Humphrey Sladden BEM 6/10/1931 - 4/4/2025
Humphrey died in early April this year at the celebrated age of 93. He was a staunch supporter of BAFRA since its inception and was awarded life membership for his valuable work in training restorers in the BAFRA principles of good practice and being a great ambassador for the organisation.
I have had the huge privilege of knowing Humphrey for more than 50 years, since our first meeting at West Dean College, where we both trained on the BADA West Dean Diploma course in professional furniture restoration. Humphrey, on a career change from farming, and me, fresh out of furniture making college. Our benches were opposite one another in the narrow workshop and I soon developed an admiration for his intelligence, drive, and good humour.
Following many years of running a successful restoration business and training young restorers in commercial practice, he made the move to become a full-time tutor at West Dean College on the course that we had attended so many years earlier. My own career change in the 1990s saw me take up a post as a tutor at West Dean and again I had the great good fortune to work with Humphrey, this time as my co-tutor. His intelligent decision making and positive attitude were a boon to me and the students and remained with him to the end. We had a long telephone conversation earlier this year discussing the future of the furniture restoration business and generally putting the world to rights.
Humphrey will be sadly missed by all who knew him, as a tutor, mentor, and above all, a good friend. His professional legacy lives on in the many restorers that he taught and encouraged over the years.
Humphrey’s funeral service will be held at the church of St Mary and St Gabriel, South Harting, GU31 5QB on 16th May 2025 at 2pm.
Adrian Smith, LVO, ACR.
BAFRA President.