Master celebrates the work of upholstery students

Master Dr Tony Smart MBE attended Wendy Shorter Interiors’ Student Show and Presentation Day in July to celebrate the hard work of its students and award a special prize to one graduate.

The show, which took place at Coursers Farm, Colney Heath on Saturday 29 July, marks the culmination of the establishment’s academic year.

During the day, the Master presented student Melissa Davies with £400 worth of fabric books from Kobe Fabrics, which were sponsored by The Furniture Makers’ Company, for achieving a distinction for her Diploma in Upholstery.

Wendy Shorter Interiors was set up in July 2006 by Wendy Shorter when West Herts College lost their funding for craft courses.

Wendy established the centre to ensure students could complete their assessment work.

Today the institute runs the Association of Master Upholsterers & Soft Furnishers (AMUSF) qualification courses, with students learning both modern and traditional upholstery skills on a range of furniture.

The AMUSF upholstery diploma course is a three stage programme, with students awarded a certificate at the end of each stage and a diploma if all three stages are successfully completed.

The Furniture Makers’ Company gives a prize to Wendy Short Interiors as part of its Royal Charter Appeal.

Hundreds of students have passed through the doors of Wendy’s training centre during the 11 years it has been open, with many having gone on to work within the industry or start their own business.

Wendy Shorter said: “We had a great day with 93% of people achieving credits and distinctions, but the weather was not so kind to us this year. We had to pick up the pass a bit and then headed for the dry of the marquee for refreshments and Pimms.”