Tadley broommaker's son takes over royal warrant

Sue Nash, the widow of broommaker Arthur Nash, whose Tadley home in Mulfords Hill has displayed the royal crest for supplying brooms and pea sticks to the Queen since 1999, said she recently arranged for the Royal Warrant to be handed over to her son, Bradley Nash, who fits the demanding work around a full-time job as a contracts manager and his family life.
“I had the Royal Warrant handed down to him,” said Mrs Nash.
Her son has been out of action for the last eight weeks, due to a knee operation.
And work is about to start on gathering in the birch to make the hand-made brooms.
The task is usually carried out in the worst winter months, from November and March, said Mrs Nash, who re-married last November to Tony Perris.
It’s hard work for very, very little return,” she added.
Mr Nash is carrying on the business as a one-man band after two elderly helpers recently bowed out of the business.
Mrs Nash’s two other sons and four grandchildren didn’t step forward to pick up the reins, and Mr Nash said: “I’ve got to keep it going in dad’s memory – I’ve been doing it since he passed away.”
However he had received a special present this week for his 44th birthday, with the news that his youngest daughter was expecting a little boy, meaning there was a possibility the family’s broommaking tradition may continue after him.
Demand for the hand-crafted brooms continues, with an order enquiry from as far away as Spalding, Lincolnshire last week.
In 2011 the family supplied a dozen brooms to feature in the gothic horror film Dark Shadows, starring Johnny Depp and Michelle Pfeiffer, and the Nash family continue to send orders of brooms and pea sticks to Buckingham Palace and the Royal Mews.
Crossed besom brooms also feature on a ‘Welcome to Tadley’ road sign.
Photographs of broommakers and items used in the craft are displayed at The Broomsquire Hotel, in Silchester Road, which is owned by Mr Nash’s daughter, Amanda.
She renamed the hotel in tribute to her late father, a broomsquire being the name given to a besom broommaker.
On November 28 the brooms are likely to feature at the 7pm switch on of Tadley’s Christmas tree lights by pantomime stars, from this year’s Christmas production at the Anvil Theatre, Basingstoke.
Brooms, which cost £15 each, are presented to the actors each year, in what has become a tradition in the town.