Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2009 | Page 114

life

LOCAL BUSINESS

Paul Jacobs owner of Wisteria

In the frame

From the left: Dave Stubbings, Tim Stubbings, Catherine Smith,
Tom Rickard, Matt Konkeil, Nigel Holliday, Si Stubbings and Andy
Stubbings

Cutting
it fine

Defying the current economic

recently framing the oil

climate, Wisteria Gallery

painting of the QE2, unveiled

in Wootton are the busiest

by the Queen last year to

they’ve been in 30 years. “Our

commemorate the liner’s

workload has gone up by 30%

retirement. Now working on a

over the past year,” said Paul

large order, which will go all

It was agricultural machinery

agricultural contracting side

Jacobs who took over the

over the Middle East, Wisteria

that was the backbone of

of the business, joined the

business from his father Neville

also have loyal local customers

Stubbings Bros business back

firm and Si, the eldest brother,

in 1980.

who use them regularly.

in 1981 when they began

came on board in 1989. Dave

trading. Operating from their

Stubbings, the youngest, is

Beginning life in the beautiful

“We’ve got a lot more

old thatched wisteria covered

demand for hand finished

premises in Chale Green,

also employed in the business

cottage in Newchurch in

frames – base timbers finished

the business has grown from

as Marketing and Finance

1977, hence the name, the

to a customers’ specifications.

humble beginnings into a

Manager and he joined in

gallery moved to Wootton in

The natural look is popular

large scale agricultural and

1991.

1986, and on to its present

with a simple finish such as

grounds machinery supplier

High Street location in 1990.

lime wax which will bring up

and servicing company.

Gradually taking more and

the grain,” said Paul. “Oak is

Three brothers formed the

more workshop space, Paul

popular as well as Beech, and

family firm of Stubbings Bros,

four of the most respected

purchased the property in

it’s all sustainable wood.”

beginning in 1981, although

brands in the market and

all four of the brothers are

have now added the range

pictures framed while they

now involved. Amazingly

of Clubcar golf buggies and

it’s a craft industry,” explained

wait using made to measure

there is only around a year

Polaris and Aqua Cat quad

Paul. “Everything is made

frames and mounts, otherwise

between each of them. Andy,

bikes. “We aim to sell only

to your specification with a

the turnaround is between

the second eldest, started the

the brands that we know we

wide choice of colour, style

four and six weeks at present.

business with a van, repairing

can stand by and avoid the

and size. There are not many

The busy team of four now

tractors and repairing farm

cheaper makes because of

places where you can get

include Paul’s son Richard,

machinery. The first building,

their questionable reliability

that level of personal service

the third generation of the

a workshop, went up at Chale

and parts availability,” said

nowadays.”

family to join the business. For

in 1985.

Dave Stubbings the Sales

2004.
“This job is labour intensive –

Wisteria has a local and
international client base,
114

Artists can come in and have

further details see ad Page 28.

Around 1987 Tim, third in
line, who had been on the

Stubbings Bros now
represent Kubota, Toro and
Hayter, Massey Ferguson,

and Marketing Manager. For
further details see ad Page 72