Latest news with #SamuelBrothers
BBC News
27-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Army tailor struggling to support 'difficult' UK textile industry
A bespoke military tailor based at Sandhurst Academy, says UK supply chains in the textile industry are becoming "increasingly difficult".Samuel Brothers, established in 1830 in London, has previously had locations in Oxford Street, Clerkenwell Green and later in Aldershot, and now has a shop in Frimley Green as well as with those in the army, the company makes ceremonial dress and uniforms for the police and fire it making the end product more expensive, managing director Lee Dawson said the company supported the UK textile industry including for the cloth, braids, cotton, buttons and threads that make up the uniforms. "It's not for everybody and it does make the product more expensive," he said, adding that a suit would cost from £1,000."But if we don't support the supply chain in the UK, it disappears."If it disappears then, after nearly 200 years of doing what we've been doing, we will just disappear, and become a victim like so many other businesses and supply chains."He said over the last 20 to 30 years he had seen a demise in the industry which was "becoming increasingly difficult".The company is a royal warrant holder to the King, which Mr Dawson said was a privilege."It's all about excellence and promoting UK business, and promoting excellence and standards within textile industry," he said. Harriet Ramshaw, tailor and workroom manager at the company, previously trained at Sandhurst having joined the army in 2010 as a qualified toured Afghanistan in 2013, later training as a specialist surgical nurse and was deployed to Sierra Leona to support the Ebola army career ended in 2021, when she left for family matters and trained "under the wing" of Mr was "very much a change" from her nursing career, she said the role was "very varied", going from being based in the company shop measuring cadets or travelling to fit uniforms for other services."I get to see people when they first come in, a little bit nervous potentially about getting measured up for a uniform."But then I also get to see them at the end of the day wearing their uniform and looking really proud to be serving in the armed forces, fire service or police." Speaking ahead of Armed Forces Day on Saturday, Mr Dawson said it was important to recognise not just the soldiers but the service community, veterans charities and businesses which supported the forces."It's not just about our serving armed forces," he said. "It's about families who support our soldiers and officers who spend months away during very difficult and challenging times, and it's also about veterans and recognising and appreciating commitment they have made."
The Independent
16-03-2025
- General
- The Independent
‘Castlemen' suited up as historical Fort Guard to be restored to full strength
The UK's oldest private ceremonial military regiment is preparing to be restored to its original full strength for the first time in more than a century. Thirteen new warders of the Hillsborough Fort Guard, which dates back to 1660, will be presented with their warrants at a special ceremony in the Co Down village in May. The warders have been fitted out in their uniforms, specially crafted by bespoke tailors Samuel Brothers of Aldershot. It will be the first time the guard, which carries out ceremonial duties at Hillsborough Castle, the royal residence in Northern Ireland, has been at its full complement of 20 warders since 1890. The guard was created in the 17th century when a royal warrant was first issued by Charles II but went into decline in the 20th century when no new warders were recruited. For several years, only the bugler was left to carry on ceremonial duties until 2021 when the Marquess of Downshire issued warrants for six new warders as part of the reformation of the Fort Guard. The final restoration will see the guard, whose members are known as the 'Castlemen', return to its full strength of 20. One of the 13 new warders is Trevor Hill, who has a long family connection with the troop. He said: 'I have the pleasure of being the fourth generation connected to the Hillsborough Fort Guard. 'My late father-in-law was the bugler, his uncle was the bugler, before that the uncle's father was the bugler. 'Unfortunately, I don't have the same musical talent. 'We are unique that in the whole of the United Kingdom and Ireland, we are the longest running continuously existing private army or militia, having been formed on the 21st December 1660. 'We want to continue this unique piece of history. It is excellent for the Hillsborough village and surrounding areas to enhance it for all those living, working and socialising, and those coming to visit the wonderful village of Royal Hillsborough.' The Hillsborough Fort Guard takes a leading role in ceremonies in Northern Ireland which mark significant events for the royal family, such as the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022, the death of Queen Elizabeth II, and the coronation of the King. The guard wears a navy blue uniform with maroon facings, aside from the bugler who is outfitted in scarlet. Andrew Carlisle, the bugler for the guard, said it is important to keep alive the unique tradition. He said one of the biggest challenges in restoring the troop was to replicate the original uniforms. He said: 'It hasn't been an easy process because there are very few examples of the original uniform left. 'Going back in history, the original uniforms were made by local tailors; those trades and skills are fast disappearing, but we are privileged to have used Samuel Brothers tailors. 'The uniform doesn't come cheap and we have been very grateful to receive funding from Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council, Tourism NI and some very generous private donations. 'It is unique, no-one else can do this. There are only two private ceremonial regiments left in existence. 'When a visitor comes to Hillsborough they are going to see something they will not see anywhere else.' Lee Dawson, managing director of Samuel Brothers, recently visited the 'Castlemen' at their Sexton House base in Royal Hillsborough, to carry out final checks on the new uniforms. He said: 'It has been a really exciting project, about two years since we first engaged. 'We looked at what the existing uniform was, we wanted to hark back to the original uniform. It has taken some time but it has been worth the effort. 'It has been quite a journey, a journey that we have done together. It is going to be really exciting for Hillsborough and for Northern Ireland to see.'
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘Castlemen' suited up as historical Fort Guard to be restored to full strength
The UK's oldest private ceremonial military regiment is preparing to be restored to its original full strength for the first time in more than a century. Thirteen new warders of the Hillsborough Fort Guard, which dates back to 1660, will be presented with their warrants at a special ceremony in the Co Down village in May. The warders have been fitted out in their uniforms, specially crafted by bespoke tailors Samuel Brothers of Aldershot. It will be the first time the guard, which carries out ceremonial duties at Hillsborough Castle, the royal residence in Northern Ireland, has been at its full complement of 20 warders since 1890. The guard was created in the 17th century when a royal warrant was first issued by Charles II but went into decline in the 20th century when no new warders were recruited. For several years, only the bugler was left to carry on ceremonial duties until 2021 when the Marquess of Downshire issued warrants for six new warders as part of the reformation of the Fort Guard. The final restoration will see the guard, whose members are known as the 'Castlemen', return to its full strength of 20. One of the 13 new warders is Trevor Hill, who has a long family connection with the troop. He said: 'I have the pleasure of being the fourth generation connected to the Hillsborough Fort Guard. 'My late father-in-law was the bugler, his uncle was the bugler, before that the uncle's father was the bugler. 'Unfortunately, I don't have the same musical talent. 'We are unique that in the whole of the United Kingdom and Ireland, we are the longest running continuously existing private army or militia, having been formed on the 21st December 1660. 'We want to continue this unique piece of history. It is excellent for the Hillsborough village and surrounding areas to enhance it for all those living, working and socialising, and those coming to visit the wonderful village of Royal Hillsborough.' The Hillsborough Fort Guard takes a leading role in ceremonies in Northern Ireland which mark significant events for the royal family, such as the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022, the death of Queen Elizabeth II, and the coronation of the King. The guard wears a navy blue uniform with maroon facings, aside from the bugler who is outfitted in scarlet. Andrew Carlisle, the bugler for the guard, said it is important to keep alive the unique tradition. He said one of the biggest challenges in restoring the troop was to replicate the original uniforms. He said: 'It hasn't been an easy process because there are very few examples of the original uniform left. 'Going back in history, the original uniforms were made by local tailors; those trades and skills are fast disappearing, but we are privileged to have used Samuel Brothers tailors. 'The uniform doesn't come cheap and we have been very grateful to receive funding from Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council, Tourism NI and some very generous private donations. 'It is unique, no-one else can do this. There are only two private ceremonial regiments left in existence. 'When a visitor comes to Hillsborough they are going to see something they will not see anywhere else.' Lee Dawson, managing director of Samuel Brothers, recently visited the 'Castlemen' at their Sexton House base in Royal Hillsborough, to carry out final checks on the new uniforms. He said: 'It has been a really exciting project, about two years since we first engaged. 'We looked at what the existing uniform was, we wanted to hark back to the original uniform. It has taken some time but it has been worth the effort. 'It has been quite a journey, a journey that we have done together. It is going to be really exciting for Hillsborough and for Northern Ireland to see.'
