and they have lived inChobham, Surrey since 1972.

Malcolm Hopkins(June 08)

I was born in Liverpool butsoon moved to the Medwaytowns due to my father’s redeployment as an electrical

engineer. I was an apprenticeupholsterer at Barrett andBolton Limited and changedcompanies to advance myskills on the contract side ofthe industry. I joined the then LondonCollege of Furniture in 1985(now LMU) and am nowSenior Lecturer in charge ofthe Upholstery section. I havebeen privileged in being ableto forge links between the uni-versity and the Association ofMaster Upholsterers and SoftFurnishers and the UpholdersCompany, as well as presentingthe annual Upholders awardsat the LMU. I am married toJean with two children Daniel& Julie. My interests includedemonstrating at Liveryevents, gardening and DIY,socialising with close friendsand cruising holidays.I feel both very proud andhonoured that I have beenrecently made a Liveryman ofthe Company and believe it isthe pinnacle of a long andfruitful career.

Barry Lewis(June 08)

Upholding Our Livery

The Worshipful Company of Upholders is actively seeking new Freemen and Liverymen, for detailsof how to join and other enquiries contact:

Mrs Jean Cody, Clerk, Hallinwood, 46 Quail Gardens, South Croydon, Surrey CR2 8TFclerk@codyranch.co.uk

Chamberlain’s Chair in Chamberlain’s Court, Guildhall

On 16 April, our immediate Past Master Peter Lawton, hiswife,Vera, Warden to the Trade Elect Stephen Chapman and ourClerk, Mrs Jean Cody, attended Guildhall to present theChamberlain of the City of London, Chris Bilsland, with his newly-restored chair. They are pictured with the Chamberlain’s Clerk (left).Royal Warrant holder Albert E Chapman Limited, the family busi-ness of Past Master Bertram Chapman and Court Assistant StephenChapman, was delighted to be charged with the responsibility ofreplacing the upholstery to the seat which, prior to restoration, hadcompletely collapsed and the leather covering had perished. Thenew seat is hand-sprung using coil springs, with a hair over-stuffingwhich was finished with a hand-stitched edge to the sides and front.The upholstery fillings to the back and arm-pads were found to bein good condition and only required minor adjustments.On completion of the re-upholstery works, the chair was completelyre-covered using a hide supplied by Glasgow-based companyAndrew Muirhead and finished with a band to the perimeter madefrom the same hide. Decorative nails were then applied through theband, with a space between each nail to expose the band.

Warden to the Trade Stephen Chapman

Queen Caroline’s Throne Canopy(Photo courtesy Historic Royal Palaces)

On 19th July the Master and 9 Liverymen and Freemen visitedHampton Court Palace to see the work supported by a donation

from our Peter Jackson Charity. In autumn 2007, Historic RoyalPalaces began the conservation of three valances of QueenCaroline’s Throne Canopy. This project is now complete, and thevalances have been re-instated for the enjoyment of the public.

This report is an edited version of the documentation prepared bythe conservators detailing every step of the project as a record for

the future. The Canopy is part of Hampton Court’s collection ofstate beds and throne canopies, one of the most significant collec-tions of its type anywhere in the world. The Canopy has remainedin its original historic location, the Queen’s Audience Chamber,since 1715.

Regular inspection of the Canopy is impossible because it is situated at height. The exact nature of the treatment of the valanceswas impossible to determine until they were removed to the studio.

Over the course of the project the damask, lace and braids werefound to be in a very fragile condition. They had become brittle andtheir fibres dehydrated. The buckram lining of the valances was alsofound to be very weak.

The conservation treatment of the valances was undertaken by the furnishings section in the Conservation and Collection Caredepartment at the Palace. The project was led by Maria Jordan andMika Takami, the work being completed between October 2007 andearly January 2008. The valances were returned to public display instages, the final valance being re-instated on 18 February.

This conservation project has safeguarded the future of thesevalances for a generation. This will ensure that the Canopy, a significant piece of Georgian furniture, can continue to be enjoyedby visitors in its original historic location. We believe that the com-bination of a new net overlay to protect and support the damask andnew full lining to protect the buckram will stabilise the valances forthe next 20 to 50 years.

Past Master Bert Chapman

The Nicoll Loving Cups

As we are peripatetic it is difficult to make our silver availablefor our dinners, however arrangements have been made to usethese Loving Cups at our dinners this year. The cups were presented to the Company by Thomas Nicoll, Master 1705. They are a pair of antique silver cups and covers engraved withthe arms of the Company. The cups were made in London in1686, while the covers were made in 1904 (makers unknown).Each cup (with cover) stands 21.0cm (8.3”) high.

Past Master Anthony Usher

The Usher Loving Cups

At our June Audit Court meeting past Masters Ray & AnthonyUsher presented the livery with two further antique LovingCups. These will be particularly useful as they are of appropriatesizes to match the usual attendance of around 60 at our CourtDinners.