Patricia Alban-Stanley

Having studied linguistics at university and then working in the media for several years, I made a career change in 2002 into the world of upholstery. After 3 years of intense City & Guilds training, I became the grateful recipient of the AMUSF President's Award as well as Upholders' 1st prize in Traditional Upholstery, which gave me the confidence to apprentice with Bruce Upholstery the following year. I went on to establish my own re-upholstery business, culminating in the launch of The Bespoke Footstool Company in 2016, where I still work as designer-maker delivering commissions to the high end interiors market. In 2020, my life turned upside down, when my son Sammy, aged just 13, died due to neglect by state agencies to support his disability needs. This led me to become a campaigner for social care including speaking on Woman's Hour, Radio 4 PM and BBC national news. On December 5th 2024, I launched the charity, Sammy's Foundation, which provides career opportunities in herita