Ashburton Courier: August 13, 2020

www.ashburtoncourier.co.nz
New generation at the wheel
There is anew generationin
charge of runningAshburton
business success story Ashford
Handicrafts.
James Ashford and his
partner David Lester have
taken over ownership of the
spinning, weaving andtextile
craft businessfrom James’
parents Richardand Elizabeth
Ashford.
Ashford Handicraftswas
founded by Richard’s father
Walterin1934and started
producing spinning wheels six
years later.
Thecompany has sold over
850,000 spinning wheels and
looms over the years and uses
New Zealand silver beech
sourced from sustainable
managed forests.
Ashfords also has a1200m2
woollenmill in Milton, which
employs three staffand
producesaround 30 tonnes of
merinoand corriedale wool
each year.
Richard Ashford said it was
the endofanera for himand
his wife, but both would
continueasdirectors.
Homecraftand knitting had
seen astrong resurgence in
recent months and thefuture
looked bright.
Mr Ashford said he had
learnt thebusiness from his
father andhad been passingon
that knowledgetothe new
ownersfor anumber of
In front of Mill House are Richard and Elizabeth Ashford and new owners James Ashford and David
Lester.
months.
His son, asoftware engineer
and his partner, an accountant,
had workedinNew York, but
both were enjoying the
business and change of
lifestyle in Ashburton.
Ashfordswas abouthigh
quality, affordable products
and excellent service and
support, he said.
TheAshford factory off West
Street is 3000m2 and the
business employs 40 people.
Thefamily also owns the
adjacent Mill House andcraft
village.
Mill House,whichincludes a
large craft shop and new cafe
called Mill House Kitchen, is
set to reopen soon after
extensive restrengthening
work. Internal and external
wall bracing has been
installed, new foundations laid
and the space refitted.
Aheritage grant from the
AshburtonDistrict Council
($7000)and Heritage EQUIP
funding ($30,000) has helped
part­fund workonthe historic
property that dates back to
1912.
NEWS
Ashburton Courier, August 13, 2020
Big Grin
opening
17
Big GrinOrthodontists will
openits own premisesin
Harrison Streetnext week
offering specialist orthodontic
caretoclients. There are also
plans to extendinto school
dentaltherapy and offeroral
hygiene services for people of
all ages.
Orthodontist Dr Joseph
Petelo hasbeen offering followup
care to clients regularly and
travelling,with ateam,from
Christchurch to arental space
inBurnett Street.
The new premises,
conveniently closeto
Ashburton College,will see the
team continueto offer
orthodontic checkupsbut with
along term plan to extendinto
school dental therapy. ‘‘This is
to offer the under­18(year olds)
freedental treatment for Year 9
–18years (this is ourpassion
project) there is anumber of
childrenNZwide thatare not
optimizingthe free dental
check­ups.’’
They want to catchunder18’s
not being seen by other dentists
inAshburton, orthe community
dentalvan, which did not visit
high schools.
The enrolment rate was63
per centbut there was ‘‘no
reason why Ashburton should
not have 100per cent of the
childrenbeingseenunder the
free school dental scheme’’.
Managerexits
with councilpraise
LINDA.CLARKE
@ashburtoncourier.co.nz
The mayorthat hired EA
Networks Centre boss Steve
Prescottbid him farewell last
weekand thanked him for ajob
well done.
Angus McKaywas mayor
whenthe pool and stadium
complex openedfive yearsago,
with Mr Prescott at the helm.
He is leavingthismonth andMr
McKay, now adistrict
councillor,said Mr Prescott
had tamed ‘‘a beast’’ by
implementing goodsystems
and keepingthe facilityunder
financial control.
Cr McKay said the facility
was one of council's’s most
successfulprojects and Mr
Prescott’s guidance,effort and
drivehadbeenvital.
Thesearch for his
replacement is under way and
applications closed yesterday.
Projectsofthe future include
asoftware replacement to
improve theway the centre
operated,communicated and
interacted withits customers,
and the development of adisc
golf course on land near the
centre.
Thestadium had been back to
full operationpost lockdown
and learn­to­swim classes had
beenback to full capacity with
793 enrolments this term.
Gym andfitnessgroup
numbers are about95per cent
of pre­lockdown numbers. The
gym is preparing to roll out a
virtualcycling programmefrom
Les Mills called ‘‘the trip’’;
Ashburton will be the first
location inthe South Island.
Mr Prescottsaid anumber of
Manager Steve Prescott leaves
the EA Networks Centre this
month.
newstaff from an older
demographic werecomingon
boardinthe aquatics area after
an earlier struggle to find
workers.
‘‘You will seeamuch more
stable workforce going
forward,’’ he told councillors in
his final report.
He said the centre was one of
the bestfacilitieshehad been
involvedwith over his working
life.The addition of disc or
frisbee golf wouldbeagooduse
for its outdoorspace.
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