Welcome new Freemen

We are pleased and proud to welcome seven new Freemen to the Company, who have experience in many different sectors of the furnishing industry.  We hope they enjoy being members and we look forward to getting them involved in our initiatives.

Image shows front row from left to right, Junior Warden Ben Burbidge, Master Paul von der Heyde, First Assistant Tony Smart, Emily Gunning, Andrew Jackson and Drew Smith; back row from left to right, Milan Cvetkovic, Christopher Clark, Kathryn Lukehurst and Edward Woodley-Jones

Emily Gunning

Emily is currently a Junior Furniture Designer with Joined + Jointed and Channels Design, both companies run by Samuel Chan. Emily has been working in furniture design studios since 2011, when she completed her Masters in Sustainable Design at the University of Brighton during which time she presented work at several exhibitions such as The Art of Childsplay. Emily completed several internships during her time at university before finding work and has experience in both computer and hands-on design work.

Andrew Jackson

Andrew is the owner and Managing Director of Burgess Beds Ltd, taking the company from strength to strength over the past decade, winning Bed Manufacturer of the Year 2013 and moving to a new facility in 2007. Andrew began his working life as an apprentice draughtsman in Bradford with Richard Johnson and Nephew, before studying mechanical engineering up to Masters level as part of their trainee manager programme. Following this Andrew worked at a number of companies as an Engineering or Production Manager, before taking his first role as a company director with Slumberland plc in 1986.

Drew Smith                                                                                                   

Drew is the Learning Manager for Furniture at the City of Oxford College, where he is in charge of staff and teaching at the Rycotewood Furniture Centre, and teaches courses such as digital modelling and historical studies. Drew studied 3D Furniture Design at Leeds Metropolitan University and won a Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce competition. Since then Drew has worked as a designer across Europe and held teaching posts in the UK, before going back to higher education for a Masters in design at Brighton University. Following this Drew began working at the City of Oxford College in 2004, and in 2011 he won a Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers’ Masters Certificate.

Milan Cvetkovic

Milan is the Managing Director of Vescom UK Ltd, part of the international Vescom Group, developing and producing high quality wallcovering, upholstery and curtain fabrics. Milan studied at Oxford, beginning his career at British manufacturer Muraspec, where he rose to the position of  Sales Director, before moving on to a similar role at Kent based Armourcoat. In 2001 Milan took the position of Managing Director at Vescom UK, and recently became the Chairman of the British Contract Furnishing Association.

Christopher Clark

Christopher currently runs his own company Christopher Clark Ltd with his wife Alice, providing bespoke and production run furniture from their base in Norwich. Christopher trained at Sotheby’s before running the Mallet of Bond Street antiques restoration department in New York. Following this Christopher returned to the UK to set up Christopher Clark Workshops Ltd  in 1979 with Alice, based in Shoreditch. In the late 1980s they moved the company to Norwich.

Kathryn Lukehurst

Kathryn is the joint Managing Director of Gerald Lukehurst & Son Ltd, having recently joined the family firm that provides a wide array of home furniture. Kathryn studied a retail business degree at Queen Margaret University before a role as a business development manager for Randall Lyons Ltd. Following this Kathryn moved onto a similar role for Capita plc in 2009, developing new business opportunities. Earlier this year Kathryn returned to the family business making use of her knowledge to modernise the business by keeping track of new advertising and business practices, and develop new business partnerships for the company.

Edward Woodley-Jones                                                                        

Edward is the trainee Catalogue and Archivist for the Fine English Furniture, Works of Art and Fine European Furniture department at Bonhams. Edward attended Edinburgh University where he graduated with a Masters degree in Divinity in 2010. During university Edward worked for the Prince’s Trust and after finishing his course was employed in the Arms and Armour department at Christie’s as part of its graduate training scheme. Edward has been a serving member of the Territorial Army for almost a decade, and has taken part in a number of aid work programmes such as helping to build a monkey house at Edinburgh Zoo.