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Welcome!

There is nothing quite like the smell of a joiner’s shop: oak shavings, saw dust and wood wax all combine to create a scent like no other. Every time I step into the workshop here in Kilburn, that heady aroma transports me back to my youth, evoking memories of my father and uncle and so many other craftsmen who have passed before. Above all, I remember the strong camaraderie amongst the workmen. One hundred years ago when Robert Thompson’s business first started to grow, he instilled a strong work ethic in the early band of craftsmen who toiled beside him. That ethos continued through every generation as older craftsmen passed on their knowledge to younger apprentices, building strong bonds of comradeship. And it remains in place today as our current young apprentices in Kilburn learn the ropes from the older hands, many of whom have worked with us for decades. I recognised that same supportive network amongst co-workers – as well as the Proustian scent of the joiner’s shop - when I visited the wood working centre at Claro Enterprise, a charity based in Harrogate that helps those suffering from mental illness to find purpose, motivation and ultimately, wellbeing, through regular meaningful work. You will read more about Claro in the following pages. As a family business, we are so pleased to be able to support this particular charity, as mental health issues today have an impact on many families in our community.

It is interesting to note the parallels between the image below of my great grandfather in his workshop in 1925 and the picture of the Claro workshop later in this newsletter. Many things change but some things, such as the benefits of meaningful work and friendship, remain the same.

Wishing all our Mouseman friends across the world good health and happiness for 2020.

Ian Thompson Cartwright

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