In Memory of John Cousins 7th July 1935 – 16th July 2024
I don’t know anything about John’s formative days, but after being called up for National Service in about 1955 and finishing his basic training he joined the Regular Army, finally leaving the service in 1972, with the rank of Major. John then served a two year apprenticeship with a well known Suffolk Master Thatcher and went on his own in 1974. His eldest son Jonathan joined him in 1985, followed by Jeremy a year later. They started to have thatching straw grown for them which they harvested themselves. During this time they lived in West Suffolk, but were trying to find their own land to grow thatching straw on, so they decided to move the business to East Suffolk where it was easier to find land.
In 1988 they bought Hulvertree Farm at Laxfield near Woodbridge. For over two years they farmed at weekends at Hulvertree with a TED20 and a Fordson E27N and carried on thatching in West Suffolk during the working week, living on site in caravans until their booked work was completed.
At Hulvertree they reinstated the hedges; planted an acre of hazel coppice to supply themselves with the fixings needed for thatching; forged their own thatching hooks and started to grow their own straw. Growing such varieties as Little Joss of 1908, Rampton Rivet which is medieval and Squarehead Master another very old variety.
John’s interest in the Ferguson tractors started when he went to buy an Albion reaper-binder and was told that the binder seat was still on the Fergie. This 1951 TED20 was their first tractor and was just perfect for the binder.
John’s membership number of the Club was 701.
He retired as a Master Thatcher in 2003 aged 68. He held CoSira certificates of proficiency in Long Straw and Water Reed and was a recognised trainer. He had thatched not only in East Anglia but in France and the USA. He was very active in his local Master Thatchers Association, during his time holding all of the posts of office and was part of the team that wrote the first standards and specifications of work for thatching buildings in East Anglia. I believe he also re-wrote the Association’s constitution.
Before retirement he sat on a committee, drawn up of thatchers from across England, writing the thatching NVQ’s.
In 1993 to 1995 the Club was in trouble which I wont get into but you can read about it in back copies of the Journal. John saw this and in the 1995/6 Journal is listed as Chairman who covered for Secretary, Journal Editor and Sub Editor, and was preparing the accounts, the Membership Secretary, Lawrence Jamieson also covered for Treasurer. Just as an aside this edition of the Journal has 109 pages! Also in this year John represented the Club at a court case at Ipswich County Court which he must have done very robustly as the case was thrown out.
As there was no money in the kitty the next edition on the Journal 1996/7 lists John as Chairman, Acting Editor and Sub Editor and there still is no Treasurer or Executive Officer/Secretary and yet this edition has 167 pages!
In Spring 1997 Ian Halstead is the new Chairman and all positions are filled.
All this time John was working on drawing up the Constitution and Rules to protect the Club from anything like this happening again. He must have been very thorough as they have only just been revised, mainly to be more politically correct, gender neutral and to embrace modern technology.
John has always been given the credit for this work, but Jonathan said his Dad felt uncomfortable with this, as so many other people were equally involved.
John leaves behind his loving wife Jill and two sons, Jonathan and Jeremy to whom we send our deepest condolences.
Published in Journal No.111 Winter 2024/25
John Selley