The term “Master Thatcher” is much used in the
thatching world.
My Company – Master Thatchers (North) Ltd is but one example, but
what does the term mean or convey to people?
The chambers dictionary definition is a “Master” is one who
is “eminently skilled in anything”. The definition of a “Master
Workman” is one who “has set up on his own account or qualified
to do so”; the term “Master Thatcher” was not listed although
a “Master Builder” is one who directs and employs others.
Clearly there is the notion that the more experienced the tradesman is the
more likely it is to become a “Master”. This experience must
also be tempered by having skills which a less experienced person would
not have. Some Thatchers who have therefore been thatching for a long time
and working for another Thatcher could also in my opinion be called Master
Thatchers – I am thinking here of family, firms where the father has
reached an age where he spends less time on the roof and his son(s) and
or daughter(s) carry out much of the day to day thatching.
Two key questions now need to be addressed:
1. How long should a Thatcher have worked before he can be called a Master
Thatcher?
2. Who is the judge or the person or group of people who can agree that
an individual can be called a “Master Thatcher”? Is it not the
case that only another Thatcher can call a Thatcher a Master Thatcher?
One of my competitors on his website says of the term Master Thatcher:
“Master Thatchers work to high professional standards. They serve
a rigorous five year apprenticeship, carry out a wide range of thatching
work – both under supervision and on their own and pass examinations
before they are finally allowed to call themselves a “Master Thatcher!”
By introducing the term ‘apprenticeship’ there is an assumed
agreement that there are key components that make up a course that is universally
accepted by Thatchers. To my knowledge this is not the case. The difficulty
lies in that a trainee or apprentice will be taught the way their employer
has been taught – whether this is good or bad. The five year time
period is again an arbitrary term – why five years and not four or
six years? When Thatching Advisory Services Ltd started their franchise
operations a six month training period was what potential franchisees signed
up for.
Thatching courses have been run at Knuston Hall for many years but what
are their examinations that apprentices have to pass and who are the examiners?
As with much in the thatching world there is a little agreement between
Thatchers as to what contributes an accepted time period to learn the job.
I have been in the trade 30 years and have never taken a thatching exam
and no one has ever suggested to me that I should or should not be called
a Master Thatcher. Likewise none of my employees some of whom have been
with me nearly 20 years are in the same position.
Until agreement can be reached between Thatchers on the two questions above
unfortunately the term will remain vague.
