A past president of Huddersfield Textile Society has been given a prestigious award.

Bill Skidmore, 70, has been presented with a Silver Woolsack for his commitment to the Worshipful Company of Woolmen and the presentation took place in The City of London at the Worshipful Company of Woolmen’s annual installation dinner for its new master.

Mr Skidmore, who edits The Woolman magazine, accepted the award both for himself and wife Jean. The couple have been married for 44 years.

He said: “We have worked as a team for many years and Jean helps me considerably editing The Woolman magazine.”

They recently helped put on an exhibition for London secondary school children in Apothecaries’ Hall to promote the skills and crafts of the City Livery Companies. In association with the Woolmark Company, the Worshipful Company of Woolmen’s stand showed the progression of wool direct from the sheep’s’ back as it is transformed into garments, upholstery fabric and carpets. This was helped by samples of raw fleece and scoured tops supplied by Haworth Scouring. Carpet samples from Westex Carpets in Cleckheaton and upholstery fabric from Camira Fabrics in Mirfield.

The Silver Woolsack was given to the Livery Company by Mrs Elizabeth Peacock, Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, ex MP for Batley and Spen as her gift to the company after serving as the first lady commoner, (HRH Princess Royal was the first female Master), in over 800 years of the Livery’s existence.

Mrs Peacock is also a member of Huddersfield Textile Society and while she was a MP did much for the local wool textile industry.

Bill has worked in the textile apparel industry for well over half a century in different capacities from retail display and marketing director to roles in education.

Since he retired he has worked tirelessly to promote Yorkshire Textiles and mentor students in further, higher and post graduate education. He has flown the flag especially in the south of England where many people think the Yorkshire Textile Industry died years ago.

Bill continually writes articles and offers advice to organisations like Trading Standards – if there is one thing that annoys him it is misrepresentation of textile goods.

Bill is a member of Bradford Textile Society and a long-serving member of Huddersfield Textile Society, serving on the committee for many years and was their president for four years between 2008 and 2012, the longest-serving president for more than 60 years.

The Worshipful Company of Woolmen supports fashion and textile students at the Huddersfield University, along with other UK universities.

Factfile

The Worshipful Company of Woolmen is one of the oldest of the Livery Companies of the City of London tracing its roots to 1180.

Originally it was the body that oversaw woolpackers and wool merchants to ensure consistent standards for wool producers and wool merchants throughout the wool industry.

It now combines its ancient history and traditions with an active role with the global wool industry.

Through its charitable trust it supports research into wool-related procedures and practices, provides bursaries for students of wool, textile, design, wool marketing and retailing and awards prizes and medals for sheep shearing at the major agricultural shows.

It works closely with its three wool industry partners, The British Wool Marketing Board, the Australian Woolmark Company and the Campaign for Wool.

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