They will provide a perfect centrepiece for any Christmas table setting or sit proudly on your mantlepiece or coffee table and are supplied with candles in either blue, green or dark red. We can stain them medium, dark or no stain [natural] and finish them with wax for a stunning, smooth lusterous finish.

Price is £45 for a pair or £25 for one.

Please order early for Christmas as I am already quite busy and they don’t come from a factory in China! I turn each and every one.

You can catch me at the workshop on 01298 84467.

The wax finish creates a very natural feel with the grain being left open.

All you need from a coffee table - beautiful grain, a shelf underneath and a Foxhead on the end to show that its been made properly. This one is now in the showroom and measures 42” x 18” x 16” and is priced at £399.

Its twin brother will be in shortly, slightly larger and finished in Danish oil with a medium stain.

If you are tempted don’t delay because they will probably go quickly and we don’t have a lot of timber available. Call us direct 01298 84467.

Look out for more videos showing hand made furniture production in the weeks to come.

Mark does quite a lot of portrait photography and samples of his work can be found on his website              Mark Whitfield Photography

It is an appropriate time for such a shot as I have just completed a short video of me turning a chair leg which will be added to my website very soon. The lathe weighs over 1 ton and can fit 7′8” between centres, which I nearly filled when turning a 6” x 7′ long column for the middle of a ¼ turn staircase at home. The smallest things I turn on it are pegs for all our adjustable shelves and ¾” drawer knobs. Keep an eye open for the video clip very soon!

Whilst retaining a traditional, rural feel to the designs, some were rather clumsy and heavy, but a core of rugged, solid and appealing styles soon became the nucleus of future production and the range expanded rapidly to include various dining sets, oak dressers, media cabinets and bedroom furniture.

When I joined my father in 1988 from my engineering background, I could see the need for bigger and better machinery and set about slowly seeking out appropriate machines at bargain prices to help us on our way.

Sadly we lost father suddenly in 1991 but I had caught the bug by then and remain permanently entwined with my chosen career, hopefully securing the future of Fox Country Furniture for many years to come.

It would be wrong to finish without emphasising the contribution that Gary Fletcher made to the business, being a foundation stone for very nearly 20 years and enduring some difficult working conditions over some harsh old fashioned winters and from the archives of his long family history of woodworkers brought us the comment ‘Anyone can make a mistake -but it takes a good man to hide one! Thanks Gary.

The ends are hand carved to mimic the pews in Butterton church. We offer many benches that are suitable as memorial seats, from standard teak models to specially designed items like this. Please contact us if you would like to discuss ordering a bench or having one designed specially. I’m usually available at the workshop on  01298 84467

As May sunshine turned to June cloud with a biting east wind we watched with delight our growing family of house martins just outside the workshop window. Then as I worked on my lathe one morning I was horrified to look up and see that the nest had suddenly dropped off and fallen 20 feet to the ground. Fearing the worst we rushed out to find four little chicks, frightened, cold and bewildered with hardly a feather between them. After a quick 2 minute brainstorm we decided to rehouse them and put them back. Paul Melland [employee at the time] dashed upstairs to get an ice cream box and line it with soft shavings, having cut a hole in one end, while I got the ladders out. Then we made a makeshift plywood bracket to hold the box that could be screwed to the lintel above the window.

I bravely supervised Paul in climbing the ladder and drilling to fit the new bracket then passed the box up complete with the four chicks gratefully installed. [ brave?...yes! I would be the one catching him if he had fallen!!!] We stood back and proudly surveyed our work, confident of securing our places in heaven.

As we returned to our work it was obvious that the parents didn’t quite trust our handywork or the ‘human’ smells around their babies as they fluttered around the box opening, but wouldn’t go inside. As we arrived for work the next morning ours fears were dispelled as both parents had resumed their relentless feeding mission and all four chicks appeared healthy.

Over the next few weeks they even rebuilt their own mud house inside our ice cream box. Happily, all the chicks reached maturity and left the nest. We still wonder wether any of our current nesters are related to this family.

This is the business end of our hot tub showing the stainless steel burner behind the fence and firebox lid next to the chimney, which is insulated and timber clad. The air intake is regulated by a simple flipover valve, while the rod on the right is the drain plug, and that’s as complicated as it gets!

See more on the Forestflame website

Covering 13 classes in all the trophies are awarded for a wide range of dairy products.

My favourite this year is the ‘Dave Urwin Memorial Trophy’ for the Best Dressed Dairy Product. The striking outfit was tailored by Chris Leake of Chris Bears who shows her handmade Teddies in our showroom at Longnor Craft Centre.

So, whenever you need a personalised cheese or dairy trophy you know who to call!