Certificate

Certificate

Royal School of Art Needlework

6th December 1916

London

Ruby Essam's certificate on her graduation from the Royal School of Art Needlework's Diploma programme in 1916. She started at the school in 1913 and finally retired in 1976 aged 79.

This is the certificate presented to Ruby Essam on 6th December 1916 on the completion of her education at the Royal School of Art Needlework. This certificate is a Teacher's Diploma. It was signed by Princess Helena Christian, the School's President, Evelyn Bradshaw, the Principal, and Marguerite Randell, her teacher. Ruby Essam started at the Royal School of Art Needlework in 1913 and after her graduation she went straight into the RSAN's workroom. She worked on a number of royal events. In 2011 her great nephew brought into the Royal School of Needlework the certificate and a list of the major items that the school made for the coronation of George VI in 1937, as well as some of the media coverage of the work which included radio broadcasts on the BBC Empire Service. Ruby Essam also worked on the Robe of Estate for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, and was featured in The Sphere Magazine of 21 February 1953.

In her later career she worked on the Overlord Embroidery, a 34 panel commemoration of D-Day, which received considerable media coverage and for which she was also interviewed. Ruby Essam retired aged 79 in 1976, when she was then the longest serving member of the staff and received a pension of £36 a week. Her retirement was marked by a sherry party with the RSN Council on 6th July, an invitation to the party is in the RSN collection. Ruby Essam was one of the school's most remarkable stitchers, with a career lasting 63 years.

The inscription of the certificate reads:

'Royal School of Art Needlework
EXHIBITION ROAD, SOUTH KENSINGTON

PATRONS
THE KING
H.M. QUEEN MARY
H.M. QUEEN ALEXANDRA

PRESIDENT
H.R.H. PRINCESS CHRISTIAN
Princess of Great Britain and Ireland

This is to Certify that Ruby Essam having attended a Three Years course of Instruction at the Royal School of Art Needlework, South Kensington, and having fulfilled the required conditions by obtaining:--
1. Freehand Drawing Certificate. First Class. R.S.A.N. 1915
2. Plain Needlework Certificate. First Class. City.and.Guilds.of.London.Institute
has been awarded a TEACHER'S DIPLOMA with mark Very.Good by the above Royal School of Art Needlework, under their Red seal.
December 6th 1916

Helena
Prs Christian
Prs of Great Britain and Ireland
Evelyn Bradshaw
Principal
Marguerite Randell. Teacher.'

width: 42cm
height: 53cm

paper
ink

ARCH.2011.2

573/3