“The saddlery world owes him a great debt.”
Richard Godden, Master Saddler and side saddle specialist, died on 7 December. He was 88.
The Society of Master Saddlers has paid tribute to a remarkable craftsman who devoted his entire working life to the saddlery trade.
Richard was widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the preservation and revival of side saddle making and refurbishment in the UK and beyond.
Early days
Born and raised in London during the Second World War, Richard left school at 15. Although his youthful ambition was to become a cartoonist, he was guided into the saddlery trade by his parents and his uncle, Les Coker, a Master Saddler.
Richard began work at Champion & Wilton in Oxford Street, London, and after six months was formally indentured into a five-year apprenticeship overseen by The Worshipful Company of Saddlers.
Following the completion of his apprenticeship, Richard undertook National Service, spending time in Edinburgh and Herefordshire.
Family life
On his return to civilian life, he resumed work with his uncle, now at Gidden’s in London, where he remained for a further three years.
During this time, he married Sheila; they had two sons, Richard and Andrew.
Shorter and longer spells respectively with Turner & Bridger and Swaine & Adeney were to follow.
Richard then moved with his family to the West Country where he worked for Colonel Moore and his wife Admiral Place in their leathergoods business in Milborne Port.
It was here that he trained two apprentices, Nathaniel Underwood and Jasper Highet, both of whom went on to become Master Saddlers.
Side saddle skills to the rescue
In the mid-1970s, Richard established his own business - and the side saddle skills he had learned under his uncle Les came to the fore.
He became increasingly sought-after for the refurbishment and manufacture of side saddles, working closely with the Side Saddle Association and its then representative, Liz Turner.
By the early 1990s, side saddle riding was undergoing a revival. As demand for safe, well-made saddles grew, the Side Saddle Association became concerned about the declining number of saddlers capable of undertaking specialist side saddle work.
The association approached The Worshipful Company of Saddlers, who in turn contacted Master Saddler and saddlery trainer Mark Romain at The Society of Master Saddlers.
Mark visited Richard’s workshop in Sherborne and asked whether he would consider running training courses in side saddle refurbishment and manufacture for experienced saddlers. Richard agreed without hesitation.
They came from around the world
From 1996 to 2023, Richard ran between four and six intensive training weeks each year, initially with the Countryside Agency and, from 2000, with The Saddlery Training Centre.
Saddlers travelled from across the UK and around the world to learn from him. Indeed, it is rare today to find a practising side saddle specialist who did not benefit directly from Richard’s teaching.
Says Mark Romain: “Richard Godden was one of the most gifted saddlers I have ever known, but what truly set him apart was his generosity.
“He shared his knowledge freely and with great humility. Without Richard’s willingness to teach, we simply would not have the skilled side saddle workforce we have today.”
Leaving a legacy
Heritage Crafts [a charity that promotes traditional crafts] has reclassified side saddle making on its list of endangered crafts as resurgent.
“Richard Godden’s retirement will mark a great loss to the side saddle making skills base and it will be difficult to replace him,” it noted recently.
The Society of Master Saddlers continues to include a side saddle class at its annual National Saddlery Competition.
In recent years, bursaries awarded by the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust, in conjunction with The Worshipful Company of Saddlers, have supported many saddlers in learning side saddle skills, with Richard instrumental in delivering that training.
Mark Romain added: “Richard was a modest man who never sought recognition, but his legacy is immense.
“He safeguarded a craft that was in real danger of being lost and ensured it would be passed on to future generations. The saddlery world owes him a great debt.”
A spokesperson for The Society of Master Saddlers said: “Richard Godden will be remembered not only for his exceptional skill, but for his kindness, dedication and lifelong commitment to the craft of saddlery.”
Richard leaves his wife Sheila, and sons Richard and Andrew.
