ICLT represents leather and industry in this year’s Lord Mayor’s Show

Staff and students from the University of Northampton’s Institute for Creative Leather Technology (ICLT) were fortunate enough to take part in the prestigious procession that was part of the Lord Mayor’s Show on Saturday 11 November.

Rachel Garwood, Director of the ICLT and Professor Tony Covington, Director of Research, were invited to join the Worshipful Company of Leathersellers’ on its float to represent industry and education.

They were joined by eight students; Calum Bryan, Barry Hanlon, Cadel Thomas, Aaran Humphries, Loren Buckingham, Beth Hudson, Kellie Neighbour and Victoria Lily Cuthbertson. The students were dressed to represent both the technology and science of leather making; with four in blue lab coats carrying red leathers (technology) and four in  white lab coats carrying test tubes (science).

Both Alumni of the University, Rachel and Tony were robed up in MSc and DSc gowns respectively to represent leather education. Notably Professor Covington holds the only DSc attributed to research in Leather Science in the world.

The Lord Mayor’s Show is a procession of more than 6,500 people, 165 horses, 20 bands and 35 carriages. It set off from Mansion House just after 11am to the Royal Courts before returning back to Mansion House. The various floats comprised of companies such as the Donkey Breed Society, Royal Air Force, Greene King, the AA, the Dogs Trust and Girl Guiding.

Rachel Garwood said: “It was a fantastic opportunity for both academics and students to be invited by the Worshipful Company of Leathersellers to be part of this prestigious procession. And with the great coverage by the BBC, it was an ideal opportunity to both highlight the charitable work carried out by the Leathersellers  and also increase the profile of leather education at the University of Northampton on a national level.”