Kent jeweller wins luxury award

Kent jeweller, David Marshall, 43, has been awarded the title UK Luxury Jeweller of the Year at the 2007 jewellery awards. He became a Freeman of the City of London in 2002 and launched his own collection a year later.

Born in Gravesend, David attended Northfleet School for Boys, where he excelled in woodwork. In his teens, he discovered a passion for jewellery when a family friend and a local jeweller worked with him at weekends.

David was offered a place at Medway College of design in 1980, but instead took up an offer of an apprenticeship in London, going self employed at the age of 20. He has now built up a large workshop in EC1, where his luxury pieces are created, commuting in from Kent every day.