Rhonda Fraser Upholstery (Morecambe)

I began teaching Home Economics and textiles in a comprehensive school in 1969 after a three year course at Gloucester College of Education. My first involvement with upholstery and soft furnishings was in the 1970's when I completed a City and Guilds course at the Mid - Gloucester Technical college in Cheltenham. I also taught adult night classes at that time.

I then moved to Lancashire and had a family. I was appointed as an upholstery teacher at Lancaster and Morecambe College where I worked for 32 years initially as a tutor and latterly as the Programme Area Manager responsible for all Crafts.

The upholstery classes were at all levels from non vocational to City and Guilds Diploma Level. Several students won the City and Guilds prestigious Award of Excellence which is presented each year to the best student in the country in each study area. The Diploma courses included in depth History of Furniture and study of designers as well as extensive practical projects using both modern and traditional techniques.

In 2001 I became an External Verifier for City and Guilds for craft subjects in colleges in North West England.

From 2005 to 2007 I represented England as a member of a European group set up under the Leonardo de Vinci programme to develop consistent training standards and e-learning materials for craft subjects throughout Europe. This involved attending meetings and developing courses in co-operation with organisers and tutors of craft subjects from Norway, Spain, Estonia,Turkey, Bulgaria and Wales.

Since retiring from the College I have set up my own workshop where I provide tuition.