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Bradgates Upholstery Service, Saffron Walden (2026)

06/06/2026

A Tribute to Charles Napier,

I would like to pay a tribute to this amazing Man
Charles Napier 50th Infantry ( Desert Rat ), who’s Regiment were summoned back from the deserts in preparation to be on the Normandy landings on Gold beach 82yrs ago, to what I’m sure was a horrific mind blowing sight to them all that day,
most of us will never be able to imagine im sure !!,
I was lucky enough to sit beside this man as a teenager and roll ci******es for him and with him and listen to some amazing stories from his desert rat days, about firing blanks to scare off the enemy to save real amo, but mainly hand to hand fights, nothing to heavy though, he was a super Husband to his wife Kit, katherline, a great strong Man and role model to their Daughter Christine Powell and grandchildren David Powell, Tracey Powell and my ex wife Tina Powell,
I remember them days very clearly and thinking, wow that cigarette case is amazing, very lucky to have known him for a few years until his funeral with military honours and sending off in Harlow Essex,
What a Great Man indeed, what so many of them would have seen and gone through like ( Nap ) his Knick name, the ones that survived were extremely lucky to go back to their families or go on to have families of their own afterwards,
We can only salute these former heroes Men and Women that made the ultimate sacrifice and thank them every year for what they endured and did for us all,
God Bless them all,

A proud Grandson Dave Powells words below said to me earlier, who has kept all his medals and War time records safe and sound for future handing down to his children,

These pictures showing his books , pay booklet , release papers , his cigarette case that went with him from start to finish of the war , cap badge and the trench art lighter he had made out of a casing,
I love to see honour given to the greatest man I ever had in my life , these items will never leave my side while I’m breathing and I’ll make sure there kept after that he will never be forgotten 🫶🏻

He was a front line bayonet fighter with blanks to scare them but was mostly hand to hand with his bayonet on his rifle…
He was in the desert so long and so many years he became brown skinned for rest of his life too !
Very quite unassuming man with the strength of a hundred is wot he was to me Doug, and his family,

Forever Remembered Dave, Chris, Tina & Trace for sure.

30/05/2026

Thanks Wayne for sending me your Uniform to create in to a Uniform Chair, footstool and cushion for you and your family,
Thanks for sending me your super great career bio and pictures, wow !!,
I look forward to doing the same to your Mess Dress at the end of the year when your ready,
Until then enjoy ya cat naps in ya No:2s
Many thanks again
Dougie

12th May 2026

A soldier that has served 24years exemplary military service

Military career Bio

Wayne Lawrence Heeley

2nd Battalion the Royal Anglian Regiment The Poachers

Joined the Army July 1985 as a Junior soldier and trained as a recruit Infantry soldier in Bassingbourn barracks Royston Hertfordshire.

Former British Army Non-Commissioned Officer with over 24 years of experience in force protection, security operations, and risk management within high-threat environments including the Middle East. Completed a number of training teams for the Saudi National guard and the Sierra Leon national guard.

Extensive background leading multinational teams, conducting security assessments, and coordinating operational safety procedures in oil and gas sectors. Currently specializing in security consultancy and risk mitigation for critical infrastructure in the Oil and gas industry in Iraq.

Served all over the world including

Saudi – Iraq Basra Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Riad

Gulf War - Bosnia War – Afghanistan – Africa, Nigeria, Sierra Leon – Monaco

6 Operational Tours of Northern Ireland from 1986 – 2000

Presented with a number of operational medals for Ireland, Gulf, Bosnia.

Best achievement – Long service and good conduct medal.

Worked in commercial security now for over 15 years and been fortunate to work with some excellent very professional people for a number of different companies.

Now working for an Oil company in Iraq Basra…

Stand out times – Afghan, Monaco, Africa Nigeria.

Finished my career in the Military in January 2007 which was my 40th Birthday

Came through the ranks quickly and left service as a W02 Warrant officer – Fire support Coy CSM.

13/04/2026

Great to meet you Steve and Charlie
Last week for the big handover of your chair,
And thank you for the great photos and bit of info on you career.
Made me laugh when you said last time you tried your tunic on it was like putting a straight jacket on lol 😂 ( bit tight ) but now you can fit ( sit ) back in it anytime you like 👍 well done for coming to me to make that happen mate, lovely stuff,
Enjoy
Many thanks
Dougie.

Hi Dougie-just in having stopped on route . Charlie & me both ❤️the chair. Amazing work & very comfy. I spent 22 years in the marines serving all over all the globe. Last few years I completed several tours of Afghanistan. Thanks again Steve

25/03/2026

Great to meet Neil last week for the uniform chair handover in Coventry, a half way journey to meet up for us both as can’t trust couriers anymore with these special chairs,
Thanks so much Jenny for all your communications and making it happen for you all,
Cheers Neil for sharing your career bio and photo of the chair at home now,
as some of the previous clients can’t and I totally understand that and appreciate why they can’t, so if your able to it’s a great read for me and the many thousands of followers of this business page, 8,000 or more now in fact, so it’s very much appreciated on any career biography thats able to be shared for the many that like to follow these wonderful Men and Women that ask me to transform their uniforms in to future family heirlooms as memory chairs, and out on display in pride of place at home to look at and be admired, instead of being hung up in a dark wardrobe or in a cold box in the loft,
So thanks again Neil and Jenny.
Best regards
Dougie.

Neil joined the Royal Signals in 1996, completing training at ATR Pirbright before posting to 7 Signal Regiment in Germany and deploying on Operations in the Kosovo and then posting back to the UK. Following further operational service in Northern Ireland, Iraq, Afghanistan and promotion to Corporal, Neil moved on as a Phase 1 instructor at ATR Lichfield , where he trained new recruits and was promoted to Sergeant. After successfully passing selection for 299 Signal Squadron (Special Communications), he deployed worldwide with the unit, later becoming Staff Sergeant responsible for delivering Special Communications training and pre-deployment preparation. Promoted to Warrant Officer Class 2, SSM at 21 Signal Regiment and subsequently Warrant Officer Class 1, Neil returned as Regimental Sergeant Major of 299 Signal Squadron (SC) from 2018 until retiring after 24 years of service.

12/03/2026

Great to be of service to Stuart and his family for the Naval Uniform Chair creation and now a lovely family heirloom to treasure, im informed Stuart has already had several snoozes in it now it’s at home, enjoy and relax when you get chance,
All the best from us here,
Many thanks
Dougie,

10/02/2026

Post update on 08.03.26
Sadly Gary’s wife Heidi passed away last week on the 01.03.26 after long battle with her health, they can now be at peace together forever more,
It was a pleasure to meet them both such a short time ago, can’t believe such lovely couple could both go so young,
RIP Heidi and Gary,

Extremely sad message came through yesterday evening from Heidi one of our lovely customers from last September,
Sadly Gary Veacock passed away on the 12th of January, very unexpectedly,
Heidi invited me to put this message on the business page for any of Gary’s colleagues who knew or served with him in the Royal Marines,
His funeral with full Military service will be held on the 16th February at Lympstone training camp Devon,

It was an absolute pleasure to meet you Gary and Heidi,
And I’ll cherish the gifts Gary went out of his way to send to me for creating his chair, i know how much he loved it, but sadly only got 4 months with it,
I’m sure his lovely great presence will live on in the home with it and chats around it,
RIP Gary.

08/02/2026

Grandad Bill Cooper’s favourite comfy chair was a fitting memory for Rob and his family and so it was to be proudly created / turned into a family heirloom with his RAF uniform, to then be put on show and in pride of place in his house after loosing such a great man to whom he looked up to in life, Bill told his grandson Rob the only regret in his life was not to join up in the Military services, but was extremely proud of Rob for all his achievements in doing what he would have loved to have done, although he was in the Fire Service in London himself, Rob said he was proud his Grandad still served in a great Uniform himself in service.
I was a great pleasure to do this for you all Rob and your family, enjoy the many conversations and memories around your chair and future memories to be had and talked about around it,
Thanks for sending the great many pictures of your past career Rob,
And many many thanks for coming to me for this work to be done on your Grandads chair,
take care,
Dougie.

19/01/2026

7 years ago we were asked if we could create 2 Uniform Chairs for the most seriously injured survivor from the Afghanistan War, Lance Bombardier MBE Ben Parkinson, one for his personal use as a gift from his close friends from his Charity the Pilgrim Bandits out of his his No:1s Dress Uniform that he wore when collecting his MBE award from the King the then Prince Charles, The chair was a surprise to Ben from them at the Charity and awarded to him from the Mayor of Chesterfield,
The Chair Now features in a portrait of himself sitting in his Uniform Chair we created for him at the Doncaster Museum, it was a tribute to him and other veterans injured and for their courage given in conflicts around the Workd, it now hangs in the Danum Library Gallery and Museum at Doncaster.

The other Chair was his No:2 Dress uniform that we put on the 2nd Chair this was for his final leaving drinks event, it was auctioned off from the Pilgrim Bandits at the event to raise funds to send a few injured ex soldiers over to an Arnhem Memorial event.
And I have just last week received some pictures from the winning bidder Simon from that night,
Lovely to see it at home with you Simon and look forward to creating one from your own personal Uniform some day soon we hope, to sit beside Ben’s,
Lucky man to have won that auction what a bit of history you have there.
Great stuff Simon.
Cheers
Dougie.

11/01/2026

The second Christmas secret surprise chair was organised by Sarah for her husband Guy, and Wow 🤩 what a career, every lads dream when growing up to be a fast jet pilot, he certainly achieved that goal and more,
It was a pleasure to create this chair for them all,
Thanks for the great pictures and bio Sarah,
Take care and many kind regards,
Dougie.

04/01/2026

First post of 2 Christmas secret surprise Uniform Chair gifts,
Always great to do these surprises,
Thanks Mav it was a lovely meeting you last year and well done for keeping it a surprise gift for Mark,
Take care and enjoy it,
Thanks for the great bio and photos, always great for us and many of the business page followers to read.
Many kind regards
Dougie / Bradgates

Marks career bio,

Many thanks, Dougie – the chair came as a total but very welcome surprise.
I joined the Royal Corps of Signals in January ’92, sampling the delights of the aptly named Helles barracks before moving up the road to Vimy barracks and trade training as a Telecommunications Mechanic – Basically BT, but with a gun!
My first posting was Cypris, up the mountain to Troodos / Olympus before moving down to RAF Akrotiri with a 6-month spell with the UN in Nicosia.
This was followed by a move to H Troop, 220 Sig Sqn, part of 21 Sig Regt at RAF Bruggen in ’95 with a stint in Ascension Island before a posting to JCUNI on 1998.
Promotion to Cpl in Jan 2000 saw me move back to RAF Bruggen again this time as part of 16 Sig Regt. Watching the last RAF Tornado fly out on full reheat as the Army were moving in, was a deafening highlight. Deployments to various areas of the Balkans helped break up the time spent here.
From Germany I moved in 2003 back to Cyprus and RAF Akrotiri (again!!) Promoted to Sgt on posting to 39 Inf Bde & Sig Sqn in July 2005, where I was part of the operations support team had me involved with the drawdown of the military presence in the province.
2007 had me moving overseas again, this time to Gibraltar and a thoroughly enjoyable 3 ½ years spent with the Royal Navy and RAF, in what was a career highlight.
2010 saw my last posting, again to 16 Sig Regt in Javelin Barracks (what was RAF Bruggen) for a 7 month tour of Afghanistan, before reaching the end of my 22 year career in January 2014.
In February 2015 I decided that I hadn’t had enough of the Army and joined the Reserve, with 81 Sig Sqn, a direct mirror unit of my trade in the Regular army, whom I’d met and worked with on several occasions in the past.
Promotion to SSgt finally arrived in 2019 and I really enjoyed the admin & social aspect of this close bond unit. Highlights included a cable installation deployment at Blanford camp, (the home of the Royal Corps of Signals) and also cracking formal dinner night on HMS Victory.
During this period, I also started helping at my kids’ local ACF detachment, where I still parade each week but now as the detachment commander.

I hope that’s what you need, all the best and thanks again.

Bradgates Upholstery Service

06/06/2026

30/05/2026

13/04/2026

25/03/2026

12/03/2026

10/02/2026

08/02/2026

19/01/2026

11/01/2026

04/01/2026

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Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm