Roy Theobald was born into a family of upholsterers. His father, Maurice Theobald, worked for Coopers of Gravesend, Kent, where he met Roy’s mother, an upholstery seamstress. The tradition of craftsmanship ran deep in the family — Roy even kept his father’s 150-year-old carding machine, a symbol of the heritage that shaped his career.
As a child, Roy spent countless hours helping his father in the workshop during school holidays, learning patience, precision, and the value of traditional techniques. In honour of his father, Roy later named his Hawkhurst workshop Maurice House.
He served a traditional four-year apprenticeship at the Royal Albert Dock, London, working on ships for P&O, British India and New Zealand Lines, while studying at the London College of Furniture (now London Metropolitan University) and earning his City & Guilds Certificates.
Trained by renowned author and tutor Robert McDonald, Roy went on to work for Barratt & Boltons in Curtain Road and later Maples of Tottenham Court Road — once the world’s largest and finest furniture store. There he produced work for Harrods, Hammonds, Harvey Nichols, the House of Lords, the House of Commons and numerous embassies. His craftsmanship reached clients as far as Paris, Buenos Aires and Dallas, Texas.
In 1975 Roy established his own business, Theobald Upholstery. Over the decades he undertook prestigious commissions for leading Livery Halls in the City of London, heritage venues, and private clients across the UK.
Roy’s dedication to the trade led to his lifelong involvement with professional guilds. He joined the Association of Master Upholsterers & Soft Furnishers in 1976, became a Fellow in 1991 and served as President in 2005–2006. He was a member of the Guild of Traditional Upholsterers and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Upholders. In 2006 he received the Merit Award from the Worshipful Company of Upholders (City of London).
Roy’s passion for traditional skills extended to teaching and public demonstration. He appeared on radio and television and showcased his craft at Alexandra Palace, Hatfield House, Penshurst Place, The Kent Show and the BBC Homes Show at the NEC.
Through his warmth, generosity and devotion to the trade, Roy Theobald inspired countless upholsterers. His spirit lives on through the workshop he founded and the craftsmanship he championed.