Family Firm Expresses Honor in Restoring Royal Concorde Seats

A family-owned business, assigned the task of refurbishing the seats from the Concorde aircraft utilized by the Royal Family, stated that contributing to historical preservation was an honor. The Leather Repair Company, situated in Hull, has commenced the restoration of seats aboard Concorde G-BOAC. This particular aircraft draws thousands of annual visitors to the Runway Visitor Park (RVP) located at Manchester Airport. Carolynne and Richard Hutchins indicated that they volunteered to restore the seats without charge, having observed their need for care during a previous visit. G-BOAC, also referred to as Alpha Charlie, represented the second Concorde delivered to British Airways in 1976. It served as transport for numerous celebrities and members of royalty, such as Princess Diana and the late Queen Elizabeth II. The couple mentioned they are employing a unique mixture for the refurbishment of the leather seats, a formula specifically created by them for Concorde. Mrs. Hutchins commented: “We are really lucky to do what we do and work on some amazing items.” She continued: “We’ve had lots of things in from all over the world, but to work on something that has travelled all over the world is just really humbling.” She further stated that the initial exciting moment occurred during the seat removal process, when they discovered lost items, such as chocolate from New York, lodged in the sides. Mr. Hutchins added that the experience felt “so special”. He remarked: “This particular Concorde was used by the late Queen and the royal family. It’s the only one they ever did use,”. He concluded: “For us, we are preserving history and the heritage for the country.” The supersonic jet, capable of flying at twice the speed of sound, completed its last commercial flight from Manchester on 22 October 2003. Seven days subsequent to this, the premier aircraft within British Airways’ Concorde fleet landed in Manchester for the final occasion, destined for exhibition at RVP.