Work Experience below in Marks words:

For 20 years plus I’ve had the pleasure of working in the carpentry, joinery and building industry, originally starting up a business during the last recession with a grant won from the Prince’s Youth Business Trust.

14 years was spent specialising in bespoke fitted furniture, from alcove units, shelving, small libraries, wardrobes, cupboards and kitchens, working in Victorian houses to little cottages. Bespoke, one off joinery. Repairing antique furniture, using traditional carving chisels where necessary.

Time has been spent subcontracting to a rot eradication company replacing joists, flooring, tall ornamental skirting, bottom of staircases and dealing with damp problems. Working on a barn conversion, major alteration and modernisation of properties large and small.

Heat and sound insulating properties whether it is insulating flooring, walls, ceilings, lofts or draught proofing exterior doors.

Repairing rotten box sash windows then draught proofing them.

After this space of time, I lived abroad, spending time in Tenerife where I built a few Canarian style porches as well as gaining a greater insight into gathering knowledge on carrying out work from a completely different perspective, then at the end of a working day; resting on a sandy beach.

Most recent project has been the complete fit out of a 57ft steel narrowboat - taking joinery to a new dimension due to profound complexities of turning a steel hull into a liveable boat. Mainly she is fitted out in ash with some hand-painted furniture. Every aspect of joinery was hand made from the kitchen doors to the cabin bed. Kitchen, bathroom and a large part of the oil burning central heating system was plumbed in by myself- I take great interest in gaining new knowledge.

Post script: For many years during his CFS illness he worked as a contractor to two Leeds based home improvement organisations where he did work for elderly people such as access ramps, grab rails etc.

Mark was an extremely talented carver and carpenter. Also, he would help others and buy clothes for the homeless such as overcoats for winter. He would take time to talk to someone who was homeless as he would say everyone is human and shouldn’t be left behind.

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