Bespoke furniture makers from Fleet can proudly view some of their work in one of the best British films so far this decade.

Fiona and Tony Harris were asked to create parts of the backdrop for a hotel room scene in the final moments of Atonement.

The couple and their staff at C Harris and Son in Albert Street worked around the clock to make five sofas and two chairs in just two weeks.

Their efforts were necessary to meet the demands of the art director and a tight filming schedule that ended in June.
Directed by Aldershot-born, Bafta-winning director Joe Wright, Atonement is an adaptation of Ian McEwan’s 2002 novel.

The film, set in 1930s England, depicts the tragic unfolding of a relationship between a young woman who returns for the summer from Cambridge University, Cecilia Tallis (Keira Knightly), and the son of her family’s cleaner, Robbie Turner (James McAvoy).

Fiona and Tony, who live opposite their shop, said they regularly turned down opportunities to showcase their designs on TV home improvement shows, but could not miss the chance to work for Atonement.

Fiona, 39, said: “When we got the call to take part, we did not hesitate. Both of us felt it was something nice and unusual to take part in.”

The value of the pieces made for the scene, which normally would have taken several more weeks to produce, totalled more than £11,000.

“We were originally asked to make the furniture in one week but we told them it would be impossible,” she added.

“We only had one of the sofas they wanted, the Canterbury, in stock. The rest we had to make from scratch.

“Even working all hours, there was no way we could do it in less than two weeks, so we had to get them to push the filming schedule back by seven days.

“I was amazed that production continues right up until the release of the film.”

Efforts to meet the strict deadlines were almost in vain when Fiona went to buy the cloth that the art director had picked specially for the hotel scene furniture.

“I couldn’t believe it when my supplier told me that particular fabric was no longer being made,” she said.

“I bought every last scrap they had and, thankfully, it was enough.”

Fiona and Tony, 40, have two daughters, Charlotte, 10, a pupil at Velmead Junior School at Fleet, and Emily, 14, who attends the town’s Calthorpe Park School.

The couple took over C Harris and Sons from Tony’s great grandfather, Charles Harris, who opened the store in 1918.

The shop is the second oldest in Fleet behind ironmonger WC Baker and Sons in Fleet Road, which is celebrating its centenary at the moment.

Fiona and Tony converted the business to offer a bespoke design service 10 years ago, after they were approached by a number of customers who were unable to find furniture in the fabrics they wanted.

The company, which now offers a choice of more than 15,000 fabrics, has delivered pieces to customers from Camberley to Carlisle.

Fiona said that although neither she nor Tony had a background in design, they are never shy about offering advice to customers who are not sure what they want.

“Although neither of us have any certificates in design, over the years we have developed an eye for what looks good and what does not,” she said.

“The pieces used in the film have not arrived back from the set yet but they have already been snapped up by two of our regular customers.

“A lot of customers come to us with a space to fill and don’t necessarily consider what will suit the surroundings.

“There are not many lengths we would not go to make our customers happy.

“The shop has been here for 90 years and for most of that time, until the internet came along, we relied on recommendation for new business.

“When you are a small business like we are, customer service is paramount.”
 
Pop into the shop at 26 Albert Street, Fleet, Hampshire,  GU51 3RL or visit the website charris-son.co.uk