A NORTH Yorkshire furniture maker is celebrating keeping a customer satisfied for the past 25 years.

John Aitken, from Belgium, began a special relationship with Beaver Furniture, of Thirsk, in 1977 when he requested a piece of furniture to commemorate the Queen's Silver Jubilee.

A cottage chair was made and carved with the Queen's coat of arms, the date and the Beaver trademark.

Mr Aitken has bought a piece of furniture every year, ranging from a clock to dining table and chairs, each with the date carved on the pieces. The piece for the Queen's Golden Jubilee is a jointe-style stool.

The family-run business has been handcrafting furniture for more than 40 years.

David Glegg, who now runs the firm, started working for Beaver as an apprentice after leaving school. He succeeded his late father-in-law, Colin Almack, who established the business in 1960.

Mr Glegg said: "I'm very proud of the special relations we have built with this overseas customer.

"It shows that the high quality of our furniture is appreciated and has been literally carved into history.

"All our furniture is made with mature British oak and our craftsmen take the design from prototype to final polish.