Couture milliner Eda Rose takes office.

Eda Rose-Lawson was born and educated in Wales. She studied Art at Goldsmiths’ College, London, which led her into millinery, after some years of art teaching at Elmhurst Ballet School and at a number of further education establishments in the Surrey area. She is also a qualified teacher of English as a Foreign Language, although today, her activities are very much centred around fashion and, in particular, hats. Eda specialises in hand-made bespoke millinery, often embellished with  her trademark beadwork, and she enjoys the challenge of perfectly complementing her clients chosen outfit, for which she often liaises with the couturier concerned.

As a designer and milliner, Eda has raised much money for charity when invited to put on “ Eda Rose” hat shows and speak at various fund-raising events. On one occasion at a ladies luncheon hat show at Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire her efforts raised £22,000 for the Racing Welfare Charities, however her most memorable assignment was the request from Cunard to be guest lecturer for two weeks on the final leg of the QE2’s world cruise in celebration of the Queen’s Jubilee. Her luggage being augmented by a mere forty-five hats! All of which were professionally modelled in the grandest ballroom afloat on the last formal evening of the cruise.

Her husband, George, who has an exhibition business in the Midlands thinks he plays the “Dennis Thatcher” role to her on all Livery occasions. He has been a rowing enthusiast all his life, and it was at Henley when he was honorary press officer for the Regatta that they met. Eda shares his love of the river and rowing. Among her other interests are the Arts, Fashion, Theatre, Antiques and, of course the Feltmakers!