Thatching

Records show that thatchers lived in the village for well over a century. The first official National Census lists the trade of thatcher in Broadmayne in 1841, as does each subsequent census through to 1931. In that year, the thatcher was Reginald Paul – the elder brother of Len Paul, a truly unique character. From the mid-thirties onwards. Len braved the elements for more than 50 years in his career as a master thatcher in Broadmayne. Climbing up and down ladders and working on roofs didn’t bother Len who was quoted as saying “you just sort of held on with your knees”! One job at Woodsford Castle involved the use of a 60-rung wooden ladder – not extendable, but an all one ladder, which according to Len “took three of us to put it up”. Len’s father was a thatcher and his five brothers (including Reginald) and two sisters could all thatch. The whole family had a natural aptitude for this highly skilled trade. Len was a great local character and stalwart of the village. Sadly he passed away some ten years ago.

Derek Wisbey thatching

A resident of Broadmayne with 50 year’s thatching experience behind him is Derek Wisbey MBE, who lives at Broadmead in a modern bungalow, but with a thatched wishing well in the garden. Trained by his father in East Anglia, he ran his own thatching business until 1967, with the exception of 1939-46 when he served in the RAF both in the ranks and as a commissioned officer. Derek joined COSIRA (the Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas) in 1967 and became their Senior Thatching Officer. He was also their Thatching Advisory Officer for the South West. As such he was responsible for 200 thatchers from Cornwall to Hampshire. He actively promoted the training of apprentices and the development of the Industry as a whole in conjunction with the courses run by COSIRA. He encouraged small farmers to grow wheat reed for thatching and advised on partnership schemes for the purchase and use of expensive machinery. With 50 years thatching experience behind him, Derek, as many will know, has many stories to tell and there is never a dull moment to be had whilst in his company. One particular unusual phone call, Derek recalls with amusement, was from a man in Oregon in the United States ’phoning at 8.00 pm on a Friday evening. He asked if Derek could be at Heathrow by 8.00 am the next morning. He would be flown (first class of course) to Oregon to comment on a property which the gentleman wanted thatching and flown back to England the following Tuesday. Derek decided that he really couldn’t manage this but suggested he contact a thatcher in Somerset, who did in fact take on the job. There are now quite a few English thatchers working in the United States! It may come as a surprise to know that Derek’s talents were almost lost from thatching. Before the Second World War, thatching businesses were automatically passed from father to son but young Derek was almost persuaded to take up a less arduous job. Luckily for the thatching world, however, he persisted with his craft long enough to become a confirmed thatcher. Derek was the guest of the Queen on 14th December 1982 to receive his MBE, the first thatcher to receive such an honour. No stranger to awards, the medal was added to five others awarded during the Second World War and a bravery award given when aged 12, for stopping a runaway horse and cart. His award though, he says, is an honour for all thatchers – not just for himself. On being awarded his MBE, Derek recalls that it was such an unexpected honour that he said – “you could have knocked me down with a feather!” Perhaps in this case, a straw might have been more appropriate!

Brickmaking
Farming
The Old Bakery and other businesses