Richard Platt and Sam Cooper – chair makers

Winner of the 2020 HCA/Marsh Trainee Award

The inaugural HCA/Marsh Trainee of the Year award went jointly to Richard Platt and Sam Cooper, chairmaking apprentices to Lawrence Neal at Marchmont House in Berwickshire.

Richard and Sam are currently in the process of opening a rush seated chair workshop, the first of its kind since 1958. They use skills and techniques passed down from Phillip Clissett, Ernest Gimson, Edward Gardiner and Neville Neal. Without them taking up the craft, with support from Hugo Burge at Marchmont, one of Britain’s proudest craft traditions would have been lost.

Video: Patricia Lovett MBE, Chair of the HCA, and Nick Carter, Marsh Christian Trust, presenting the award to Richard Platt and Sam Cooper, HCA/Marsh Trainer of the Year award winner 2020