Issue 26 Summer 2012 THE magazine of the queen elizabeth scHolarship trust
QEST IS THE CHARITABLE ARM OF THE ROYAL WARRANT HOLDERS ASSOCIATION
In this issue
Craft for a Diamond Jubilee
Events
Diamond Products
New Scholars
Pictured: Neptunea Ring by Zoe Harding, photographed by Bill Burnett
SUPPOR T ING E X C E LL E NC E IN BRI T IS H CRAF T SMANS H IP
QEST
Scholar News
Picture courtesy of Matt Writtle
Scholars leave their mark in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Year
The Royal Barge during the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant
Q
EST marked the start and the end of the celebrations for Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year. Scholars’ skills were in demand to produce some outstanding and original work, reinforcing the value of craftsmanship within British heritage.
Crafting Excellence, QEST’s six month selling exhibition on the 1st floor of Fortnum & Mason, was extremely well attended. Commissions were taken for a surfboard and a portrait; whilst sculpture, ceramics, jewellery and leather products all sold well. Thirty-two scholars showed an eclectic mix of British crafts, highlighting the range that QEST has sought to fund since it was established in 1990. Bernard Johnson’s commemorative Welsh slate monolith was unveiled by The Queen on the first stop of her Jubilee tour in Leicester.
The Queen’s celebrations began at Fortnum & Mason on the 1st March 2012, where she met eleven scholars exhibiting at QEST: Crafting Excellence. Each showed one of their pieces from the exhibition and explained the role that QEST had played in their successful career. Rupert Alexander had more reason than most to be nervous, as this was the first occasion that The Queen had seen his portrait of her.
This piece was commissioned by the director of St. Martin’s House, Leicester Cathedral’s conference centre, less than five weeks before he had to install it. “I was to design something modern and unfussy and had a fairly free hand with the lettering. Following approval of my roughs by the church and Buckingham Palace, I started work on the Welsh slate from Cwt-y-Bugail quarry.” www.bernardjohnson.co.uk
Jon Beer, a furniture designer living in Nicaragua, showed a box made from reclaimed Hurricane Felix wood that was a similar design to that he made for TRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding gift. Mia Sabel, a saddle and bridle maker was delighted that The Queen showed such interest in her signature item, a reclaimed stirrup iron clad in leather and designed to form a lady’s bag; no doubt The Queen is still trying to understand the concept of Jane Fryer’s hat made from fish skin. Other scholars present were: Bob Johnston (willow weaver); Daniel Meek (lettercutter and stonemason); Davina Chapman (calligrapher); Rebecca Harvey (ceramicist); Sarah Hocombe (muralist); Sophie D’Souza (stained glass artist) and Zoe Harding (jeweller).
B ernard Johnson, plaque in Diamond Jubilee year
Will Davies, a talented stonemason and sculptor, together with a more recent scholar, Tom Nicholls, were in the team of seven who moulded two tonnes of terracotta clay to create the exuberant designs for the prow of
Issue 26 Summer 2012
the Royal Barge that carried the Royal party at the head of the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant. The sculpture was designed by Alan Lamb, head of historic carving at the City & Guilds of London Art School, with Emmy-winning Production Designer Joseph Bennett. Will gave life to the gigantic images of Old Father Thames, the focal point of the 25 foot structure; whilst Tom created two seven meter long dolphins. The model was cast in acrylic resin and gilded with 22ct gold leaf.
Richard McGuiness a restorer of classic wooden cars and boats was responsible for returning two Thames steam launches to pristine condition for their part in the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant. Both were more than one hundred years old. Richard commented: “In their heyday, these boats would travel from Kingston to Oxford on a four day timetable, stopping at hotels en route; now that trip takes about an hour in the car.”
Despite the gruelling schedule during the intense three weeks of moulding, Tom enthused: “It was just brilliant. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity. As I cycled to the studio, it was hard to believe that I was part of this most prestigious assignment.” www.willdaviescarving.com www.tomjnicholls.com
Hare & Humphreys was commissioned to complete the decorative arts, gilding and heraldry of Gloriana, the 90 feet long row barge that led the Jubilee flotilla. QEST scholar Marina Hughes made a substantial contribution with hand-painted diamond-leaf designs to the exterior side, the internal cabin ceiling and much of the external gilding.
Picture courtesy of Roger Cannon
The barge, powered by eighteen oarsmen including Sir Steve Redgrave and Sir Matthew Pinsent, took 60 craftsmen eighteen weeks to build and was officially named by The Queen at Greenwich in April; thus making it the first royal barge for a century. It stole the show at the Diamond Jubilee pageant and again when it transported the Olympic flame from Hampton Court Palace to Tower Bridge. www.marinahughes.co.uk
Will Davies (L) and Tom Nicholls moulding the prow of the Royal Barge
Stained glass designer, maker and conservator, Megan Stacey was part of Reyntiens Glass Studio’s team that made the window for Westminster Hall. It was presented to The Queen as a gift from Members of both Houses of Parliament.
“I had the privilege of working alongside Michael Johnson (coppersmith), Malcolm Piltcher (engraver) and George Need (toolmaker and silversmith); learning priceless skills from them is what this scholarship is all about,” commented Shelley.
The window, comprising of some 1,500 separate pieces, is on display to enable visitors to examine the craftsmanship in detail. It will be installed in the hall’s north window, which has had plain glass since the old window was damaged by an IRA bomb in 1974. Restoration to Westminster Hall’s stonework is planned to start this year; it is the oldest part of the Palace of Westminster.
Royal Warrant Holder, Smythson commissioned artist and illustrator Kerry Lemon to create a quintessentially British installation with a twist at their four London stores and another in New York.
Shelley Anderson worked on a large bronze floor plaque installed in a church in Cuckfield. It measures 745cm and is two centimetres thick; it was cast using 45 kilos of bronze and took four people six weeks to complete. The initial designs to win the contract were drawn up by Michael Johnson together with Shelley. The stained glass window from the church was their inspiration and scenes depicting the history of the town were incorporated. Timothy Harris created a commemorative glass bowl which was presented to The Queen in July
Kerry explained the appeal of her window designs: “My illustrations are relatively traditional but also a bit quirky! They are clearly hand-drawn rather than computer based, so there is real craftsmanship involved, which I think resonates with a brand like Smythson.” www.kerrylemon.co.uk The Queen’s Beasts are ten heraldic animals depicting the genealogy of Queen Elizabeth II. The only existing full set was made in stone in 1953 to celebrate The Queen’s coronation and is shown in Kew Gardens. Jenny Gray was commissioned to make a full set of the beasts; she designed a twelve piece name place set in silver, each is about four inches high. www.jennifergray.co.uk
QEST
Scholar News
A cairn, the first on the Balmoral Estate for more than 120 years, was a gift to The Queen from the members of the Aberdeen RWHA, the Edinburgh RWHA and Balmoral Estate staff. Richard Watling, former QEST chairman, first sowed the seed and together with a committee representing the Aberdeen and Edinburgh Associations and with much help from Richard Gledson, Factor on the Estate, they realised the landmark. “Everyone was enthusiastic to mark the Diamond Jubilee in a way that would stand the test of time. It was important that it should use local materials and local people,” explained George Alpine, secretary of the Aberdeen Association. “The site was approved by Her Majesty, who is able to view the cairn from the castle’s drawing room window.” All the granite was collected from the Estate and two dry stone wall experts, Norman Haddow and Willy Cassidy built it. QEST scholars were involved in this collaborative effort, as Gillian Forbes cut the date stone and Sally Mangum is preparing the commemorative book that will be bound by Laura West and presented to The Queen. A number of local Royal Warrant holders have been involved including Roy Cowie, who will shortly commence the landscaping. www.forbesstonecarver.com www.laurawest.com www.sallymangum.com
Timothy Harris, Master Glassmaker at Isle of Wight Studio Glass, designed and created a commemorative glass bowl on behalf of the people of the island. The unique design, in hues of blue, was inspired by the sea and coastlines surrounding the Isle of Wight. Timothy presented it to The Queen on the 25th July in Cowes; the last official date of her Diamond Jubilee tour. www.isleofwightstudioglass.co.uk T imothy Harris working on the glass bowl
£2 million and still counting…
H RH the Duke of Gloucester meets Shelley Anderson at the Annual Luncheon in June
H
ew Blair, President of the Royal Warrant Holders Association, spoke at the annual luncheon of the on-going success of QEST’s Diamond Jubilee Appeal. It has raised nearly £2 million this year and there are still six months remaining.
He thanked Richard Watling, who stood down as Chairman of QEST in July, for all that he had done to make the charity so successful; not just in fundraising but ensuring that the scholarships have been well earned.
Balmoral cairn
The guest of honour, HRH the Duke of Gloucester, noted how QEST had developed over the past twenty years and concluded: “It enables your trustees to select the best craftsmen and to give them encouragement to go out and make and design whilst having their individual talent noticed in this way.”
Issue 26 Summer 2012
Accolades for scholars Teresa Dybisz received the Worshipful Company of Masons’ stone carving prize for her outstanding final sculpture at the City & Guilds of London Art School. It was the first time that she had carved marble.
Jenny Gray’s final show at the Royal College of Art received two awards: the Theo Fennell Award and the Armourers and Brasiers Award. In addition to these accolades, her work was selected to be shown at the Saatchi Gallery as part of Scoop International Fashion Show. www.jennifergray.co.uk Gail McGarva received a highly commended certificate for the Prince Philip Medal, an international award honouring those who, to quote Prince Philip, have “travelled the City & Guilds path” and achieved outstanding accomplishments in their chosen field. She was presented with the award by HRH The Princess Royal at Buckingham Palace. Gail is currently building Lyme Regis Gig Club’s third wooden gig.
Gail McGarva, receives a highly commended for the Prince Philip Medal from HRH The Princess Royal at Buckingham Palace, April 2012
Gary Drostle’s Mosaic at Chester Roman Gardens
The Chester Roman Gardens’ new entrance feature mosaic was awarded Chester Civic Trust’s New Year’s Honours Award 2012. It was designed by Gary Drostle to represent ‘Gardening in Roman Britain’. The mosaic was unveiled by the Duke of Westminster as part of the Roman Garden refurbishment in Chester. The Romans were the first to introduce leisure gardening to this country. The figurative mosaic is based on an original Roman mosaic and the design was drawn up in close collaboration with Chester’s Archaeologists. The mosaic was constructed in tough unglazed porcelain; it was entirely hand cut and laid by Gary. www.drostle.com Zoe Harding was awarded a number of Goldsmiths’ Craftsmanship & Design Awards in 2012. She received the Gold GIA Award (Gemological Institute of America - 3D Design Contemporary Jewellery) for her Neptunea Ring. The same piece received the Silver Award (Platinum and Gold 3D design), where design as well as craftsmanship and technical innovation are all taken into consideration. [No gold award was given in this category]. Last September, Zoe’s Neptunea Ring also won a Lonmin Design Innovation Award in the ‘established designers’ category - this is a major industry award for platinum design. It will be displayed at the 2012 International Jewellery London (IJL) exhibition. During this year’s Goldsmith’s Craftsmanship & Design Awards, Zoe also received the Silver award for a 2D Platinum & Gold design; this was a piece of bridal jewellery she has designed in platinum and diamonds [no gold award was given in this category]. She received a Commendation for the ‘Inverse Pearl Cuff ’ which played on the idea of partially obscuring pearls and mounting them in a new way, an experimental piece for her series of cuffs. www.zoeharding.com
Zoe Harding photo credit: Hannover Saffron Creative
Teresa Dybisz Stonemason
Teresa also received the Brian Till Art History prize for her thesis: The Bronze Statuary of Parliament Square. “I thoroughly enjoyed researching the ten statues at the square which involved reading newspaper articles covering the period from 1830 to 2007. It was also fascinating to look at original documents in the Parliamentary Archives especially those of the Winston Churchill and Abraham Lincoln statues.” commented Teresa. www.stonecarveress.com
QEST
Diamond Jubilee Appeal News
Events Art, Craft and Design: Cross-overs and Boundaries in the 21st Century The shifting allegiances and cross-overs of craft lead it to defy categorisation. QEST has invited six eminent speakers from the three sectors: art, craft, and design, to discuss its evolving nature. The debate will be chaired by Glenn Adamson, Deputy Head of Research and Head of Graduate Studies at the Victoria and Albert Museum. The speakers S ophie D’Souza’s Trinity window are Sir Christopher Frayling, Sir Nicholas Goodison, Robin Wood, Dr. Tanya Harrod, Tracey Rowledge and Mel Howse. The debate is part of the London Design Festival and takes place on 21st September 2012 at 10.30 a.m. in the Sackler Centre, Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL. To attend please arrive 30 minutes early.
Holland & Holland Cameron Short’s wallpaper admired by HRH The Prince of Wales
Crafts displayed at Clarence House HRH The Prince of Wales kindly hosted a celebratory reception at Clarence House on 30th May 2012. It was an opportunity to thank key supporters of QEST’s Diamond Jubilee Appeal. Four recent scholars had the opportunity to show Prince Charles their work and illustrate how the scholarship had been so vital to their craft and career. Joseph Lotito, a violin maker; Cameron Short, an artisanal handblock wallpaper designer and maker; Tristram Bainbridge, a conservator of furniture and decorative arts and Elizabeth Monk, a potter. In addition, five scholars who have fulfilled the role of ambassadors during this appeal year met Prince Charles and discussed how QEST was crucial for them in gaining experience and education. All of them are now recognised as exemplars in their craft. Mel Howse, stained glass artist; Rod Kelly, gold and silversmith; Melissa White, painter stainer; Will Davies, sculptor and stonemason and Janet Stoyel, a wire weaver and innovator of mixed media textiles.
Holland & Holland has invited four scholars to show their work at an event on the 8th November. Bob Johnston, a wicker weaver; Mia Sabel, saddler and bespoke leather designer; Suzy Merrifield, knitting Suzy Merrifield, knitwear and textiles designer and Zoe Harding, jeweller, will demonstrate and show their crafts and have an opportunity to continue displaying and selling their work until January 2013 within Holland & Holland’s flagship store on Bruton Street. Visit the showroom to acquire unique and affordable crafts. British craftsmanship is deeply ingrained in the ethos of Holland & Holland and there is no finer example than the famous shotguns and rifles that are made in their London factory. It is no secret that these sporting firearms are a true testament to the British design and skilled craft that is synonymous with ‘Best’ London guns.
Issue 26 Summer 2012
Artwork by Marcello Pettineo, available exclusively at Holland & Holland
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QEST
Diamond Jubilee Appeal News
Diamond Products
R
oyal Warrant holding companies have been exceptionally generous to their charity during this year of celebration. Several have donated a proportion of their sales to QEST. Scholars and Trustees would like to publicly express their grateful thanks for these vital funds that will ensure more craftsmen and women can receive funding for their education and thus enable British crafts to thrive. On Tuesday 3rd July, HE Garvin Nicholas, High Commissioner for the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago hosted a summer garden party at his residence. Amidst the fireworks and rain bursts, Brian Woods, senior marketing manager of Angostura Europe presented Nick Farrow, the newly appointed Chairman of QEST with a cheque for £25,000. This substantial donation was raised through proceeds from the sale of their Diamond Jubilee limited edition Angostura Bitters internationally. Nick Farrow (left) chairman of QEST receives a £25,000 cheque from HE Garvin Nicholas, the High Commissioner for the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago on behalf of Angostura Bitters.
Luxury donation
The Diamond Queen Asprey collaborated with light artist Chris Levine, whose 2004 portrait of The Queen attracted much debate. Craftsmen from the iconic store recreated the diamond diadem The Queen wore at her 1953 Coronation and placed it on the head of the holographic recreation of The Queen by Chris Levine. The work entitled The Diamond Queen will be sold via sealed bids with the proceeds being split between QEST and the Woodland Trust.
Ettinger of London was founded in 1934 as a luxury leather goods and gift company and today is one of only a handful of luxury leather manufacturers still hand crafting all its products in the UK. Ettinger is proud to be nurturing the crafts and skills which have been handed down through the generations and which still take Ettinger craftspeople up to five years to master. During the two weeks surrounding the Diamond Jubilee celebratory weekend, Ettinger donated 15% of its web sales to The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust Appeal.
A Jubilee Bouquet
he Diamond Queen by T Chris Levine.
A beautiful result Clarins introduced a limited edition Hand and Nail Treatment cream in a 200ml size to their range and during the month of May, one pound was donated to QEST from every product sold with a total of £20,000.
A singular success Islay single malt whisky Laphroaig released a limited run of its 18-Year Old single malt with Diamond Jubilee packaging. It has pledged to make a donation of £2000 to QEST.
Penhaligon’s Jubilee Bouquet fragrance was originally created in 1977 in honour of The Queen’s Silver Jubilee. Throughout 2012 Penhaligon’s will celebrate the Diamond Jubilee by donating 10% of the proceeds from the sale of the fragrance. Jubilee Bouquet is a melody of green lily, jasmine, powder and woods. Laced with persuasive notes of soft iris, violet and amber, Jubilee Bouquet is an enchanting floral chypre. It is presented in the signature Penhaligon’s fragrance bottle: clear glass with a distinctive ribbon wrapped top. It is available at Penhaligon’s boutique, major department stores and online at www.penhaligons.com for £110.00.
QEST
New Scholars
New Scholars (Spring 2012) Effie Burns (37) Glass Artist Effie has had her own kiln and studio since 1999 and during this period she has worked mainly on architectural glass projects, working with both cast and kiln formed glass. Winning a QEST scholarship will ensure that she can attend a 17-day course entitled Glass Engraving: Flat, Round, Coloured and Solid, by the acclaimed British glass artist Katherine Coleman MBE. This is part of BildWerk Frauenau’s International Summer Academy in Bavaria. www.effieburnsglass.co.uk
Carey Ellis
Megan Stacey
(23) Textile Print Designer
(23) stained glass designer, maker and conservator
Carey attained a first class honours degree in Textile Design at Chelsea College of Art and Design. At Chelsea, she developed an innovative printing technique, where her print designs completely change in appearance depending upon the colour of the light they are seen in. Winning a QEST scholarship will enable her to further develop her creativity within textiles and also this ground-breaking technique within the fashion milieu whilst she completes a postgraduate Masters course, specialising in Textiles for Fashion at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. www.cargocollective.com/careyellis
Megan studied Architectural Glass at Swansea Metropolitan University where she specialised in glass painting and conservation. She received the Worshipful Company of Glaziers Award for Excellence in 2010 and has since worked for Reyntiens Glass Studio on projects including a window for Westminster Hall as a gift for HM The Queen on her Diamond Jubilee from the Houses of Parliament. Winning a QEST scholarship will enable her to continue her 2-year MA course in Stained Glass Conservation and Heritage Management at the University of York which will include an eighteen week work placement at the Burrell Collection.
Alastair Barford (25) Figurative Painter Alastair graduated with a first class degree in Fine Art from University College Falmouth. Receiving the QEST scholarship will enable him to attend the Charles H. Cecil Academy in Florence to study drawing and painting techniques in the traditional manner, that sadly are no longer taught in the UK. His exemplary talent will undoubtedly find new heights under such specialist instruction. www.alastairbarford.co.uk
QEST
New Scholars Mandeep Mann (28) Textile Designer
Anthony Griffin
Mandeep recently was awarded first prize in a collaborative project between Burberry and Christopher Bailey, part of that award was a three-month paid internship with Burberry. Her QEST scholarship will enable Mandeep to undertake the MA Textiles at the Royal College of Art where she will further specialise in Mixed Media Textile Design. Her work is highly technique based and experimental. She strives to create unique fashion/interior fabrics with a strong emphasis on material exploration. “I am passionate about using traditional techniques and materials in new and innovative ways with the aim of pushing the boundaries of textile design,” she explained. www.mandeepmann.blogspot.com
(44) Diamond Setter and Goldsmith Anthony has been creating fine jewellery in platinum and gold, incorporating precious gemstones and diamonds for the past sixteen years. He has been selected to exhibit within the prestigious Goldsmiths’ Fair and has received accolades in the annual Goldsmiths’ Craftsmanship & Design Awards. Winning a QEST scholarship will enable Anthony to attend Alexandre Sidorov’s Diamond Optical Setting course in Antwerp and therefore ensure that the technical skill of diamond setting remains in the UK. www.anthonygriffin.co.uk
Beatrice Larkin (24) woven textile designer Beatrice has long had a passion for textiles. She uses the ancient craft of weaving and yarn manipulation to create contemporary and original fabrics and accessories including bags and jewellery. The QEST scholarship will fund her second year of an MA in Woven Textiles at the Royal College of Art and ensure that Beatrice will be in the perfect environment to work on Jacquard, Harris and Arm looms and experiment within the intensely creative environment of the RCA.
Emma Payne (25) Archaeological and Museum Conservator The QEST funding will enable Emma to complete the second and final year of the Conservation for Archaeology and Museums MSc at University College London. She has already gained considerable experience both as a volunteer on the Sittingbourne CSI project working with Anglo-Saxon artefacts and as a Conservation and Collections Care Assistant at the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, assessing the delicate prehistoric Egyptian artefacts in order to design and make suitable packaging for them.
Issue 25 Summer 2012
Meera Sleight (32) Textile Designer Meera has achieved considerable success designing for iconic fashion houses such as Lanvin and Chloe as well as London’s emerging young designers - she also produces innovative fabric ranges for Liberty. Her QEST award will enable her to attend the Royal School of Needlework’s technical hand embroidery course and enable her to return to a more handcrafted approach; this will ultimately enrich her design work and allow her to produce and swatch designs independently.
Jonathan Williams (35) Ceramicist Jonathan specialises in figurative making. He currently lectures in ceramics as well as exhibiting at ceramic festivals in the UK, China and Japan. He was awarded the 2011 Earth and Fire Best Dressed Stand and was shortlisted for the 2011 Attenborough Prize. His QEST scholarship will enable Jonathan to attend the 2-year Royal College of Art’s MA programme in Ceramics and Glass. www.jonwilliamsceramics.co.uk
Nina Thomas (32) Farrier Nina has already completed the demanding four year apprenticeship to become a farrier and since 2006 has built up her own business and is responsible for the health and welfare of some 150 horses. The QEST scholarship will fund her 3-year FdSc Farriery Science course and the 2-year Farrier Science course at Myerscough College in Lancashire. These courses will ensure that Nina can advance to providing a more clinical and analytical equine care.
QEST
Information
All Round Support for QEST At the start of its Diamond Jubilee Appeal, QEST’s stated aim was to double the number of its annual scholarships. The reason for this was that every year as many excellent applicants were turned away as were successful. We are pleased to say that this has been achieved by generous donations from a vast number of Royal Warrant holding companies, Trusts, Foundations and Livery Companies. The appeal has been lead by Richard Watling, Penny Bendall and the fabulous team of trustees, staff, associates and volunteers both at QEST and the RWHA. As the new Chairman of the Charity, I would like to thank, on behalf of the board of trustees, all those who were involved in making the appeal such a success. However the work must continue. As the country languishes in a recession partly fuelled by our reliance on the service industries,
our attention turns to encouraging a resurgence of skilled craftspeople, designing and making tangible items. This resurgence is being driven by thousands of entrepeneurs who need support and training. Because of this, and the lack of educational funding, the number of applications we are receiving is increasing and we are becoming involved with several important craft projects. On top of this we are finding an increasing need to help our existing scholars with business mentoring schemes. So the Diamond Jubilee Year may be drawing to a close, but our efforts to raise funds must continue. Thanks once again and I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible. Nick Farrow
QEST CRAFT AWARDS
D
o you know someone who could benefit from a QEST Award?
Scholarships of up to £15,000 are awarded twice a year to craftsmen and women with exceptional talent to enable them to advance their education and skills in modern and traditional crafts in the UK. The scholarships are open to all ages and even for those embarking upon a second career. The trustees look for well thought out projects that highlight applicants’ passion and commitment to their craft and thus ensure that they will contribute to the pool of talent in the UK and reflect the excellence of British craftsmanship as is symbolised by the Royal Warrant of Appointment.
The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust, the charitable arm of the Royal Warrant Holders Association, was established in 1990 with money contributed by its members, to mark the 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Association. To find out more and apply on line, visit the QEST website at www.qest.org.uk
Who’s who at Qest Chairman and Trustee Nick Farrow Farrows Ltd
Trustee & Honorary Treasurer Alec McQuin Rokill Ltd
Trustees Jenifer Emery Edward Goodyear Ltd
Ex Officio Trustee Hew Blair Justerini & Brooks
Mark Henderson Gieves and Hawkes Ltd Sally Mangum Calligrapher Fiona Rae Goldsmith and Enameller Selection Board Neil Stevenson NEJ Stevenson
Secretary Richard Peck Development Director Penny Bendall Bendall Ceramic Conservation Manager Victoria Churchward Development Assistant Valerie Kohler
Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust 1 Buckingham Place London SW1E 6HR
Media enquiries Shelley-Anne Claircourt Tel 020 7854 1827 Email info@pressoffice.co.uk
General enquiries Tel 020 7828 2268 Email info@qest.org.uk
www.qest.org.uk
Registered Charity No. 802557
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Goodwood Festival of Speed THE magazine of the queen elizabeth scHolarship trust SUPPOR T ING E X C E LL E NC E IN BRI T IS H CRAF T SMANS H IP
QEST IS THE CHARITABLE ARM OF THE ROYAL WARRANT HOLDERS ASSOCIATION
Inside
A Celebration of Royal Travel brought to Goodwood to raise funds for QEST
QEST
Goodwood Festival of Speed
A Celebration of Royal Travel brought to Goodwood to raise funds for QEST
T
his year, the Goodwood Festival of Speed’s annual Cartier ‘Style et Luxe’ concours d’elegance was an exceptional event.
For the first time Cartier focused on just one single theme, vehicles to honour the Diamond Jubilee. The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust brought together a collection of Royal Transport. Many vehicles came from the personal collections of Her Majesty, including Sandringham and the Royal Mews; others were sourced from overseas governments and private collections. All have a genuine use and connection with the Her Majesty The Queen during her sixty year reign. A Celebration of Royal Travel was brought together by Richard Watling, former chairman of QEST. Goodwood selected QEST as the charity to benefit from all fundraising at the Festival of Speed. Visitors were able to admire a unique display featuring twentyfour cars, a 1902 coach, a 30-ton London Midland & Scottish Royal train carriage and an airplane. Richard readily admits that bringing together the collection was a labour of love; he is passionate about cars. “We are especially grateful to several Royal Warrant holding companies for generously helping us to create this special collection of transport to reflect the essence of QEST and what craftsmanship has meant to the automotive industry through the decades,” he said. “Richard Charlesworth of Bentley Motors, the providers of the current State Limousines, was especially encouraging.” Richard Watling approached Lord March with the suggestion to mark HM The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The Queen kindly granted permission provided that enough cars of importance remained to provide an attraction for Sandringham Estate visitors.
Royal cars at the Goodwood Festival of Speed’s Cartier ‘Style et Luxe’ concours d’elegance event.
Once the core of the display was established research began to trace cars to replace those leaving Sandringham. Mark Davenport, a former President of the Sandringham RWHA, generously agreed to lend cars to the Royal Estate which enabled an international hunt to commence. P&A Wood, the Rolls Royce restorers, not only prepared The Queen’s former state limousines for driving duty but also loaned Silver Ghosts from the First World War era to add to the collection left at Sandringham. In 2011 Richard received final approval from Goodwood, with the proviso that it should incorporate all forms of transport. The horse drawn Edward VII town carriage lent by the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace, an RAF Chipmunk trainer and a train were all secured with just weeks to spare. The whole journey took more than three years from the kernel of
an idea to seeing the magnificent display on the lawns, gleaming in the intermittent sunshine. Richard cited three cars to which he had the most attachment, namely the overall winner, across all classes, the 1969 Aston Martin DB6 Volante. This had been given to HRH The Prince of Wales by The Queen for his 21st birthday and was famously driven away from Buckingham Palace after TRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding celebrations. The second was a car found in Australia. After much persuasion, the owner agreed to it being shipped to England in late April. It was particularly important as the only driveable representative of seven Daimler Landaus built for King George VI, which after little use at home were sent to Australia to take part in The Queen and Prince Philip’s first tour of the Commonwealth in 1953.
“The Citroën was very precious; it needed two presidents to approve its release,” exclaimed Richard, naming his third car. “It transported The Queen during her four-day state visit to Paris in 1972. It is still part of the official French presidential motor pool in the garage of the Élysée Palace and it was only due to the relations that I had established over two visits to Paris that we were able to bring the car to England and preserve the Entente Cordiale.” President Sarkozy’s administration were delighted that the 1972 Citroën Maserati SM with extended open bodywork by Henri Chapron would be part of such a historical display, but then weeks before the Festival of Speed, he was replaced at the ballot box and negotiations had to recommence. It was not until ten days before the opening that its presence was confirmed. Throughout the three year journey, Richard worked closely with two trusted friends: Stuart Wilkinson from the Transport Trust and Sean Roberts. Stuart was responsible for all the background research, tracing cars from around the world and finding their owners. Sean, a logistics and technical specialist ensured that the cars, elderly and genteel ladies that have been rarely moved, were transported and looked after throughout their adventure. He was supported by Nick Woodhouse of Royal Warrant holding company, Sandicliffe Garage whose team provided superb technical facilities. None of this would have been possible without the unstinting help of many Royal Warrant holding companies but especially that of principal sponsors, Autoglym.
Most of the vehicles on display were built especially for members of the Royal Family and incorporated specific adaptations, such
as the possibility to remove the bumpers to ensure a secure fit on the HMY Britannia, whilst others showed their owners’ individuality, such as the Rolls Royce, Silver Ghost, 1924, designed by Earl Mountbatten to his own specification. It was his official car as Viceroy of India in 1947 and carries his mascot of a signalling sailor.
The car that attracted the most attention on the lawn was the 1926 Rolls Royce, with its bespoke aluminium coachwork. It was used to drive HRH the Duke of Edinburgh in India during a bird watching expedition in 1965. It had originally been ordered by the Maharaja of Bharatpur as a dowry for one of his daughters but was never collected by his sonin-law and it became the Maharaja’s transport for country pursuits. It was therefore fitting that HRH Prince Michael of Kent should have driven it at the head of a procession to the front lawn of Goodwood House for a special Diamond Jubilee tribute to The Queen. This was accompanied by much pomp and ceremony, with marching Irish Guards and extravagant fireworks. Two other cars had travelled a considerable distance and were widely appreciated; the 1950 Lincoln Cosmopolitan “Bubble Top”, Detroit came from the Henry Ford museum in Dearborn. It was used by President Harry Truman and subsequent presidents from Dwight Eisenhower to Lyndon Jonson. The Queen rode in it on her visit as the Princess Elizabeth in 1951.
A classic celebration
The motor industry relies on crafts in ways that the driving public take for granted. The precision that is expected in luxury vehicles today is due to the craftsmanship that is quietly brought to the polished wooden dashboards, the leather upholstery, the turning of a gear stick and in hundreds of other components within each vehicle. Classic cars revel in exquisite craftsmanship and of the cars brought together at Goodwood for the Celebration of Royal Travel, the best example is probably the Shooting Brake made for George V by Daimler in the 1930’s. The back of the car can quickly transform to accommodate eight around a table for a shooting party lunch.
The train carriage was walked through by over 10,000 visitors from twenty-four countries; it had been used by many members of the Royal family for forty years and it was quite a feat to get it installed on the Cartier lawn. When QEST scholar, Mia Sabel, a saddle maker spotted a well-worn leather window strap, she agreed to undertake repairs to restore the windows to working order.
QEST
Goodwood Festival of Speed
A reflection of hard work
QEST Scholars who have benefitted the motor industry Richard McGuinness had for many years repaired and restored wooden Thames boats. He transferred his talents to rebuilding and restoring woodwork for unusual vintage cars and applied to QEST in 2008 for funding. QEST is one of the few organisations that will award scholarships for more mature students, or those moving into second careers. As Richard was aged 41 he was not entitled to funding from any other source and yet the £2,200 that he received from QEST enabled him to gain additional skills and move into full time restoration of ash framed car bodies.
Autoglym were the main sponsors and under their CEO, Paul Caller supplied eight specialists who looked after the cars and ensured that they were in gleaming condition throughout the four days. Many of the cars were very delicate and needed specialist care to ensure their protection in the interesting summer weather. Paul Caller led his team from Autoglym for weeks in advance, they took responsibility for the cars and visited Sandringham as well as attending the press day and naturally were present for the full week of the Festival of Speed. After the event, they ensured the cars were returned correctly to their owners and they exceeded all expectations.
Jason Williams is a fully qualified welder, metal fabricator and panel beater. His grandfather had encouraged his passion for classic car restoration and he had set up his own mobile welding service. He was awarded £3,800 in 2009 and is now able to restore vehicles that are earlier than the 1950’s using an ‘old school’ method to ensure that British motoring heritage can be enjoyed for generations to come.
QEST Scholars have a ball QEST scholars came together in a special marquee and as well as displaying their work, helped to sell raffle tickets and collect donations. Farrier Kaye Nelson was the star of the fundraising team. She also displayed a variety of horse shoes and other items, such as belt buckles that she forges. Mia Sabel set up a bench within the marquee, giving visitors the opportunity to see the saddlemaker at work. Mel Howse, a stained glass and enamel artist showed the diversity of her craft from a colourful bath to an etched portrait and a stunning glass cocktail cabinet. Eleanor Bird, a traditional stained glass artist, displayed the crucial stages involved in creating a complex window. The scholars attended the Ball at Goodwood House, where Mia Sabel won a raffle prize for a tandem skydive with the Red Devils. It did not take much to persuade Mel Howse to join her in this challenge and both plan to use the opportunity to raise further funds for QEST. Watch out for sponsorship requests through Justgiving.com.
The specialist insurance classic car brokers, Hagerty in partnership with premium insurers Hiscox, were responsible for all eventualities as these priceless vehicles were moved across the country and, in some cases, across the world. John Walker and Sons displayed their Diamond Jubilee Special Edition Scotch Whisky made by Royal Warrant holders and QEST scholars as well as providing major financial support to make the event possible. Sponsorship was a vital component to this event and although conversations began in 2011, the final commitment was only received ten days prior to the opening. This has enabled all public donations and funds raised from the charity auctions and raffles to go directly to QEST’s Endowment Fund, with the generous support of sponsors offsetting the running costs of such a unique and prestigious display.
M el Howes displaying in the QEST Marquee
ord Ilyffe loaned a scaled model of the L Windrush to ensure that all forms of transport were represented. The boat had previously been displayed on HMS Britannia. The Windrush had been used by The Queen on a swan upping ceremony on the Thames.
P aul Caller and Richard Watling