On 30 October 2017, Charles Moore wrote about “wonderful” charity Style for Soldiers in his notebook column in The Daily Telegraph newspaper: Daily Telegraph 30 Oct 2017. But he failed to disclose something relevant – colleague Lisa Armstrong, Telegraph fashion director, is a trustee of the charity that provides bespoke clothes for wounded soldiers.
The “Fashion Journalist of the Year” hasn’t just become a trustee. Ms Armstrong was a founding director – that is, trustee – when the charitable company was incorporated on 13 November 2012, according to Companies House records (registered company number: 08291711). The Charity Commission public register of charities confirms her as a trustee (registered charity number: 1161119).
It may be “wonderful” as former Telegraph editor Mr Moore says, but Style for Soldiers seems to be confused about the difference between patron and trustee. Ms Armstrong is identified as a patron on the charity website (screen shot in Figure 1). Shirtmaker Emma Willis set up Style for Soldiers.
Figure 1. “Patron” Lisa Armstrong: Style for Soldiers homepage at 2 November 2017
This isn’t the first time the military charity has appeared in The Telegraph, however. On 17 December 2016, for example, Ms Armstrong wrote a gushing profile of founder and trustee Ms Willis in The Daily Telegraph, nominating her as woman of the year for her achievements with Style for Soldiers. Here’s the online version: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/brands/meet-emma-willis-tailor-helping-injured-soldiers-regain-confidence/. Hardly an unbiased nomination. Yet the fashion director didn’t declare her own role at the charity, so readers had no idea of the ridiculousness of the situation.
Almost exactly a year before, meanwhile, then chief reporter Gordon Rayner reported on Style for Soldiers in The Sunday Telegraph (20 December 2015). Again, here’s the online version: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/12058116/Style-For-Soldiers-how-a-charity-has-used-bespoke-clothes-to-restore-wounded-soldiers-confidence.html. Mr Rayner, you won’t be surprised to learn, failed to mention colleague Ms Armstrong. What’s more, an editorial that Sunday, too, plugged Style for Soldiers – again saying nothing about the fashion director‘s position there.
The Telegraph has given lots of publicity to Style for Soldiers, almost always failing to declare Ms Armstrong‘s involvement with the charity. Columnist Mr Moore is only continuing the tradition.
Mr Moore hasn’t responded to requests for comment at date of publication.
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