Our Patchwork Templates originally came into being during the 1980's, by a Quilter and Husband couple called Alan and Bernie Barmby, from Garstang.
My wife Wendy had taken up Quilting in the early 1980's and had been introduced to Alan and Bernie, by our friend Janette Fairer, who had just opened Patchwork Plus. Wendy had acquired a number of template packs, and had always been more than pleased with them. I had met Alan on at least one occasion and he was introduced as - " The man who makes the Templates "
By 1998 I had decided to take early voluntary retirement from British Telecom, where I had worked as an engineer for 33 years. At the same time Alan Barmby was trying to find a husband and wife quilting couple to take over making the templates.
Wendy and her quilting friends decided I would be the ideal candidate, and so on 1st April 1998 ( yes I know - April Fool's Day ) I was gathered into the Quilting Fold, and I suppose gained the Title - " The man who makes the Templates "
Unfortunately Alan died just before we took over, which was very sad, but we have strived to follow in Alan’s footsteps and provide the quality product and service that he had done for so many years. Many thanks to Bernie in that difficult time for the help and support she gave us in those early years.
Needless to say Wendy is THE BOSS and Quilter, amply backed up by various factions from the Furness Shoreline Quilters. Then there is me ( Roy ) my list of titles varies from Head of Manufacturing, IT Manager and so on, down to Cleaner and Errand Boy. So there we are, not a large or even a medium sized business, but part of the cottage industry of Cumbria, well you know what they say - small is beautiful.