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Alan Styles, managing director of Axminster Tools & Machinery Darran McLeod (sales director) and Master of the Furniture Makers' Company Dr Tony Smart MBE

Axminster Tools & Machinery’s managing director Alan Styles was made a liveryman of The Furniture Makers’ Company at the court meeting and dinner held on 8th March at the Furniture Makers’ Hall. Alan has moved up from the position of corporate liveryman, which he became in 2013, to liveryman which means he is now entitled to wear the livery of the guild to which he belongs.

Debbie Browne, head of production at William Hands, and Jasper Heinrich, head of operations at Bill Cleyndert & Company, were also admitted as liverymen at the same ceremony.

Alan said: “I feel honoured to have been made a liveryman of The Furniture Makers’ Company. The Company carries out invaluable work in education, supporting and promoting promising young furniture makers. Its other charitable work includes lending a helping hand to those in need who have worked in the furniture industry, in the form of grants, services and time. We at Axminster are pleased to be able to work with and support such a highly regarded organisation”.

Alongside Alan, Axminster’s sales director Darran McLeod was admitted to the Company as a corporate liveryman. Membership of the Company as a liveryman, corporate liveryman or freeman is available to those employed or who have been employed in the furnishing industry. Thus, individuals are able to contribute to the industry and its work outside of their normal employment, and even after they have retired.

For more about The Furniture Makers’ Company, please visit their website