Royal seal of approval for Brinsbury’s furniture making facilities

Brinsbury College’s furniture making workshop welcomed a special visitor earlier this month.

The college was delighted to welcome the Vice President of The Prince’s Foundation, Lord Snowdon David Linley, who is the nephew of Her Majesty The Queen, on Monday 9 May. 

Lord Snowdon – a renowned furniture maker – met with staff and students from the college’s furniture department and showed his delight in the excellent design and quality of furniture being produced as part of their college courses. 

Joined by Simon Sadinsky, Executive Director of The Prince’s Foundation, both were keen to develop relationships and work with the college in the future. 

The visit provided the perfect opportunity for students in both furniture making and upholstery to showcase their work, as well as acquire advice from Lord Snowdon about their future careers in this highly skilled profession. 

Lord Snowdon highlighted a key issue to staff and students about the ever-rising cost of timber and how the trust could support the college in addressing this. He said: “His Royal Highness, Prince Charles, is extremely keen for the college to benefit from the fallen trees found across the country following recent storms.  

“With a lack of timber available to purchase, together with rising costs, this offering could make a huge difference, not only to the training of students, but also to the industry as a whole. 

“Moving forward, woodland management needs to have a closer link with the production of furniture to ensure supply can meet demand.” 

Brinsbury College, part of Chichester College Group, was a proud recipient of a prestigious Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Education in recognition of its internationally renowned work in furniture and upholstery training. 

Andrew Green, Chief Executive of the Chichester College Group, said: “It was a great honour to welcome Lord Snowdon to the college this week, showcasing our facilities and the work of our fantastic furniture and upholstery students. 

“We were privileged to be awarded a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for this provision and to speak to members of the Royal Family about what we do. I know His Royal Highness Prince Charles was particularly interested in our craftsmanship. 
 
“We are excited by the prospect of being able to work with the Prince’s Foundation in the future, with the view to develop a project to transform fallen trees into furniture.”  

Jarad Belton, a former Brinsbury College student and now an independent furniture maker after completing his Level 3 Furniture Making and Design, was particularly excited to meet Lord Snowdon. . 

Jarad said: “It was so great to see how impressed Lord Snowdon was with my furniture piece ‘Homage to Nature’ as more than six months of research and production went into it. 

“Lord Snowdon agreed that, from one furniture maker to another, what we do for a living is more than a job, it’s our passion. I have been lucky enough to turn my passion into a successful business.”