Former solider has new life in Shrewsbury as military tailor

For Mr Knight retrained as a tailor, eventually setting up his own business in his spare bedroom - a business that has grown to tailor uniforms for regiments across the country.

In January, Knights Tailoring received a royal warrant from the Queen.

Now the Shrewsbury-based businessman is hoping to clinch a contract that will see his firm making alterations to the uniforms of 23,000 soldiers.

The company is the preferred bidder for a prestigious contract which would see it kitting out soldiers at five military bases.

"We are in meetings at the moment but I am very hopeful we will get the contract," said the married dad-of-one, who, rather appropriately, lives in Battlefield.

"We will be making all the alterations to the uniforms and doing the embroidery - which could potentially lead to more jobs becoming available."

It's a far cry from the day thugs left Mr Knight's career in the King's Royal Artillery in tatters.

He was set upon by a gang in west London and received several blows to the head which left him suffering from fits.

He was declared not fit for service - a shattering blow considering he had joined the army aged just 16.

"I was in the Army for 24 years," he said. "Let's just say I suffered a blow to the head during an incident and I could no longer be a soldier.

"I had no idea what to do. It was either leave or try to find a job within the Army, which is difficult when you suffer from fits."

Difficult, but not impossible, and eventually a new career within the armed forces opened up.

"I became a tailor's apprentice and learnt the trade, from measuring to making the alterations for all the uniforms," he said. "We took a lot of work from Savile Row and I gradually got better and better.

"I left in May 2007 and I wasn't entirely sure what to do, so I had this idea of starting up a business which began in my spare bedroom."

Knights Tailoring now does contracted work for large army bases such as Larkhill and Warminster.

"We do everything from ear defenders to embroidery, and I think there is a real call for tailoring at the moment.

"People will spend a lot of money on a pair of jeans, and then they bring them to us for alterations because we can deliver that perfect fit.

"It might not be too long before we decide to set up in Shropshire," he added. "We worked at Cosford for 10 months. There is a lot of potential."

Mr Knight said winning the royal warrant was the proudest moment of his career.

"To work by appointment to the Queen is a real honour and a pinnacle of all that we do and have achieved.

"I've attended Buckingham Palace garden parties and we are hoping to expand and eventually have even more shops.

"I feel very happy in my life and in my business, and I'm sure we will continue to grow."