November 2018


The Designer Bookbinders Competition, 2018

The J. Hewit & Sons Award for The Interesting Treatment of Leather

Winner - Yuko Matsuno

Book - Fifty-one Poems by Mary Webb

Our warm congratulations go to Yuko.

A Death

Maureen Duke

Maureen Duke BEM
1928 - 2018

It is with great regret and sadness that J Hewit & Sons report the death of Maureen Duke. Maureen, a long-term friend, ally and 'product tester' of the company, was a bookbinder who's sphere of influence over a 70 year period touched many. She was a respected and inspirational mentor and teacher in the Art and Craft of Bookbinding, including the fields of conservation and restoration.

In 2017, in the Queen's New Year Honours List, Maureen was deservedly awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM), for life-long service to the teaching and propagation of the crafts of Bookbinding, Conservation and Restoration. She was also elected as Chair, President and one of the two Patrons of the Society of Bookbinders.

Maureen will be deeply missed by all those who had the great honour of knowing her.