Manky Monkey Motors

Not gone gone, just retired.
I've been using the same upholsterer in Newbury, Berkshire for 35 years or more. He's covered all my custom bike & trike seats, as well as my Morris Minors & made all the panels for my Pop, including several different versions of the seats, (I kept changing my mind).
Phil's been in the game for nearly 50 years & started with a 5 year apprenticeship before going it alone. He worked from a double garage behind his house.
Back in December though he had a major health scare, with a damaged lung. He's convinced it was caused by decades of breathing in glue & paint fumes. So at 66 years old, he's packed it in. He's sold the Rover V8 engined mark 2 Cortina he's had all the time I've known him & started selling off his collection of electric guitars, (60 or so at the last count).
So one more old school tradesman gone. No idea who to go to now, but fortunately I'm not planning any more builds.
I salvaged an old stool for my garage recently & had the legs powder-coated then bought some yellow vinyl to match my tool cabinet for a couple of quid on Ebay. He recovered it for me for free this afternoon while I waited.
Phil Silk, you'll be missed.

I use Glenn Moger in chandlers ford

Not heard of him. All the guys I used to know have gone now.

Also got Dave the trimmer out yately way

Don't know him either.

Recommneded craftmen can be difficult to find........

Maybe worth putting links to some of these guys in the "Links to Commercial Services" ?

Just what I was thinking Tony.

slightly deviating, when I was an apprentice, depending where you were in the entrance exam pecking order you could choose "departments". Engineering trade or craftsmen trade. I first went into pattern making for the foundry but didn't make the cut after 6 months, however enough promise was seen to put me into the Coppersmith shop as a craft apprentice. There were only a few craftsmen in shipbuilding, the others were tradesmen. Crafts were Pattern making, Coppersmiths and joiners, joiners had upholstery section and also flag making shop, remember this is a Royal Naval dockyard. On finishing your apprenticeship, I was one of the last full 5 year lads, you took a few skill test to determine where you would go. I was considered a submariner boy after 18 months on the old Ark Royal. As a "craftsman" you received extra money for your grade A duties. Brazing and welding on Submarines were a 100% pass rate requirement. As a Coppersmith you were also entitled to a milk allowance to combat the arsenic and cadmium found in our duties, this was removed as they found it didn't work . It was a standing joke that Coppersmiths never saw their pensions! Glad to say newer health and safety helped me get mine  ;)