Photo by Arthur Edwards MBE

I was given a Princess Trust grant several years ago to help springboard my tableware and interior products into business. I have been designing special commemorative pieces in silver and gold for the last 8 years from my studio in Birmingham's famous jewellery quarter.

I was asked by Lorna Carmichael of The Sun to come to the newspaper and present some ideas to them for an award. This award was to have one main objective and that was to represent the Navy, Army and Air force equally. The brief was very open ended- it was not to be too modern and not to be too traditional. Where would I begin...........?

I worked through many ideas, shapes and style with much deliberation but kept coming back to one thing which I believed clarified this award simplicity. 'The Navy, Army and Air force are those who protect, serve and in my eyes look after us, in our world'

The inspiration for this award came from the world and the fact that the Military in one form or another have been present on it for hundreds of years. I wanted to have the globe represented as a solid foundation from which these three strands hold and encompass it. The proud crests upon the top surface point down to what they protect!! This has been the most challenging project I have ever undertaken and although during the past few weeks my feelings have mixed between excitement and panic, I can truly say that I have been delighted and honoured to have been involved with such a prestigious event and have had the pleasure to work with fabulous people at The Sun.

Pictures have been added to the website which show behind the scenes of the 'Making of the Millies'