| Many years ago when I entered the stove | | | | his template design cast in a local foundry. Bernard |
| industry, over 25 years now, there were only a | | | | soon found that the word was spreading and his |
| handful of dedicated "stove people", selling | | | | career in cast-iron design had begun. Bernard's |
| multifuel and woodburning stoves in the U K. It | | | | fascination for art and design, combined with his |
| was not even until more recent years that there | | | | engineering and technical abilities soon led to a |
| was a stove trade show to go to in the UK, | | | | range of ornate cast-iron stoves being born. |
| which was held in a large marquee, as the | | | | Bernard and his wife Diana were soon sourcing |
| numbers were not big enough to justify a large | | | | cast-iron foundries at home and abroad to bring |
| venue. Those were great days as all the stove | | | | these creations to life. |
| traders were dedicated to their trade, living and | | | | Similar to most woodburning stove enthusiasts |
| breathing woodburning stoves. They would have | | | | Bernard and Diana never sought the bright lights |
| been considered as "anoraks" to coin a phrase by | | | | of city centre shops, but worked and operated |
| the general public. A lot of them operated from | | | | for many years from their rural setting in Sussex, |
| small dwellings normally in a rural setting. | | | | England with great success. Bernard constantly |
| Nowadays everybody has caught on to these | | | | visited the foundries where he cast his stoves, |
| wonderful high efficiency machines and they can | | | | and spent endless hours constantly improving the |
| be bought from a dedicated woodburning stove | | | | combustion of his designs long before any one |
| supplier right down to a builder's merchants or | | | | had heard of CE approvals. |
| even local hardware suppliers in some areas. This | | | | Bernard was one of the dedicated "stove people" |
| is only because of their present sales potential. | | | | mentioned above and was only to glad to impart |
| Maybe I am old fashioned but to me buying the | | | | his stove knowledge freely to anyone interested |
| correct woodburning or multifuel stove is a | | | | in multi fuel or wood burning stoves. |
| serious business, as correct planning, stove | | | | Sadly Bernard has passed away, but those who |
| selection and fitting are of the utmost importance. | | | | were fortunate enough to meet with him and |
| We had dedicated stove fitters in those days but | | | | learn from him will never forget his contribution |
| now there is a team of expert fitters covering | | | | and dedication to the stove industry in the UK |
| the UK, which you can source from the hetas | | | | In conclusion, as mentioned at the start of the |
| website. | | | | article, woodburning and multifuel stoves are |
| A woodburning or multifuel stove strangely | | | | available everywhere just because of their |
| becomes an integrated part of the family, as it is | | | | present sales potential. My recommendation for |
| easily lit, supplies a great deal of comfortable heat | | | | good advice is that you seek out local or on the |
| and gives a lovely feeling of ambience and | | | | Web dedicated woodburning or multifuel stove |
| friendliness when in use in any room setting. | | | | traders. These dedicated "stove people" will |
| Maybe this stems back to our roots when our | | | | normally be very happy to give you all the free |
| ancestors sat around the fire to cook, keep | | | | advice you need even though you may purchase |
| warm and talk about their daily adventures. | | | | your wood burning or multi fuel stove elsewhere. |
| I became interested in woodburning and multifuel | | | | Some of these traders will supply brand names |
| stoves, through a great stove enthusiast from | | | | but many do not. Rest assured if your chosen |
| Sussex called Mr. Bernard Davis. This English | | | | trader is a dedicated "stove person" he or she will |
| gentleman was in many ways a pioneer within the | | | | have vetted their products thoroughly and you |
| industry from as far back as the 1960s. Bernard's | | | | should be buying a great woodburning or multifuel |
| enthusiasm, passion, foresight and design capability | | | | stove with full CE or Din approvals at a |
| was my inspiration for becoming passionate for | | | | competitive price. You will also find they have an |
| these timeless high efficiency machines, with a | | | | abundant knowledge on everything, from the |
| long history dating back centuries. The earliest | | | | stove suitability for your situation to a great |
| cast iron stove being discovered in China and | | | | knowledge on fitting, chimneys and technical |
| dating back to 200 AD. | | | | issues .A lot of them will provide you with a |
| Bernard's story is fascinating in that his | | | | technical assistance telephone number as well for |
| background was in sculpturing. | | | | "after care" and one thing is for sure when you |
| He began by designing an open fire basket for his | | | | call that number you will get the right person to |
| home, as in those days only expensive so called | | | | help. |
| antique fire baskets could be purchased. He had | | | | |