08 December 2024, 21:29
Media66
By Furniture & Joinery Production Apr 11, 2024

Record-breaking admission ceremony as 20 people join Furniture Makers

A record 20 people working in the UK furniture and furnishing industry have been admitted as freemen of The Furniture Makers’ Company, the City of London livery company. 

The new freemen, who represent all sectors from the wider trade, were admitted at a ceremony at Furniture Makers’ Hall, London, on Tuesday 9th April.

The admission ceremony was presided over by Amanda Waring, Master of The Furniture Makers’ Company, along with Brian Ahern, senior warden; and Debbie Johnson, junior warden. As part of the ceremony, the 20 new freemen declared their support to the Company and signed a declaration. 

The new freemen are: 

Tom Addison, founder, Tom Addison Fine Furniture  Jarrad Belton, tutor, The Farnham School of Furniture Making  Finlay Champion, cabinet maker, Edward Johnson Ltd  Richard Chapman, French polisher, Chapman Brothers French Polishers  Mark Denby, head of sales, Saxon Furniture Ltd  Simon Elliott, managing director, Halstock Cabinet Makers  Sean Evelegh, designer-maker, Sean Evelegh  Paul Farley, editor-in-chief, Gearing Media Group Ltd  Geoffrey Fowler, CEO and principal, The London Design & Engineering University Technical College  Tim Higham, founder, Higham Furniture  Sam Horscroft, sales & marketing director, Gearing Media Group Ltd  Lynne Isham, founder, The Modern Garden Company Ltd  Derek Jones, subject lead, The London Design & Engineering University Technical College  Tab van der Lande, designer-maker, Sebastian Cox Ltd  Keith Lovelace, managing director, Ideas Limited  Merianne Molina-Pethers, ecommerce business owner, Luce Interiors  Thomas O’Neill, senior design and projects engineer, Race Furniture  Anna Parkinson, operations manager, Make An Entrance  David Sentance, general manager, Spradling UK Ltd  James White, operations director, Halstock Cabinet Makers 

After the ceremony, the new freemen joined other members at the Company’s annual general meeting, known as Common Hall, before a drinks reception. 

The Furniture Makers’ Company was founded as a guild in 1951 and granted livery status in 1963, becoming the 83rd livery company of the City of London and only the sixth to be formed since the reign of Queen Anne ended in 1714. It was incorporated by Royal Charter in 2013. 

With more than 300 individual members and around 45 corporate members, The Furniture Makers’ Company is the only membership association that brings together people from all sectors of the furniture and furnishing industry, including beds, fabrics, kitchens, carpets and floor coverings. 

“I’m delighted to welcome a record 20 new freemen to the Furniture Makers who bring a wealth of different experience from across our industry," says Amanda Waring, Master of The Furniture Makers’ Company. "Being part of the Furniture Makers gives members the opportunity to network with others working or retired from the industry and support our charitable and livery activities.” 

www.furnituremakers.org.uk/membership/ 

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