As part of my apprenticeship I undertook what was the only qualification at the time and gained a City and Guilds in conjunction with the Rural Development Agency (now Natural England).

On completion of my apprenticeship I moved to Devon to expand on my knowledge and skills in thatching and worked with a number of thatchers in the county.

I set up in business in my own right as a sub-contractor to Master Thatchers who were members of the National Society of Master Thatchers. Working mainly in Hampshire, Dorset and Cambridgeshire, but also Devon and Cornwall, I worked alongside the thatcher or on a whole job basis on my own.

I was successfully awarded membership of the National Society of Master thatchers on my first application and have since put down roots in the Gloucestershire area after marrying locally.

I now work as a Master thatcher in the Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire area