THE words every parent dreads when they return from holiday: "Hello, French polishers? It's just possible you might be able to save my life."

It is also the phrase which inspired retiring BNFL worker Tony Rowlands to take advantage of his spare time and turn his favourite hobby into a business.

For Tony, who hails from Ingol, has set himself up in the business of furniture polishing - a project which he hopes will occupy him when he leaves BNFL at Springfields in September.

Tony, who describes himself as a young 50, said: "The pace of life in my new career will be very different from the hectic activity at Springfields.

"It is so relaxing and rewarding to see bare wood come to life when polished, or seeing a piece of neglected furniture restored to its former glory.

"Working at my own pace, with Classic FM playing in the background just seems to make life's problems disappear."

Tony was given the opportunity to pursue his hobby when bosses at BNFL's Fuel Business Group asked for volunteers to take early retirement. BNFL paid for Tony to go on a furniture polishing course and he was also given advice on how to set up a new business.

And his furniture polishing interest has already saved him money. He recently repolished his own dining suite, ensuring that it looked as good as new, which infuriated his wife because she was banking on a new one!

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.