25 Today!
On the 1st September 1983 my father George Fox left the comfort and security of his garage workshop up the drive and, with the help of an IRD grant [first round of European funding] set up the workshop at the Old Cheese Factory. Gary Fletcher joined as his first employee and work began. With a very small order book and a head full of ideas they set about carving a niche into the refined marketplace of hand made furniture.
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.