Derek & Linda Chatten – A Braintree Romance
[Derek and Linda on their wedding day in 1967 at St Michael’s Church in Braintree]
Our collection is a vital resource for research into design history, the silk industry and business heritage and tells the story of a prominent textile firm, but some of the stories that have the most resonance are those from people who worked at Warner & Sons and recall their lives which were intertwined with working in Braintree. The love story of Derek Chatten and Linda Richardson is rich in romance and nostalgia.
Derek Chatten was born in Colchester in 1940. He went to school at St Peter’s in Sible Hedingham and then Earls Colne Grammar School. When he left school, he started work as an apprentice at Warner & Sons in Braintree as a draftsman and then went into textile design and handloom weaving. Chatten continued to work in the design and weaving industry for his entire career. While employed at Warner & Sons, Derek met Linda Richardson, who was a bobbin winder for the same firm. Richardson was born and raised in Braintree, and after leaving school started working for Warner & Sons preparing the warp for weaving. After a successful double date, the pair then quickly got engaged and married in 1967 in St Michael’s Church in Braintree.
[Derek Chatten works on drafting a rule paper to prepare a design for weaving at Warner & Sons c.1960s]
[Jacquard card Valentine’s Day card made by Derek Chatten for his wife Linda Chatten c.1960s-1970s]
During a quiet few moments, presumably while at work, Derek crafted Linda a most memorable Valentine’s Day token. Using a blank jacquard card, that was usually punched with holes to programme the loom, he punched holes through the card to spell out ‘My Valentine’. He painted the background in bright colours with hearts at each end and gifted this to Linda, who retained the keepsake for the rest of their marriage. This beautiful reminder of their relationship and the creative mind of Derek Chatten is now preserved at the Warner Textile Archive, kindly donated by the family of Derek and Linda.
Together, Linda and Derek had four children who have recently been in touch to share photographs and stories of their parents, and a sample of a design called ‘Adamite’ that Derek wove. We were pleased to welcome them to the Warner Textile Archive to see some of the patterns designed by Derek Chatten.
Derek and Linda enjoyed 49 years married but sadly both have now passed away. However, we are lucky enough to be able to safeguard the original artworks and textiles that Derek worked on, alongside the photographs and information from the family, and share the story of Linda and Derek with future generations.
[Derek and Linda Chatten’s four children Steve, Martin, Lincoln and Rachel visit the Warner Textile Archive to see patterns and textiles designed by their father]