Aug 31st, 2008 by Peter |
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.
Aug 23rd, 2008 by Peter |
I’m sure I’m not turning into the mouseman of the Peak District but I do seem to be doing more church work these days. This is an oak bench we are just finishing to be placed in the porch at Butterton church, close to my workshop. It may appear slightly squat but is designed to fit below a window.
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
Jul 28th, 2008 by Peter |
As the summer finally swings into action and the house martins chirp again outside our workshop windows I thought you might like to hear this heartwarming tale of a daring rescues that we undertook a few years ago.
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.
