The Education of Mr. Atty

"There was the 16-year-old Kime answering a newspaper advertisement for an archaeological dig at Masada. The Kime who was the decorator to the King (then Prince of Wales). The Kime who turned a Christmas carol service at his village church into a still-talked-of-evening by throwing pine branches down on the path so that as people arrived, their steps released the head scent of the boughs. It was always ' show don't tell' with Robert. But he also had an encyclopaedic knowledge, and it turns out he was quite the affable mentor, too. It was the 'seeking meaning' and the 'discovery' in what surrounded him at any given time that underpins much of what you need to know about Robert Kime, the teacher. How Robert approached what he was interested in and the way he guided the young Orlando Atty who would one day succeed him." - The Current, V6

A story of journeys. From Chisbury Chapel, Wiltshire to The Black Church near Brasov, Romania; reflections and experiences shared in The Current.

Robert, the teacher and Orlando, the student and the years they spent working together as Robert guided Orlando, who one day would succeed him as Creative and Managing Director.

Big leaps were taken, but also, small lessons of interest and nuance, objects and placement.

Historical threads too — how Robert used antique textiles, rooting Orlando and his colleague Claire Jackson, Head of Decoration in both the detail of the document as well as the ease one must approach them with.

"It's about the detail of the piece, but it's also about the intention, the plan, the point of something. Robert used to talk about that a lot." - Orlando

In the end - the story of a rich education alongside clients who embrace sharing the experience and the collaboration of learning together and passing it on.