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Saddlers take on 174-mile Walsall to London charity cycle ride to shine spotlight on traditional leathermaking skills

A team of liverymen have set off on a 174-mile charity ride from Walsall Leather Skills Centre to London to help shine a spotlight on a traditional heritage craft and raise cash for charity along the way.

By Beverly Rademacher
Published

Members of the Worshipful Company of Saddlers rode off from the craft centre, located at The Bridge in Walsall town centre, on Thursday morning to take on a 166-mile ride back to Saddlers Hall in London.

Walsall Leather Skills Centre, The Bridge, Walsall, on Thursday July 17, start of a charity cycle ride involving 16 riders to Saddlers Hall, London. Pictured centre in the red helmet, Lucy Atherton with, left, Philip Napier.
Walsall Leather Skills Centre, The Bridge, Walsall, on Thursday July 17, start of a charity cycle ride involving 16 riders to Saddlers Hall, London. Pictured centre in the red helmet, Lucy Atherton, with, left, Philip Napier.

The 16-strong team of freemen and liverymen, aged from their 20s to their 70s, were raising money for Shelter From The Storm - a charity which provides free emergency night shelter for people experiencing homelessness.

They were also hoping to raise awareness of other good causes supported by the Saddlers including Riding for the Disabled Association and The Horse Trust along the way.

Walsall Leather Skills Centre, The Bridge, Walsall, on Thursday July 17, the start of a charity cycle ride involving 16 riders to Saddlers Hall, London.
Walsall Leather Skills Centre, The Bridge, Walsall, on Thursday July 17, the start of a charity cycle ride involving 16 riders to Saddlers Hall, London.

Saddlery has been central to Walsall for generations, and training centres like the Walsall Leather Skills Centre are helping to keep the hands-on skills needed to sustain the heritage craft.

The centre offers a variety of training courses for the saddlery and leather trades including apprenticeships in Leather Craftsperson (Level 2) and Bespoke Saddler (Level 3). It also offers the City & Guilds Level 2 and Level 3 Diploma in Saddlery (Bridle, Saddle and Harness) for those wishing to become a qualified saddler, as well as courses for people wanting to develop craft leatherworking skills for pleasure or business.

Patrick Burns, director of the Walsall Leather Skills Centre and an honorary member of the Worshipful Company of Saddlers, said: “Every year the company chooses a charity to support with their fundraising and carry out a number of fundraising events throughout the year and this year it’s Shelter From The Storm.”

Walsall Leather Skills Centre,The Bridge, Walsall, July 17. Start of a charity cycle ride involving 16 riders to Saddlers Hall, London.
Walsall Leather Skills Centre,The Bridge, Walsall, July 17. Start of a charity cycle ride involving 16 riders to Saddlers Hall, London.

He said it’s hoped the charity bike ride will raise around £16,000 to £20,000 for the cause as well as raising vital awareness of the “endangered” heritage craft skill of leathermaking.

Mr Burns previously worked for the Worshipful Company of Saddlers before taking on the role of director at the not for profit skills centre in Walsall after retiring in 2022.

He said the Company has been a great supporter of the centre which has only been up and running for a few years since August 2020 and he added: "This is only the start of the Walsall Leather Skills Centre, I have an ambition to expand it into a larger space."

He currently works pro bono for the facility, which is sponsored by The Worshipful Company of Saddlers, but he added: "We have some great tutors and teachers here.”

Among them is Catrien Coppens - the King’s saddler and harness maker - who teaches at the centre to pass on her skills to the next generation.

Walsall Leather Skills Centre, The Bridge, Walsall, on Thursday July 17; the start of a charity cycle ride involving 16 riders to Saddlers Hall, London.
Walsall Leather Skills Centre, The Bridge, Walsall, on Thursday July 17; the start of a charity cycle ride involving 16 riders to Saddlers Hall, London.

The charity cycle riders, who have been nicknamed the 'Sore Saddlers' are expected to arrive in London on Saturday afternoon after their epic ride from the Black Country.