LOCAL tailor Stephen Shoebridge from Frome, is celebrating having been awarded £14,800 by the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST). 
Stephen was presented with his award by the President of the Royal Warrant Holders Association, Jenifer Emery, at a special awards lunch held at the London Hilton Hotel on Tuesday 4th June.
Stephen’s original background was in historic building conservation but after a lifetime interest in sewing and textiles, and several years of related courses, he decided upon a change of career. He began by running a small workshop taking clothing alterations and repairs. This progressed to making a ready-to-wear range of men’s and women’s garments using tweed produced by a small company in the Hebrides.
QEST will enable Stephen to study at the Savile Row Academy, London. This unique training facility established five years ago, was initiated to preserve, teach and develop the historic skills of traditional English hand crafted tailoring at the highest level.
QEST was endowed by the Royal Warrant Holders Association to advance education in modern and traditional crafts and trades in the UK. Scholarships of up to £18,000 are open to men and women of all ages and are awarded twice a year. Since 1991, the Trust has awarded £2million to 296 craftsmen and women aged between 17 and 50+ to develop their skills through study, training and work experience. This summer the trust awarded 23 scholarships totalling £162,600.
QEST, 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. The Trustees look for well thought out projects, which will contribute to the pool of talent in the UK and reflect the excellence of British craftsmanship as symbolised by the Royal Warrant of Appointment.
Application forms for QEST Scholarships can be downloaded from the QEST website: www .qest.org.uk.
Pictured: Jenifer Emery, President of the Royal Warrant Holders Association, awarding Stephen Shoebridge,Tailor, with his QEST award.
