Princess Anne Visits Dents Glove Factory in Warminster

The Princess Royal visited Warminster in Wiltshire on Friday 9th December to officially open glove makers Dents new factory.

Dents has been based in Warminster for more than two centuries and moved to the new £4m custom built 48,000 sq ft site in Furnax Lane, Warminster earlier in the year. The factory was designed by award winning Welsh architects Boyes Rees. Founded in 1777, Dents has supplied handmade gloves to royalty, celebrities and the film industry.

Princess Anne arrived in Warminster via helicopter and then travelled a short distance in a convoy of Land Rovers to the Dents factory where she was greeted by Dents' Creative Director Deborah Moore, Mayor Pip Ridout, Deputy Chief Constable of Wiltshire Patrick Geenty and Paul Algar, Director of the UK Fashion and Textile Association.

Whilst at the factory, Princess Anne was given a tour of the factory to view the various processes involved in glove making and she met and spoke with managers, designers, leather cutters, machinists and hand sewers, some of whom have worked with the firm for 50 years or more.  

After the tour, the Princess came outside and unveiled a plaque to commemorate the official opening of the new factory and she was also presented with a donation to the Princess Anne's Charities Trust and a pair of Dents leather gloves. She was greeted by members of the Warminster public who were eagerly waving their Union Jacks flags.

Princess Anne was also presented with two flower posies; the first from 7 year old Summer Perkins who is the Granddaughter of Factory Controller  John Bull, and the second from 84 year old Margaret Budden. Margaret worked as the house keeper in Bathampton where Princess Anne stayed in 1968 whilst at the horse trials. Margaret came to Dents with her carers from Woodmead to present the Princess with the flowers.  

The staff were all delighted that Princess Anne had visited. She was able to speak with a lot of the staff, including Glove Worker 74 year old Dawn Mines who has been working at Dents for 30 years. Dawn said "The Princess asked me if I had ever bought any gloves myself from Dents, and I said yes". She also spoke with Glove Cutter Keith Harding and asked him "How long have you worked here?" Keith answered "About 1 year although I have been a Glove Cutter for 5 years".  

A great time was had by all and Director Deborah Moore described the royal visit as wonderful. Deborah said "She met so many staff and they spoke to her, it was lovely and the building now really does feel like it's officially opened".