IN GOOD COMPANY

IN GOOD COMPANY – D J Chutter Ltd.

workforce to about 13 men and one person in the office Gunville Lane. He built longstanding relationships with clients: his work on Corton Denham Manor continued on and off for 20 years, with Sir Lindsay Alexander placing such trust in David’s work that he commented, “We don’t really need a surveyor for this.” D J Chutter is also David Chutter with his two sons and his father, together with Bradford’s oldest account and Les Wallis David says they have never Hermitage-based building services and once missed a payment. joinery business, D J Chutter Ltd, is Mark joined the business in 1982 and celebrating its 60th anniversary. It was now runs the day to day operations and founded on simple values that hold contracts. With 20 full time employees true today – good quality work at fair as well as sub-contractors,they regularly honest prices. work alongside architects

David Chutter was born and designers. They are in Hermitage and went proud that a lot of their to Boyles Boys School in business comes by ‘word of Yetminster. Finishing his mouth’ and repeat clients. education aged 14, he The Company also belongs worked at the Sherborne to the Federation of Master Castle Estate as an Builders. apprentice joiner, alongside David decided to slow a young Les Wallis. After down in 2000 although, his National Service with at 89, he is not retired and the air force, David returned looks in on the office from to the Estate but, in 1960, time to time. And Joyce still married with two young David on the motorcycle he reminds Mark that she owns sons, he decided to set up had when he met Joyce 3/5ths of the business. on his own. It was a bold move. David David and Joyce continue to live in had £20 and his wife, Joyce, had £30, Hermitage, in a house that he designed enough to feed the family for a month. and built when he was 60. It is one of They put it into the business. his proudest achievements.

Initially with his father, and Les Wallis Congratulations to D J Chutter and working in the evenings making the looking forward to the next 60 years! joinery, David gradually increased the Kathryn Edwards 49