The Midlands Region of The Furniture Makers’ Company, the City of London livery company and charity for the furnishing industry, hosted its first-ever Tug of War and Family Fun Day on Saturday 28th June at Long Eaton Rugby Club, raising £1650 for the charity.
The event brought together families, local businesses and industry colleagues, and centred around a Tug of War tournament, complemented by garden games, food stalls, a raffle and tombola.
The local industry’s response exceeded expectations, with around 200 visitors and participants contributing to the shared cause.
During the event, a £500 donation was presented by Andrew Mitchell on behalf of the Long Eaton Guild of Furniture Manufacturers to Gina Thomson, chairman of the Midlands Region, in support of the region’s ongoing charitable efforts.
The Tug of War proved to be very competitive, with former Furniture News publisher Nigel Gearing serving as judge for the competition, ensuring fair play throughout the day. Results from the tournament were as follows: Men’s Winners – One Call Furniture; Men’s Runners-up – Celtheath; Women’s Winners – George Stewart Design; Women’s Runners-up – DPG Foam Convertors; Mixed Winners – Webs Training; and Mixed Runners-up – DPG Foam Convertors.
The success of the event was made possible through the generosity of local furniture manufacturers and businesses, who donated an array of prizes for the raffle and tombola. Contributions included statement pieces and accessories from companies such as Artistic Upholstery, Hazelgrove Upholstery, One Call Furniture, Gascoigne Designs, Conker Furniture, Nu Trend, Hunter Knight, Ercol, George Stewart Design, DPG Foam Convertors, Carpenters, and Tesco Long Eaton.
In addition, the event received sponsorship from several industry partners including Furniture News, Celtheath, Peter Cook International, United Fillings, SATRA, Tamarisk Designs, DPG, and One Call Furniture, whose backing "played a crucial role in the event’s delivery and impact".
Gina Thomson says: “We’re delighted by the overwhelming success of this year’s event. I want to thank everyone who helped organise the day and the companies and individuals that supported it. Due to its success, we have already begun preparations for next year. The date is confirmed for Saturday 27th June 2026, and we are looking forward to an even bigger turnout and another day of fun, teamwork and fundraising.”
