THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF UPHOLDERS TRAVEL BURSARY IN MEMORY OF PAST MASTER RAY USHER
Fiona Slattery Clark was the Upholders’ travel bursary winner for 2024. Fiona is Curator of Decorative Art Lady Lever Art Gallery, in Port sunlight, just outside Liverpool. Fiona recently gave Past Master Antony Usher a tour of the gallery which has a very diverse collection of artworks and artefacts, including the largest Wedgwood collection in the UK. Fiona used the bursary moneys to travel around institutions in the UK, including other museums, collections and stately homes, to understand more modern ways of presenting collections and displays. This experience has led to significantly improved displays, accessible to all age groups, at the gallery. If you are ever in the area, a visit is highly recommended. Past Master Antony Usher
Introduction
Have you ever dreamed of exploring an idea or undertaking research or study related to your trade and passion? If you have a great idea for a project here is an opportunity to be awarded up to £1,000 from the Ray Usher Fund towards your costs.
Eligibility
Applicants should be individuals over the age of 18 and normally resident in the UK. The scheme is open to applicants who want to undertake personal development or an educational project in the trades currently represented by the Company, namely upholstery and soft furnishings, the funeral trade and the bedding industry.
Concept
The project may for example relate to the applicant’s employment, training, education, or authorship of papers or books. The focus of the project could include: design, manufacture, service improvement, history, exhibitions and conferences.
The important thing is for you to be inspired with a worthwhile project of ongoing value to you and the craft or profession that you represent.
Previous recipients of the award have used it to fund a variety of projects, including attendance at the prestigious biennial International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works conference in Turin, travel to Finland to study Scandinavian upholstery techniques, and visits to specific UK museums and country houses to study interpretation and design of furniture displays.
Previous recipients of the award have benefited enormously from their experiences. Feedback has included ‘This experience has opened up a whole new world of conservation’, ‘It really broadened my horizons’, ‘I learned so much’, ‘The visits have all been fruitful … and have generated lots of ideas’, and ‘It was an amazing life experience for me and I hope that all I experienced and learned with benefit all of my students’.
Applications
Applications must be made on the attached application form and returned by the deadline date to the Clerk of the Worshipful Company of Upholders by post or by e-mail.
Please note that applications to cover travel costs from an individual’s residence to their usual and regular place of study are ineligible and will not be considered.
Two members of the Court of the Company will be the sole adjudicators of the entries and their decision will be final. No subsequent correspondence will be entered into.
The successful applicant will be required to submit a short report together with photographs within one month of completing their travel. The report, or an edited version of it, may be published in the Company’s newsletter, ‘Upbraid’ and on the Company’s website.
Successful applicants are expected to make due acknowledgement of the receipt of the bursary in any associated material produced by them in connection with their travels (e.g. articles, dissertations, journals, blogs).
2025 Timetable
The 2025 timetable is set out below:
| 30 April 2025 | Deadline for receipt of applications. |
| 31 May 2025 | Assessment of applications and notification of decision. |
| 1 June 2025 to 31 March 2026 | Period during which travel is expected to occur. |
| 30 days after travel completed | Submission of report by the successful applicant to the Clerk of the Company. |
About the Upholders
The Worshipful Company of Upholders is one of the ancient Livery Companies of the City of London and was formed on 1 March 1360. It received the grant of its Coat of Arms in 1465 in the reign of Edward IV, and was incorporated by a Royal Charter granted by King Charles I in 1626.
The term ‘Upholder’ is an archaic (ancient) word for ‘upholsterer’. In past times Upholders carried out not just the manufacture and sale of upholstered goods but were cabinet makers, undertakers, soft furnishers, auctioneers and valuers. It can trace its history back to the early days of the Craft Guilds in which were fostered the high quality of goods and the high standards of workmanship that have always been the pride of English industry.
Today the Company draws its membership from its traditional trades and from the present-day professional of the City. Its main purpose is to uphold the livery of the Worshipful Company of Upholders, ensuring it continues to flourish, to uphold the craft of the Upholder and, through charitable giving, uphold individuals and organisations connected with our trade and livery. More information can be found at www.upholders.co.uk.
About Ray Usher (1932 to 2017)
Thomas Raymond (Ray) Usher was Master of the Worshipful Company of Upholders in 2006-2007. Born in Easington Colliery, Co. Durham, he attended Sheffield University and then entered the insurance industry, ultimately becoming CEO of a large City-based international insurance group. He travelled extensively both for business and for pleasure and strongly believed in the importance of travel and the benefits it can bring to an individual’s education and development. This award is funded through the The Upholders Charity from a bequest made by the Usher family.
The Worshipful Company of Upholders
November 2024
The Worshipful Company of Upholders of the City of London 