Alastair David Simms is one of the last remaining master
cooper
Cooper, Cooper's, Coopers and similar may refer to:
* Cooper (profession), a maker of wooden casks and other staved vessels
Arts and entertainment
* Cooper (producers), alias of Dutch producers Klubbheads
* Cooper (video game character), in ...
s in England.
Early life
Simms grew up in the town of
Masham
Masham ( ) is a market town and civil parish in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England. It had a population of 1,205 at the 2011 census.
Etymology
In Wensleydale, on the western bank of the River Ure, the name derives from the An ...
in
Yorkshire
Yorkshire ( ; abbreviated Yorks), formally known as the County of York, is a historic county in northern England and by far the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its large area in comparison with other English counties, functions have ...
.
He attended Masham CofE Primary School from 1968 to 1974 and
Bedale High School from 1974 to 1979.
Training
Simms began his apprenticeship in 1979, training at
Theakston Brewery
T&R Theakston is a brewery in the market town of Masham, North Yorkshire, England. The company is the sixteenth largest brewer in the UK by market share, and the second largest brewer under family ownership after Shepherd Neame.
The brewery is ...
in Masham.
He became a journeyman cooper in 1983.
He attained the rank of master in 1994 when his apprentice completed his training,
which is the requirement for mastery.
Career
After leaving Theakston Brewery in 1995 he worked for eighteen years at
Wadworth Brewery
Wadworth is a brewery company founded in 1875 in Devizes, Wiltshire, England, best known for their 6X beer brand.
History
Wadworth & Co. was founded in 1875 when Henry Wadworth purchased the Northgate Brewery in Devizes. It was not long before ...
. In 2013 he set up his own business, the White Rose Cooperage Ltd, in Yorkshire.
Simms was involved in the 2015 film ''
In the Heart of the Sea'', providing barrels and other items, creating a cooperage on the set and being filmed working with other craftsmen.
In August 2018 he took the position of Head Cooper at Yorkshire Cooperage. In October 2020 he took the position of Master Cooper for Jensen's Cooperage Ltd in Ripon.
Simms has appeared as an expert on the
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
''.