Meet the Team

Name: Paul Cleasby

Position: Director

Profile: A Cumbrian through and through, Paul started working for Abbeyhorn in 1980 as an apprentice hornworker. However in 1991 in true Victor Kiam style “He liked the company so much he bought it”.

Paul takes an active role in the company by hand producing the more bespoke items such as our horn chairs and tables, working at the various Trade Fairs we visit and (attempting) to keep us all in line.

Between work, Paul enjoys splitting his time between his 3 beautiful children and his newest task of renovating his barn conversion. When he gets a spare minute, Paul relaxes with a game of snooker.

Name: Jordan Taylor

Position: Factory Manager & Hornworker

Profile: Jordan originally started working for Abbeyhorn in 2013 as part of the office team before venturing into the factory. He gradually moved up the ladder and is now assistant manager.

Born in Cumbria, but now living in Lancashire, Jordan relishes having his weekends free, after serving beer in a bar in his previous job he now helps make beer mugs for a living! 

Making the most of these free weekends, Jordan goes to the gym and to football matches to watch his favourite team Leeds United. He lives with his 2 pet cats and admits to enjoying watching Emmerdale and Coronation Street.

Name: John Gregory

Position: Hornworker

Profile: John joined us at Abbeyhorn in 2014. He was born in Southend-On-Sea but now lives in Kendal, Cumbria.

John is also an all rounder here but most of the time you can catch him with the raw horns in the sawing up room. He says that he likes being part of a team now, after his previous job of cleaning windows.

When he is not at work, John likes walking and Kayaking. He also likes to spend time with his wife and children.

Name: Graham Bowles

Position: Hornworker

Profile: Born in Farnborough, Kent, Graham saw sense and relocated to Cumbria in 1973. In 1977 he joined Abbeyhorn as an apprentice hornworker before working his way up to Factory Manager in 1994. Graham left us in April 2005 to become a meter reader for a utility company but could not stay away and soon returned in November 2005. He is now a part time member of the production team and teaches the other members new skills.

Outside of Abbeyhorn Graham enjoys walking, cycling, DIY, politics, steam trains and spending precious time with his Grandchildren.

Name: Amy Crabtree

Position: Purchasing & Admin

Profile: Lancastrian Amy joined us in October 2015 after many years of shift work in a local hotel. Amy now enjoys the more sociable hours of her role at Abbeyhorn, as well as the variety the position offers. Responsible for purchasing and administration, Amy makes sure our suppliers and other team members get paid on time and keeps up to date on the day to day running of the office.

When not keeping us in supplies and keeping us entertained with her quick wit and humour, Amy enjoys socialising and walking her dog, Toby, who also comes to work with her.

Name: Simon Rucastle

Position: Packing and Despatch

Profile: Simon another Lancastrian strayed over the border in 2013 to become our full time Master of the Packing Room.  With endless patience Simon endures the daily requests of “can you just” from the office, whilst seamlessly picking, packing and despatching our countless daily orders.  After 22 years in the Prison Service Simon became a full time stay at home Father for awhile so it’s no the wonder that he now says he actually enjoys coming to work in a morning.

In his spare time Simon enjoys listening to heavy metal and is a keen festivalgoer. When not rocking, he is an avid football fan and is a season ticket holder at Preston North End.