Long Eaton Guild Donate to Hospice in Memory of Matt O'Flynn
At Orbital, we have had a close relationship with the Long Eaton Guild since the beginning. Not only being based in the heart of the UK Centre of Upholstery, and recently redesigning Iain James’ website (who is a core member of the Guild), but we have a little more history than that.
Our agency used to be a widely varied digital design agency, and it was in summer 2017 that we realigned our business to focus on the interiors industry. This was in no small part, down to a strong friendship turned business venture when Matt joined Rob Walker at Orbital. After many years of close friendship and business partnerships, decided to team up to create the vision that we have in the Studio today. From launching a new hub of the industry, to being at the forefront of the field after developing brand new technology to digitally recreate fabric. They built a studio, and a team from the ground up, and a bloody good one at that.
Matt sat as the chairman of the Long Eaton Guild from 2007 to 2018, being completely immersed in the furniture industry from a young age. A pioneer in the industry, there aren’t many people in the industry that haven’t heard of Matt O’Flynn. He was the man of many hats (both figuratively and literally) Sadly, Matt was diagnosed with Cancer just as Orbital moved into the new studio.
Earlier this year, Matt lost his battle with cancer after a stay in St Michael’s Hospice in East Sussex. The Hospice gave incredible care, and always made sure there was an atmosphere of laughter and warmth, making not only Matt’s time more comfortable, but that of his family too.
When the Guild approached Orbital in order to create a new website to house both details of the Guild, and the famed bi-annual Longpoint, there was only one condition. We would happily create a new, user-friendly website, as long as it was created in dedication to Matt, and that the price of the project was waived, and donated to St Michael’s Hospice instead. Andrew Mitchell and Iain James of the Guild couldn’t think of anything better, and so the project began.The Long Eaton Guild now have a new site to encourage visitors to Long Point, and in turn have generously donated a sum of £500 to a hospice that is doing so much for so many.
The hospice has responded to the donation with huge amounts of gratitude to both the Guild and Orbital, highlighting how many more people they can now help with these funds.
“Thank you so much for your overwhelmingly generous donation given in memory of Mr Matt O’Flynn. What an incredible gift which will enable the hospice to continue to support many more people. As you know, our services are provided free, and we are reliant on the kindness of people like you who give so generously in order for others to benefit from the support we offer. On behalf of the team at St Michael’s Hospice, thank you. Your generosity is heart-warming.”
See the brand new Long Eaton Guild Website here: http://www.longeatonguild.co.uk/
Donate to St Michael’s Hospice here: http://stmichaelshospice.com/
The New Chairman for Heart of England Region
A huge congratulations to our very own Matt O'Flynn who has been appointed the position of new chairman of The Furniture Makers' Company ‘Heart of England’ fundraising region.
The Heart of England region will include Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Rutland. The voluntary position will involve Matt organising a couple of events a year in aid of The Furniture Makers’ Company.
Matt is planning for the first event to take place this September to coincide with the Long Point Exhibition, organised by the Long Eaton Guild here at The Exchange, home to The British Furniture Manufacturers Association and Orbital Visual Marketing.
A few words from Mr O'Flynn himself: “Our new premises at The Exchange in Long Eaton has provided an exciting and dynamic new opportunity for the industry to come together in the heartland of the upholstery trade. Having spent a number of years serving the industry as both chairman of the British Furniture Manufacturers and the Long Eaton Guild, creating a regional base for the Furniture Makers seemed a perfect fit.”
For more information,click here
Congratulations Matt from all the team here at Orbital!
