In a quiet corner of Stalybridge, a former police sergeant’s uniform has been given a new beat, as a wingback chair that now takes pride of place in a family’s home.
The unusual transformation was carried out by Valley Upholstery after Lindsay Yates arrived at the workshop with a bundle of neatly folded tunics and a very personal request.
Lindsay’s father, who served as a Police Sergeant with Greater Manchester Police for almost 30 years before retiring in 1996, died in April last year, leaving behind a collection of uniforms stored in the family loft. “They were a bit musty, but they were all right,” she recalled, explaining how careful her mother had always been with his belongings. While some items were framed, it was her brother who suggested something more daring, turning one of the uniforms into an upholstered chair.
When Lindsay rang Valley Upholstery, she opened the conversation with a warning that she had “a really weird ask.” John, who runs the Stalybridge workshop, was unfazed, telling her that “nothing’s too weird” and inviting her to bring the garments and a chair in. The first chair she sourced proved too large for her father’s slim-cut tunic, forcing her to hunt down a smaller frame before the team could even begin.
Inside the workshop, upholsterer Fiona admitted she felt daunted as she laid the uniform out on the bench. “It was quite a scary moment,” she said. “Once you’ve cut into it, there’s no going back. I can’t put it back together again.” Police cloth, designed for long shifts and harsh weather rather than upholstery tacks and tight curves, added to the technical challenge. The team examined each panel, reinforcing weaker sections and carefully deciding where to place the most meaningful details, including the sergeant’s stripes, epaulettes and badge number G1817.
For John, the commission stood out even in a business used to unusual jobs, from campervans and caravans to pub seating and restaurant booths. “This wasn’t just a job. This was someone’s dad, someone’s memories,” he said, describing how every cut into the cloth felt like cutting into a life story.
The finished chair was kept under wraps until Lindsay’s return for a “big reveal” inside the workshop. As a countdown ended, the protective covering was lifted to show the dark uniform fabric now shaping the high back and arms, the stripes and insignia proudly on display where they can be seen and touched. “Oh, wow… that is so, so lovely,” Lindsay said, visibly moved as she ran her hand over the fabric. “It’s gorgeous. It’s better than I thought it would look… it’s really special.”
Fiona watched anxiously nearby but was quickly reassured. Lindsay, fighting back tears, said she was “so grateful to Fiona and Alan” for their work, calling the chair “amazing” and admitting she felt like crying because of how sentimental it was. She has already decided that “nobody’s sitting on it,” declaring it will be “the biggest ornament in the house.”
The chair is destined for a newly built garden room at Lindsay’s home, where it will sit alongside her father’s police cape and other memorabilia. “It feels like he’s still here,” she later told the upholsterers, describing how the finished piece brings part of him “back in the room.”
Valley Upholstery, which has recently been accepted into the Guild of Master Craftsmen, has noticed a growing trend across Greater Manchester for turning sentimental clothing from military uniforms to wedding dresses and baby clothes into functional heirlooms. For John, projects like Lindsay’s chair show why traditional craftsmanship still matters. “People trust us with things that matter,” he said. “It’s not just upholstery. It’s preserving stories.”
Speaking to voters following the Gorton and Denton by-election result
Andrew Gwynne responds to Greens win
Eight parties lose deposit in Gorton and Denton by-election
Have your say on responsible dog ownership
