In 1962 he arranged to have a plaque fixed to the exterior of the Otley Building Society, built on the site of the cottage in which Chippendale is said to have been born. The following year he organised a supper at the Royal White Horse Inn on the anniversary of Chippendale’s baptism, an event which was intended to become an annual fixture. The Society itself was founded on 26 January 1965, with County Councillor Major Austin Hughes as Chairman, and Sir Malcolm Stoddart – Scott MP, as President. At its first meeting on 27 April Thomas Pickles was elected Secretary.

Sir Malcolm remained President until his death in 1973 when his wife Elsie took over. Roger Suddards succeeded her in 1994, and Christopher Gilbert in 1996. Lord St Oswald became President in 1999. Austin Hughes remained Chairman until 1972, to be followed by Andrew Firth until 1987. Mary Gilbert then succeeded until 1994 when Pat Lofthouse, the present Chairman took over.

The annual dinners have remained very popular in part because of the guest speakers who readily agree to partake at these convivial occasions. These have included Lady Harewood (1973), Lord Rosse (1974), Sir Marcus Worsley (1975), Lady Zetland (1982), Lady St Oswald (1986), Sir Marcus Fox (1988), the Hon Simon Howard (1990), Lord St Oswald (2000), Richard Marriott (2001) and the Countess of Wemyss and March (2002). The autumn lectures were established in 1968 with Arthur Negus giving the first in a long series exploring the furniture and decorative arts of the age of Chippendale.

The Society played a major part in the celebrations to mark the 250^th anniversary of Chippendale’s birth in 1968. A special service was held at the parish church and a commemorative postal franking arranged. A ‘Chippendale Ride’ was established on the Chevin above the town – a plantation and mile-long walk composed of woods in which Chippendale made his furniture: oak, beech, lime, hornbeam, sweet chestnut and cherry. Her Majesty The Queen graciously donated the first lime tree. This was largely made possible by the good offices of Reg Rawlings, chief forester of Otley Urban District Council, and a great supporter of the Society.

In 1971 Sir Malcolm obtained charitable status for the Society. The previous year the possibility of founding a special Chippendale museum in Otley had arisen after Sam Chippindale, the property developer, had bought the Old Grammar School with this in mind. In the event it has been recognised that it would be impossibly expensive for the Society to run its own museum and the collections have always had their home at Temple Newsam where they can be displayed in the most sympathetic context.

In 1972 Christopher Gilbert, Keeper of Temple Newsam, became Honorary Curator and brought his scholarship and keen ability at fund raising into the service of the Society. An appeal was launched to raise a fund of £7,000 for acquisitions, but this was soon doubled and has continued to provide core funding for this area of activity. Special relationships were built up with a number of benefactors to whom the Society remains indebted: Sam Chippindale, Raymond Burton, the Sir George Martin Trust and Simon Redburn. Christopher Gilbert’s own book remains the standard work on Chippendale and the exhibition he arranged in 1978 was a landmark in the development of furniture studies. The Society was a prominent lender and supporter of the major exhibition held to celebrate the millenium at Harewood in 2000.

The Society is not a Registered Museum but it continues to receive generous funding from individuals and foundations for its projects and acquisitions. In 2004 we celebrated the 250 th anniversary of the first edition of Chippendale’s Gentleman and Cabinet Maker’s Director with a facsimile reprint in a limited edition – the first time this had been done. Future plans include the development of an on-line schools’ Resource Pack to acquaint young people with the genius of Chippendale’s furniture.