I thought it would be a good idea to post here about the great news that my father Hector Cole has been awarded an MBE for Services to Heritage Crafts in the 2015 New Year's Honours! He is really thrilled to get recognition for the 45 years of dedicated work specifically for his arrow-smithing and also within the broad spectrum of iron-working but, as many people will know, there is a lot more behind the award than is ever printed in the press. I would like to share some of this information with you. My sister Rebecca first brought up the idea of nominating Dad for an award, she thought he would be a great candidate for an honour and started to look into it. There is a lot of work behind the scenes to make it happen and we were too late for that year so put it on the back burner. In 2014 I saw a tweet from www.heritagecrafts.org.uk asking if anyone knew a suitable crafts person to nominate for an honour. I immediately tweeted back suggesting my Dad, Hector and it snowball

Melissa Cole - Artist blacksmith with over 25 years experience based in the Pewsey Vale near Marlborough, Wiltshire, England. Making hand made contemporary designed ironwork for the home and garden from forged steel and wrought iron. . Commissions taken for bespoke gates, railings and public and private sculptures. Private tutor running blacksmithing and sculptural metalwork courses from her forge in Wiltshire. https://linktr.ee/melissacole001