The family run firm has been working on the plane – at Manchester’s Runway Visitor Park – since October last year
A Hull firm has played a key part in preserving a piece of supersonic aviation history with the completion of a major project. The Leather Repair Company gave a 50th anniversary restoration to the seats on G-BOAC Concorde, the centrepiece of the attractions at Runway Visitor Park in Manchester.
Owners Richard and Carolynne Hutchins worked painstakingly on the jet, which made its first flight just over 50 years ago in July 1975 and now welcomes thousands of Concorde enthusiasts every year. The pair came across the legendary aircraft while killing time ahead of a delayed flight from Manchester to the US, and heard about concerns over the condition of the leather on board.
Paul Emblow, manager of Runway Visitor Park, said: “Concorde represents a defining chapter in aviation history. Restoring these seats is not just about preservation – it’s about keeping alive the spirit of innovation and excellence that Concorde stood for.
“Since 2003, we have proudly looked after this legendary aircraft, welcoming over 15,000 visitors per year to experience its unique story. The quality and attention to detail in this restoration, carried out by Richard and Carolynne, is truly outstanding and will play a large part in ensuring this legacy continues to inspire generations to come.”
Mr Hutchins added: “We started the job in October last year and took as long as it needed because we couldn’t risk damaging the leather. We had to develop a new product to do the job – a cream wash solution which would retain the patina. It’s no good making everything suddenly look brand new – the leather needed to be soft and supple, retaining the history of the 50 years it has been in place.”
Ms Hutchins said: “It was also important that Paul and his team were able to keep Concorde open to visitors throughout the project so we did it in two phases. We took the back half first, and when they were done we swapped them for the front half, which were a bit more worn because most people tend to sit near the front. There were 120 seats altogether.”
Mr Hutchins said: “Everyone at Runway Visitor Park is very happy and recognises that we have restored something historic that future generations will enjoy. If we had not stepped in when we did the authenticity could have been lost forever because it’s likely the original leather would have had to be replaced with something else.
“We did the job free of charge because of the historical importance of the project. Everybody knows Concorde. People just remember it as being such a special thing and we wanted to be a part of that.”