Lawrence (30yo) is called up for the national fire service and deployed to Perth, Scotland.

As Charles had done in the first war Samuel again makes part of the premises available to house refugees displaced during the Second World War.

This time these include Count Von Posner, of Polish aristocracy and his family. He helps out with the Fire watch Duty’s, settles down, and spends the rest of his life in Loughborough, cutting hair in a barber shop a few doors down on Church Gate for many years.

A photograph of some of the staff July 1942

front row: Miss Phyllis Rigden (Peggy), Samuel, Jack & Lawrance Lowe

second row: Albert Pervin, Mrs?, Joe Upton

third row: ?,?,Harry Grundy?,

The company lost employees and trade during the war. Lawrence is discharged from the fire service and returns to Loughborough determined to rebuild the company and re-establish it as the leading brand for home furnishings and fine cabinetry.

Lawrence marries Doris Stones.

They had met during the war, Doris was in the ‘Land Army’ and was stationed at the Midlands Agricultural and Dairy College, Sutton Bonington, Loughborough.

Richard Charles Lowe is born to Lawrence and Doris.

Charles Lowe & Sons has become a regular stopping place for overseas visitors, dispatching goods as far as Australia, New Zealand, America, Italy, France, Norway, and South Africa.

in 1952 The firm wins the contract to furnish a certain Opera house in Sydney Harbor, Australia.

In 1952 this is not the opera house you may be thinking of! Chalwin Castle was a precursor to the current Sydney Harbor Opera House which didn’t come along until some time later.

Craftsmen, some time in the 50’s possibly late 50’s

back row: Molly Morgan (Barrow), 'Snowy White?' , Stuart Attenborough, Norman Trasler

front row: Dave Sibson, Bobby Trasler, Pat Wellband.

Samuel Lowe dies.

Samuel leaves his assets to Lawrence and his two sisters. Lawrence’s brother-in-law immediately insists the company will have to be sold without delay in order to raise the capital to buy him out, this places Lawrence under serious pressure at this very hard time.

After 3 years of hard work and negotiations Lawrence is able to settle the estate with his sisters and Charles Lowe & Sons is able to continue. It becomes a Limited Company which Lawrence forms with his wife Doris.

He spends the rest of his life working incredibly hard in order to ultimately leave the firm debt free and successful.

By the 60’s Charles Lowe & Sons has been firmly re-established as the complete home furnishings provider, renowned for its antique restoration excellence, fine cabinet making and French polishing.

Heavily in debt, just one year after buying out his sisters, Lawrence makes a gift to the local Christian community of the church on school Street that had been passed down from his grandfather Charles,

Another early first, Lawrence Installs one of the earliest models of Closed Circuit Television in the show rooms to help protect the valuable stock.

Standard Atlas delivery van.

Richard Lowe completes his City and Guilds cabinet making course and joins the family business.

He oversees the reproduction of fine oak furniture, antique pieces are copied with faithful accuracy to replicate earlier furniture dynasties, carefully aged and distressed to authentically simulate the originals.

Charles Lowe & Sons is commissioned by Mr. Joseph Cyril Bamford, the C.E.O. of J.C.B. Diggers, to refit and trim the interior of his famous Rolls-Royce.

When JCB introduced the revolutionary 3C backhoe machine (the quintessential ‘JCB’), it was a massive success. The machine even provided the operator of the machine with facilities for boiling a kettle in the cab.

Mr. J.C.Bamford visited every purchaser personally in his Rolls Royce and presented them with their kettle. Mr. JCB’s customer visits became legendary and the 3C an overnight success.

Craftsmen mid 70's back row: Wayne Newby, Stuart Attenborough, Phil Boucher (Butch), David Paling, Richard Burke. front row: Ken Sharpe, Jim Birch.

Richard marries Jillian Marsh

They have 3 sons; Daniel Gordon & Greg.

Lawrence installs a diesel electric generator in order to keep the showrooms and workshops open during frequent power cuts caused by coal miner’s strikes.

1990’s The three brothers and current directors join the firm, serving their apprenticeships in the cabinet, upholstery and polishing workshops. They are taught traditional cabinetry by veteran cabinet maker Stuart Attenborough who has been with the firm since he left school at the age of 14 in 1952. He retires in 2013 after over 60 years with the firm.

1999 Generations brand oak flooring is created to mark the fifth generation joining the firm and to underscore particular emphasis on fine oak floorboards hand planed, aged and polished in the traditional way.

Demand for the Generations branded flooring grows and it is established as a leading alternative to reclaimed oak floor boards having the benefits of consistency and the modern performance of engineered oak but with the pleasing visual appeal of aged oak boards.

Supplies many listed properties and stately homes for refurbishment and extensions in projects nationwide.

Dan (21yo) and Greg (17yo) oiling some particularly large oak boards outdoors in the yard on a fine day!