IAN
STARKS THE CABINET MAKER
AND FURNITURE RESTORER |
Ever thought how nice it would be to have a piece of
furniture that was the right size for your room, the right colour, had all the drawer
space and shelves you needed?
Well, I bet you are thinking that it would be nice but it would also be too expensive or
how do I go about it. Let me take away those doubts and tell you a little about myself, my
business and how you can have that perfect piece of furniture. |
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I have been in the trade for 15 years since leaving
college and qualifying as a cabinet maker. Over the years I have made furniture that is
modern, contemporary and period copies that are aged and faked and have sometimes even
fooled so-called experts. |
I take a great pride in attention to detail and using
traditional methods of construction and hand polishing.
Every piece of furniture I make whether it be a traditional style or a built in piece to
create a modern look every care is taken to design it and make it to the exact
requirements of you the customer. |
| I have made pieces of furniture for Sheikhs in Saudi Arabia, clients in London and
many famous people through other cabinet firms who come to me for the one off pieces. I
have also spent time in Hollywood and London fitting out houses with mahogany panelling. |
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The one thing that never changes is the love and passion I
have for my job. How many of us can say that? However samll or large the piece
of furniture, whatever the timber or veneer, the same passion and pride goes into it.
Hand made furniture does not have to cost an arm and a leg as most people think. It
is all part of the job to try and give you the help and advice to tailor your piece of
furniture to your pocket and giving you that special individual piece that you can enjoy
for years to come.
Take a look at my web site www.ianstarks.co.uk
to view just some of the varied styles and items I have produced. |
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In the old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big
kettle that always hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the
pot.
They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner,
leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day.
Sometimes the stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while.
Hence the rhyme, "Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot
nine days old." |
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Subject:
Barry Keith Holmes
Edition dated 08/08/03 - Part One |
| I was very interested to read your letter from Barry Keith
Holmes. I knew this family very well and it brought back memories of long lost days.
This family consisted of 3 boys and a girl. The boy's were Keith, Barry and Arthur
and the daughter was I believe Fay. For many years this family lived in a house on part of
Beeston Common, their next door neighbour was a Mr and Mrs Ransom. To the best of my
knowledge their father was employed in a Chemists shop, it could well have been Jordan's
in the High Street. Mrs Holmes father worked for a local firm of Ironmongers, C.T.Bakers
as a handyman, his name was Storey. C.T. Baker was also in the High Street and the site is
now where Woolworth's is. I went to School with Keith, Barry and Arthur. This School
was the Sheringham Boy's School, Fay also attended this School but needless to say she was
educated in the Girls side of the School. This School was demolished a few years ago and
replaced with what is now known as ''Shannock Court'', there are now Flat's and other
living accommodation. When we started School we were in the Infants department and our
teachers were a Miss Foulger and a Miss Philipson. We had very few lessons in the Infants;
our main activity was playing with an assortment of toys and resting. After a short period
we were then sent to what we called the Big Boy's School and the girls sent to the girl's
side of the building to begin their education proper. Our first teacher in the ''Big
Boy's'' was Mrs Wilton, this lady was, to the best of my recollection, a very strict
teacher, one who was at all times prepared to use the cane. After a few terms in this
class we were then upgraded to another class and our teacher was another lady, however,
she was more lenient and I cannot ever remember her using the dreaded cane. Yet again we
spent a few terms in this class before moving into a higher grade where our teacher was a
Mr Cleall, I well remember him. It is my opinion that he was a very good teacher, one who
at all times took an interest in each pupil's work. Our next class was a further attempt
to increase our education and this time we had a Mr Televyn, yet another teacher with a
very strict manner with us. Our final class was what we called the ''Top Class''
where we spent the remainder of our education, here our teacher was the Headmaster of the
Schule, a Mr S.E. Day, another strict person but a teacher who was always fair. Freddy
Duffield |
| Free
Museum Visits |
| Sheringham Museum is offering free admission to everyone
on two weekends in December - Saturday and Sunday 13th and 14th and Saturday and Sunday
20th and 21st - plus a glass of wine or orange juice and a mince pie as a bonus. Stewards
will be on hand to answer any questions and these days provide an opportunity to look at
this season's displays before new ones are set up for the 2004 season, starting Easter
Week, Monday 5th April. It is hoped to provide a major exhibition of the work of John
Craske, a Sheringham lad who later became known internationally through his maritime
paintings and embroidery. The Museum owns three of his embroideries and two paintings and
these have attracted so much attention and comment it is hoped that current negotiations
will result in some 30 examples of his work being on display next season. On both weekends
there will be a sale of shop items including copies of Mick Bensley's historical map of
Sheringham, which will make an ideal present for friends, and relatives who know and love
our friendly and attractive town. Opening hours on both weekends will be 10 am to 3 pm. |
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