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<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#888888" TEXT="#080000" background="5b9c8393.jpg"> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="19aa7770.jpg" border=0 width="167" height="119" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>Our MD Taking a Nap Please Dont Distube.</B></div> <div> <B>  <a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?pub=burhide&url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" title="Bookmark using any bookmark manager!" target="_blank"><img src="http://s3.addthis.com/button2-bm.png" width="160" height="24" border="0" alt="AddThis Social Bookmark Button" /></a>   </B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="091a47b0.jpg" border=0 width="164" height="123" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>Leather </B><B>covers for a pair of oars. </B></div> <div> <B> Francis, preparing a top part of a cover for a wooden oar. To stop the wood wearing on the Rowlocks I was requested to  build in a stop at one end to avoid them going to far down. This was done using extra layers of leather. (You can see a finished oar on the bench). This & other types of Hand Stitching are fully described in Manual No.1.</B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>  </B><B> </B></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>THE LEATHER CONNECTION</B></FONT>     |     <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="THE LEATHER CONNECTION">home</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id41.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LEATHER STOP PRESS">LEATHER STOP PRESS</A>   |   <A HREF="id77.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="SCAM ALERTS">SCAM ALERTS</A>   |   <A HREF="_my_blogs__blog_links.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LEATHER BLOG LINKS LEATHER SEARCH">LEATHER BLOG LINKS & LEATHER SEARCH</A>   |   ABOUT US   |   <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="CONTACT US">CONTACT US</A>   |   <A HREF="sign_up_form.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LEATHER TRADE INFORMATION">LEATHER TRADE INFORMATION</A>   |   <A HREF="tlc_members_cloud_page.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="TLC MEMBERS CLOUD PAGE">TLC MEMBERS CLOUD PAGE</A>   |   <A HREF="tlc_members_cloud_page49.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="TLC LEATHER MANUALS SHOPPING CART">TLC LEATHER MANUALS SHOPPING CART</A>   |   <A HREF="sales_letter.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="SOFTWARE SHOPPING CART">SOFTWARE SHOPPING CART</A>   |   <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LEATHER HELP AVAILABLE">LEATHER HELP AVAILABLE</A>   |   <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" LEATHER INSTRUCTION MANUALS (CONTENTS)"> LEATHER INSTRUCTION MANUALS (CONTENTS)</A>   |   <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MANUALS PLUS OTHER INSTRUCTION BOOKS">MANUALS PLUS OTHER INSTRUCTION BOOKS</A>   |   <A HREF="id57.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LEATHER MANUALS (PURCHASING INSTRUCTIONS">LEATHER MANUALS (PURCHASING INSTRUCTIONS)</A>   |   <A HREF="id51.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="FREE DOWNLOADS FROM THE LEATHER CONNECTI">FREE DOWNLOADS FROM THE LEATHER CONNECTION</A>   |   <A HREF="id68.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="TLC ARTS, CRAFTS, DESIGN FASHION STORE ">TLC ARTS, CRAFTS, DESIGN & FASHION STORE </A>   |   <A HREF="id49.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LEATHER MANUAL USERS WITH SITES ">LEATHER MANUAL USERS WITH SITES  </A>   |   <A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="YOUR OWN FREE LEATHER NEWS PRESS RELEAS">YOUR OWN FREE LEATHER NEWS & PRESS RELEASES</A>   |   <A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LEATHER TRADE FOR SALE WANTED PAGE">LEATHER TRADE FOR SALE & WANTED PAGE</A>   |   <A HREF="everything_for_leather_work_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MONEY MAKING OFFERS">MONEY MAKING OFFERS</A>   |   <A HREF="id44.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ITALIAN FASHION LEATHER SPECIAL OFFERS">ITALIAN FASHION LEATHER - SPECIAL OFFERS</A>   |   <A HREF="id46.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="EXOTIC LEATHERS FROM TLC MPL THAILAND">EXOTIC LEATHERS FROM TLC & MPL THAILAND</A>   |   <A HREF="id64.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LEATHERGOODS MADE FROM SHAGREEN OTHER E">LEATHERGOODS MADE FROM SHAGREEN & OTHER EXOTIC SKINS FROM MPL </A>   |   <A HREF="id62.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ROJE STINGRAY (SHAGREEN) LEATHERGOODS">ROJE STINGRAY (SHAGREEN) LEATHERGOODS</A>   |   <A HREF="id50.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LEATHER PRESERVATIVES FROM OBENAUFS">LEATHER PRESERVATIVES FROM OBENAUF'S</A>   |   <A HREF="id52.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LEATHER WORKING TOOLS (TOP QUALITY) HALE">LEATHER WORKING TOOLS (TOP QUALITY) HALE & Co.</A>   |   <A HREF="id61.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="FURNITURE CLINIC FOR FURNITURE CARE">FURNITURE CLINIC FOR FURNITURE CARE</A>   |   <A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" LEATHER RELATED QUESTIONS ANSWERS"> LEATHER RELATED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS</A>   |   <A HREF="id48.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A HISTORY OF LEATHERGOODS">A HISTORY OF LEATHERGOODS</A>   |   <A HREF="id63.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HISTORY OF STINGRAY (SHAGREEN)">HISTORY OF STINGRAY (SHAGREEN)</A>   |   <A HREF="id47.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="VISITOR SERVICES">VISITOR SERVICES</A>   |   <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LEATHER MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES LISTS">LEATHER MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES LISTS</A>   |   <A HREF="id42.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LEATHER CRAFT TIPS">LEATHER CRAFT TIPS</A>   |   <A HREF="tlc_links.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="TLC LINKS">TLC LINKS</A>   |   <A HREF="id78.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="TLC LEATHER CRAFT MARKET PLACE">TLC LEATHER "CRAFT MARKET PLACE"</A>   |   <A HREF="tlc_web_site.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="THE LEATHER CONNECTION WEB SITE AGREEMEN">THE LEATHER CONNECTION WEB SITE AGREEMENT</A></div> <div> ABOUT US</div> <div> <U> <script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script>  </U></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Updated 17/12/08</B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Grenoble SF" ><U> <A NAME="this_site_is_operated_by_francis"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U></FONT><B>This site The Leather Connection, is operated by Francis Burdett-Mills (Chartered </B><B>MCIPD).</B><B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The Main advantage of joining this site are that the web master is a </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Georgia" ><B>"leading leather Craftsman".</B></FONT><B> </B><B>This provides you with the added advantage of a description of your business, book, organisation, college courses, etc. being described or reviewed by someone with a sound understanding & knowledge of his subject.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Francis has over 50 years experience in the leathergoods industry, this started with an Art & Design course, followed by a Leathergoods Course which led to the following: </B><B>Working for "Top London</B><B> </B><B>Companies"</B><B> as a bench hand producing leathergoods for; </B><B>all the Top London Stores,</B><B> then a supervisory & designer role with a Diary House, Works Manager then Works Director with another leathergoods company designing & producing display & fitted cases & finishing his career as a Head of Department at a London Leather College.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>As a Young man I worked for some of the top London Leathergoods Companies, making cases for </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Georgia" ><B>"Royalty"</B></FONT><B> (the late Duke of Windsor to be precise. Now that dates me). "Film Stars", (Marilyn Monroe was one when she married Arthur Miller The company I was working for at that time made a set of cases for them when they came to The UK on honeymoon). "Heads of State". After the demise of the British Empire most newly formed independent States had Chains of Office made for their new Presidents. 'Spinks the London Jewelers' made them & I made the cases to hold them. The chains were set in velvet frets so that the chains were displayed but would not move when the case was shut & carried. This is called fitted work & was my main specialty it will be dealt with in a later Instruction Manual (See Instruction Manuals).</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Qualifications. Include an Industrial Training Certificate & N.V.Q Teaching & Assessment Qualifications. Other areas of expertise: City & Guilds Moderator, a "listed Member of the Crafts Council" & extensive knowledge of all current methods of assessment.</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Georgia" ><B> I am also a Chartered Member of the Institute of Personal Development, MCIPD. All HR (Human Resources) Management in all large organisations have that Qualification & are responsible for Company staff training & Assessment.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Origins.</B><B> </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Georgia" ><B> In The 1970's I started using my extensive experience as a Consultant to the Leather Industry. & chose the Title FB-M Consultancy But on looking at the title nothing conveyed what the Consultancy was about. So I added what I thought was a catchy sub-title & called it 'FB-M Consultancy, The Leather Connection'</B></FONT><B> The Internet had not taken off in those days & I had no conception of what the significance of that caption could or would become as an online term. Naturally I registered it as a URL as soon as I was computer literate in preparation for this site. I was not able to afford to purchase all the combinations of this title, Nor do I claim to be the only one to think up this title, However the number of variations on The Leather Connection have increased since I launched this site. Most are genuine leather sites & I see it as a complement of a kind that others have adapted the title to their own use. Many other sites have now included links to this one.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>MCIPD Member of the Chartered Institute of Personal Development. Various levels of this qualification are available & the organisation can be found at, </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Georgia" ><A HREF="http://www.cipd.co.uk" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.cipd.co.uk"><B>http://www.cipd.co.uk</B></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B> As a Chartered CIPD member I am kept informed of all current training initiatives. We are beginning to see the emergence of e-training, this will work alongside traditional practical training either in training centers, or industry based schemes. It will eventually develop on a global scale according to Paul Turner CIPD Vice President. </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Georgia" ><B>(I offer all purchasers of my "Leather Instruction Manuals" On-line Help with any problems they may encounter). this complies with UK Government requirements for e-training, in fact they even list me on one of their "Skills Training sites" </B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Listings. All information listings & non profit organisations are taken from the web or other sources as & when information is found but they are notified of their inclusion & can be removed if an objection is made. All other site members are only included after a request to join has been received or permission given to add them.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>This site has been developed to provide a base where all participants in these crafts can be listed, find suitable supplies & machinery, contact each other & sell their products. Find suitable education & training, information on the organisations that exist within the industry. "For Researchers" there is information on books, magazines & museums & last but not least we have a section where you can sell those surplus items as well as a place for your latest news, awards, etc.</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="#this_site_is_operated_by_francis" TITLE="ABOUT US"><B>Back to Top of the Page</B></A></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>