Introduction
The Norfolk Basket Company is a partnership between myself and my wife and former apprentice Ruth Charlton. I have been making willow baskets professionally since 1985 and have run willow basket making courses since 1989. My interest in the craft was initially sparked by coming across an old basketmaker at Fakenham market in Norfolk. I was intrigued by the vast variety of baskets, all with different names and uses. I was looking for a way out of my job working on North Sea oil rigs and within a couple of months, helped by a grant from the Rural Development Commission I found myself apprenticed to Terry Bensley in Great Yarmouth. Terry, now retired was a Master Basketmaker and taught me a full range of traditional English willow basketry from small fruit pickers to willow furniture. Ruth became my apprentice in 1997 and we have worked together ever since.