Saddle makers display their craft for Princess Anne
Saddle makers on the shop floor at a Walsall factory had the chance to share their craft with the Princess Royal during a visit to the town.
Princess Anne visited Albion England's head office and factory in her capacity as Perpetual Master of the Worshipful Company of Saddlers.
Highlighting the growing innovation in the design and manufacture of saddlery and leather goods, Princess Anne was given a guided tour of the factory by the company’s founders Paul and Sherry Belton.
It came during a day that saw the Princess Royal presenting a Queen's Award for Enterprise to Rupert and Vanessa Fairfax, of Fairfax Saddles, and speaking at a tea reception to champion British saddlery at The Hub, at Walsall College's Wisemore Campus.
Sherry Belton, managing director of Albion England, said: “It was an immense pleasure to welcome The Princess Royal to Albion England. We thoroughly enjoyed showcasing our work here in Walsall and are very proud of the contribution Albion England has made over the years to the areas thriving saddlery and leather goods market.
"The business has diversified beyond all belief since it began and continues to be a glowing example of the prosperity within the equine industry and Walsall’s leather skills offering. It was a joy to hear The Princess Royal’s contributions and an honour to be selected as one of the hosts within this visit.”
Albion England has been a stalwart of the Walsall saddlery scene since 1985. It employs 75 craftsmen and women producing over 100 British-made saddles a week and supplying the very best of the equine world. Testament to the brand’s credentials, industry stars including Laura Tomlinson, William Fox Pitt and Emile Faurie to name but a few, who proudly compete from the seat of an Albion saddle.
During her visit to Walsall Princess Anne said: “As Perpetual Master of the Worshipful Company of Saddlers part of our role is to support and ‘champion British saddlery’, so today has been particularly useful in learning what the challenges and opportunities are. There is no doubt in my mind that all are extremely ‘Proud of Walsall’ and the role that the town has played in these industries in the past, and still does today. This celebration of your products in the Hub has served to underscore the ambition you all have and the success you enjoy.”
Princess Anne added: “From what I have seen today, it seems to me that linking experience and long tested traditional methods with those things learnt from science and performance will encourage innovation, and ensure that British saddle manufacturers remains the benchmark for others to try and emulate across the world. I have seen much evidence from all those that I have met today that this is and will remain the case, and I congratulate you all in your endeavours.”
