On the 1st of March 2012 I was fortunate enough to meet HM Queen Elizabeth, having been invited to the first official engagement of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations in London. The event was held in the newly refurbished Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon at Fortnum & Mason, one of the most acclaimed and prestigious stores in the English capital. HRH Duchess of Cornwall and Duchess of Cambridge were also in attendance, along with the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, among other dignitaries.

The invite resulted from my involvement in the exhibition ‘Celebrating Excellence’ where the quality of my work earned me a selection among 32 recipients of a scholarship from the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST). The charitable arm of the Royal Warrant Holders Association (RWHA), QEST supports people working in traditional arts and crafts to study, and many of the scholars are now expert s and leaders in their particular field. Since 1990 QEST has helped 230 scholars to learn more about their discipline, and is fundamental in protecting and maintaining these traditional skills, many of which are in danger of disappearing. In 2002 I was awarded a scholarship to study Furniture Design and Craftsmanship (Fine Craft) at the renowned Buckingham Chilterns University College.

For more information you can download the PDF version of the article published in June 2012 issue of The Goldsmith.

- Jon