We'll turn scrap into designer furniture - talented friends launch business in memory of crash victim
They can turn their hands to many things and three friends are now on a mission to create unique furniture in memory of a friend and brother.
The former blacksmith building along the A49 in Preston Brockhurst, near Wem, has been transformed into a workshop for friends Callum Burns, 24, James Stokes, 26, and Luke Roberts, 23.
The trio have been inspired by Callum's older brother, 27-year-old Merrick, who died after a motorcycle accident along the A49 earlier this year.
Merrick was from Market Drayton but moved to Shrewsbury and had attended Thomas Adams School in Wem.
He also played rugby for the Market Drayton Rugby Club.
He had taken over The Smithy initially to fix up motorbikes – which was another one of his passions – before the four friends decided to have a go at making furniture.
Callum said: "He had it since the start of April and then about two weeks into when he had it, the four of us decided to have a go making things together.
"He had the idea of naming it Junction 49, so we have stayed with that name."
Merrick sadly died after a crash on the A49 at the junction for Grinshill, but the group of friends decided to continue the vintage bespoke furniture business in his memory.
Callum said: "We've just been going round scrapyards and bringing things back and making things that are quirky and different."
James added: "We started making furniture and we were just playing around with different ideas.
"We would have had it open at the start of July but with everything that happened it has been put back and we are now ready to launch it. It has really inspired us more to make it work because Merrick would have wanted it to really work."
The three friends have turned everyday objects into different pieces of furniture – a bike into a chandelier, oak wood into a chopping board and they even made Merrick's coffin branded with the company's logo and his name.
Callum and Merrick's cousin, Georgina Themeras, has been supporting the business venture along with their parents Charlotte and Gary and younger siblings Fraser and Gabriella.
The three business partners showed off their creations at a barbecue launch event over the weekend. James added: "Now we really want people to come to us with an idea.
"If they would like something making and they don't know how they would be able to or don't have the skillset then we want them to come to us and we will do that for them. We won't say no to anything."
