Stoneham Kitchens joiner still carving out fine career at 80

Craftsman Ron Taylor who works full time at Sidcup-based bespoke kitchen and furniture manufacturer, Stoneham Plc, celebrated his 80th birthday yesterday - and has no plans to retire just yet.

Part of the Stoneham production team and a time-served bench joiner, Ron has well over 60 years experience and has been in the furniture trade all his working life, with the exception of a short stint in the army for National Service in the 1950s.

Ron works at the Stoneham Mill Plant in Footscray, Sidcup from 8am till 5pm, Monday-Friday helping produce handcrafted bespoke kitchens. He still does overtime when he can, squeezing in shopping and housework at the weekend. “I feel very lucky I’m in good health at this stage in my life. I’m happy here; a day’s work is easy enough for me,” he says. “As long as I can still get out of bed, I’ll continue to work. It keeps me active and I enjoy working with younger people.”

Ron joined Stoneham in October 2000 at the age of 67 and is renowned for his attendance, with a 100% record during his time there. He takes an active role in the company, including mentoring those on work experience from local schools.

As Stoneham approaches its own milestone - 150 years next year - Managing Director, Adrian Stoneham, says, “I wish we’d discovered Ron many years earlier. His experience, productivity and overall work ethic are an inspiration to all younger members of our production team; they regularly pick up valuable tips from him.”

Born in Shortlands, Bromley, Ron now lives locally in Abbey Wood. Widowed, he has a son who lives in Spain with his two grandsons. On moving there himself, he says, “It’s too hot in the summer, plus my passion outside work is dog racing, which isn’t very big in Spain.”

Founded in 1864, Stoneham plc. specialises in stylish, bespoke kitchens and quality furniture making. In its fifth generation of family-ownership, Stoneham Kitchens is built on nearly 150 years of dedication to superior craftsmanship. Contemporary design is met with state-of-the art engineering to create classic kitchens of exquisite high-tech functionality and style.

Every kitchen is built to order and manufactured at Stoneham’s modern workshops in Sidcup, Kent. Equipped with the latest CNC machinery, paint and curved door plants, Stoneham’s craftsmen combine their knowledge and skills with the latest engineering techniques and technology to turn natural materials – wood, stone, marble, granite and recycled glass - into timeless kitchens.

Renowned for dependable, lifetime quality Stoneham Kitchens has been at the forefront of Kitchen innovation since the 1950s. Distinguished by holding The Royal Warrant to HM The Queen.

Kitchens start at £30,000 and there are over 30 different collections in its traditional Heritage and contemporary Avant Garde ranges.

Stoneham Kitchens
www.stoneham-kitchens.co.uk

Stoneham plc,

Powerscroft Road

Footscray,
Sidcup
Kent,
DA14 5DZ

Steve Lipscombe
RONIN Marketing
+44 (0) 20 3326 5040
stevel@roninmarketing.co.uk
www.roninmarketing.co.uk

This release was published on openPR.