Veterans have upholstery business all sewn up
are now running two businesses with a schedule that works for them.
Lisa Finlayson, who grew up in Millfield, was a storeman with the Royal Logistics CorpsandwasdeployedtoKosovo and Iraq. She was medically discharged in 2006 with depressive disorder.
Following a severe mental breakdown and suicide attempt, former Commando IainFinlaysonwasadmittedto a psychiatric hospital, where helearnedtouseasewingmachine to engage his mind.
Upon leaving the hospital and having been made redundant, he decided to turn hisnew-foundskillintoabusiness of his own.
Realising the need for professional training to enable him to do this, he successfully appliedforfundingfromHelp forHeroes,whichenabledhim to attend a course with an autoandmarineupholsteryspecialist.
It wasn’t long before Lisa became involved to process orders, look after stock and source materials.
Having started off restoring the upholstery in classic cars, they have recently made all the seating for a new cocktailbar,OliveorTwist,inGuisborough.
The work included her making 144 buttons to decorate a five-metre long bench, plustwosmallerones,covered in soft faux leather that Iain manufactured from scratch injustfourweeksattheirMiddlesbrough workshop.
Lisa, who attended Thornhill School (now Thornhill Academy), said: “It’s the first bar we’ve been involved with, but already, through putting photos on Facebook, we’ve been inundated with calls from joiners and pub owners alloverthecountrylookingfor upholsterersforpubsandrestaurants–especiallyfrompeople with military connections whoareopeningupthesesort of places and are wanting to give work to veterans.”
Running two businesses, Timeless Auto Trim and Timeless Textiles, enables them to work only when they feel able.