A MASTER thatcher has won a prestigious Melplash Show competition which has had a change of format.
The Guy Gale Craft Trophy for craftsmen/women within a 20-mile radius of Melplash Church is now to be given to an outstanding craftsperson nominated and supported by members of the society instead of individuals competing.
This year it has been unanimously agreed that Mr David (Dave) Symonds, Master Thatcher of Chideock, should be the recipient of the coveted trophy.
Ten years on from the award being presented in memory of the late Guy Gale by his wife Elizabeth, it has been decided that the format for the competition will be changed.
Originally for rural crafts it is also being extended to all crafts from which the person earns their living or a greater part of it.
Dave Symonds started his thatching career, aged 15 in 1967, training under renowned Master Thatcher Ronnie Thomas of Loders.
In 1972 he became self-employed sub-contracting to Ronnie Thomas and in 1974 he set up in business on his own.
This year finds him still working, mostly around the West Dorset area, joined by his son Scott and 18-year-old grandson, Rhys. His brother Peter thatches separately.
Elizabeth Gale said: “My husband Guy Gale, a talented thatcher, was executive member of the Master Thatchers’ Association and Chairman of the Dorset Branch.
"He admired Dave’s total commitment to the craft of thatching, and I know would be very pleased to see him receive his award at the Melplash Show this year.”
As early as 1974 Dave Symonds started to grow his own crop for wheat reed starting by helping out a farmer and the idea snowballed.
Having acquired his own land and machinery, he how harvests around 45 acres on his 95 acres and produces all the materials his firm requires, rotating the land with other crops.
His superb craftsmanship throughout the years has always been in West Dorset but in the late 1980s he stepped-in to work in the Vale of Evesham helping out when the only thatcher there became ill.
Fame came to Dave when the film Far from the Madding Crowd ( released in 2015) was being made in West Dorset. Dave appeared in the harvest scenes, playing three different characters. He ended up as advisor to the film company on old agricultural tools and how to use them, and aspects of farming in those days.
His thatching prowess and the filming have led to many TV appearances and requests to demonstrate and instruct. He has long been associated with the West Dorset Vintage Rally at West Bay, giving demonstrations of threshing and reed combing, as well as at other venues.
His other great lifelong interest is campanology – bell ringing. Since 1995, he has been Captain of the Bell Ringers at Chideock.
The Guy Gale award will be presented to Dave Symonds at the Melplash Show on August 24.
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