UKLF centenary celebrations

However, this was an extremely enjoyable occasion which was attended by a number of past presidents including Colin Bacon (1982-3), Fergus Watson (1983-4), Dr Tony Marriott (1996-97) and Michael Pearson (1991-2), to name a few. Dr Robert Sykes, past director of the British Leather Confederation, was also there.

A European flavour was provided by holding the dinner on the night before the latest scheduled Cotance meeting, making it possible for Salvatore Mercogliano and Fulvia Bacchi of UNIC to attend. Other overseas representatives included Nalle Johansson, Elmo Leather Sweden and new president of Cotance; Herman and Monica Hulshof, the Netherlands; Jean-Claude and Jane-Danielle Ricomard and Sophie Hivert, France; Reinhard Schneider, Germany; Per and Christine Lennartsson, Sweden; Josep Balbé, Spain; and Gustavo Gonzáles-Quijano, Cotance general secretary. The Ethiopian Ambassador Berhanu Kebede was also present.

Mike Dodd, Pittards, welcomed guests and commented on the current state of the economy: ‘To say we live in changing times is something of an understatement.' Despite the general decline in the industry he said that some 200 Northampton companies are still involved in the leather industry to some extent and he felt that this constituted a cluster.

He gave special thanks to Paul Pearson and Sue Ivett for their organisational support and also paid tribute to the Leather Working Group saying few could pull together such an initiative which brings together all the major leather brands.

Owen Patterson, MP and Liveryman, said that ‘100 years is one hell of an achievement. Those who have stuck through the trials and tribulations really do deserve congratulations.' He also felt that while a third of the world's leather is made in China, Italy has held up very well.

He believes that a precautionary, safety first mentality was influencing the industry and described REACH as an absolute killer. He thought that it was very important to have the federation to stand up for the industry. While food self-sufficiency has gone down to a ludicrous extent, the leather industry currently has a greater added value than the food industry. Since the food industry is here to stay, the hides and skins and byproducts will continue to be available and the smart people will add value.

Nalle Johansson, owner of Elmo and newly appointed president of Cotance, had mixed feelings. He said the European tanning industry is facing the toughest of times. Not only is furniture leather suffering but automotive leather and others sectors are on the same track.

There is a financial crisis and the banks have not been so successful in tidying up the mess. As a result ordinary companies will have to pay the bill. However, he did not believe the tanning industry would be killed off. With a lot of skilled workers and owners prepared to take the risk, he prophesised a tough 2009 with only the fittest surviving.

The first ever president of the federation was Sir John Turney while the role of honorary president was filled by J Telfer, Master of the Leathersellers Company, who hosted the first meeting in October 1908. In 1918, the association changed its name to the Federation of Curriers, Light Leather Tanners and Dressers and Marjorie Atkinson was appointed as the first full-time secretary.

In 1919 it was formally incorporated as the United Tanners Federation but the name was changed to the British Leather Federation in 1950. In 1954 the Leather Institute was formed, bringing together the Sole Leather Publicity Committee, the Full Chrome Publicity Committee and the British Tanning Extracts Manufacturers' Association.

The BLF merged with the UTF in 1962 to represent the industry as a whole while retaining the BLF name. Twenty odd years later, in 1983, the BLF was merged with the British Leather Manufacturers Research Association to form the British Leather Confederation (BLC). It was at this point that the combined organisation moved to Northampton under the leadership of Dr Robert Sykes.

Another change came about in 2000 when the BLC was restructured as BLC Research, the parent company (which holds the historic assets of the former BLF and BLMRA) and BLC Leather Technology Centre Ltd, the commercial operating company which encompasses the UK federation activities. In 2005 the UK Leather Federation split from the BLC to form a separate operating company to allow both organisations to focus on their individual core activities.

The initial growth and decline of the UK industry can be charted by the rise and fall in membership. Ten years after its formation the association had grown to more than 300 but by the half century there were only 245 listed. Of the twenty remaining today, UKLF say this represents the vast majority of the UK producing industry.