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Directors of Black Dog French Polishing Ltd

Mark Snowdon

I began French Polishing in 1983 for Adrian Hornsey Limited in Buckinghamshire. It was here that I became skilled in both contemporary and traditional French polishing on Period and English furniture using colour patination and incorporating aging processes. I also became skilled in using modern polishing techniques using spray equipment for lacquering more contemporary furniture. In 1988 I moved to Tudor restoration where I also acquired skills in restoration and repair of antique furniture.

In November 2003 we established Black Dog French Polishing Limited.

We regularly visit antique fairs where we buy and restore furniture for our clients on commission as well as buying items for restoration and for sale in our own showroom.

Being profoundly Deaf from birth I am fluent in sign language and spoken English, I am a qualified dog trainer of assistance dogs and I have several diplomas for Karate.

My spare time is devoted to my own dogs and to the Deaf community of Herefordshire where I regularly volunteer my help to the deaf children and adults and helping hearing people learn to sign!  

Our work has been sold abroad as far as Asia and the USA and even today we carry on this tradition!  

Cathy Gumbleton

My working life since leaving school has been in administration, though in 1999 I decided that a career change was in order and gave up my job as PA to the Director of a National Company to study British Sign Language at Bristol University . In July 2003 I graduated with a 2.1 honours degree in Deaf Studies. During my three year course I met Mark through the Deaf community and we discovered a mutual love of antique furniture and dogs. Wood is a fabulous and fascinating medium, it lives and breathes as well we know, and is very forgiving when mistreated. I never cease to be amazed at how Mark can transform someone’s family heirloom or a rescued piece of furniture back to its original beauty. I have taken on the role in the company as administrator and book keeper, cleaner and tea maker, but also as an apprentice French Polisher and furniture restorer. I can take telephone enquiries regarding quotes, collections, deliveries etc but it is great when we receive a fax or email enquiry as this form of communication is accessible to Mark who due to his deafness is unable to use the conventional telephone. For our Deaf customers we have a minicom, though hearing people can use a similar system by going through a Type Talk operator if they prefer. This works where the hearing caller speaks to the operator and they type to the deaf recipient where the words are displayed on the minicom, not unlike email, and the deaf recipient then types to the operator who then relays the message to the caller!  The workshop is situated in the beautiful Herefordshire countryside and lends itself beautifully to many leisurely walks with the dogs before and after work. I work part time as a communication support worker in the local colleges, interpreting for Deaf students who are taking college courses. I absolutely love my job and am acquiring a great deal of knowledge through the courses my students take, everything from cookery, horticulture, maths even woodwork classes which is great as I get to show off my new found knowledge back at the workshop! We love to visit antique fairs and dare I say junk shops and often buy damaged tables or pieces of furniture which we restore and polish and offer for sale in the showroom. I am currently restoring my grand-mothers glass cabinet which I inherited several years ago, a slow but very satisfying project.

Julian Tayler 4^th August 1945 - 19^th May 2004

Julian, who passed away in May, was a very important and much missed founder member of Black Dog French Polishing. As a retired self employed electronics engineer his knowledge and skills in the area of running of a business were invaluable to the setting up of the company. It was not only his interest in antique furniture and restoration that sparked his interest in supporting Black Dog, but the opportunity to give both Mark and myself the ambition to own our own company and work for ourselves. He had great faith in our individual abilities and saw that the combination of Marks experience and skills and my general aptitude for hard work would go along way to making the company a successful one. Julian’s presence is very much with us in the workshop as many of his tools and artefacts are here and we know that he is looking down on us, hopefully smiling and feeling very proud. Fortunately he was able to see the workshop, at times full to capacity and watch Mark work on interesting pieces of furniture, before he passed away, which gives us both great comfort. When time allows we will restore a mahogany chair which was rescued from Julians garage to its former glory and give it pride of place in the showroom.

William “BlackDog”

William is a Lurcher X Labrador who has been trained as a Hearing Dog for Mark Snowdon .  William began his training in Oxfordshire in 1999 and a few months later he graduated with flying colours! As a fully qualified Assistance dog he enjoys the same benefits as Guide dogs. He has travelled all over the UK not only helping Mark but also assisting other dogs in their training. William has appeared on “Animal Planet” and “Esther” as well as various magazines.

William works by alerting Mark to the various sounds such as doorbell, telephone, alarm clock and more importantly the fire alarm! William saved Mark from a hotel fire by walking into the shower to alert him and warn him of the fire!

William was diagnosed with bone cancer in 2002. After several operations and amputation of a toe, William slowly recovered but even though he was in great pain he still resolutely tried to work for Mark!

Black Dog French Polishing Services Ltd was named for William for recognition for his bravery! Now approaching semi-retirement William has a new helper. Buddy is a 12 week old Golden Retriever X Red Setter who will one day take over Williams’s duties as Assistance dog.