Latest news with #WillSanders
BBC News
24-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
'Two-year waiting list' for thatched roof repairs in Devon
Roof thatchers in the South West have said they have a backlog of at least two years' work, partly due to a shortage of people wanting to work in the say the short-supply of straw and several seasons of bad weather have made it harder to keep up with the demand for Devon and Cornwall Master Thatcher Association said fewer young people were making inquiries about learning the thatcher Tony Jackson said: "We used to get 12 to 15 applications of people wanting to be apprentices but in the last six years we've had three or four, it's dropped right off." Will Sanders started work as Mr Jackson's apprentice six years ago and said he greatly enjoys his job."I worked a summer with Tony and I really enjoyed the labour, working with my hands, and that was it for me," he said."You are constantly learning too, which is great."Tom Paterson said he became a thatcher's apprentice after leaving a career as a structural engineer and found he loved "being on the roofs"."I really wanted to learn the craft and to make things with my hands." Author Tom Allan, also felt the draw of the straw 13 years ago, leaving a job in publishing to become a thatcher and now helping train apprentices of his said: "When you spend a long time learning the craft, it could be tempting to keep that knowledge to yourself, but it's good to get to share it with other people because that's the only way to keep the whole thing going".Master thatcher Lars Blackwell said it was a fabulous job."You are working on some of the most beautiful properties, you really make your mark, you know, and everyone loves thatched roofs". 'All-weather job' Edwina Wakley from the Devon and Cornwall Master Thatcher Association said the backlog was "due to the shortage of straw" after "very poor weather over the past two years".The bad weather has also affected the speed at which thatchers are able to work, and also put people off learning the trade, she said "much of the interest [previously] came from seeing a thatcher working on a sunny day - all very idyllic but perhaps not quite so in torrential rain and extremely cold conditions. Seldom was much interest expressed then."Once [it is] explained that it is an all-weather job and that there is a long apprenticeship, it is not quite so appealing."The association attends shows in the region each year where people interested in becoming thatchers can find out more.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Knoxville Smokies reveal 2025 roster, opening day starting pitcher
Right-handed pitcher Will Sanders is the projected starter when the Smokies face the Birmingham Barons on April 4 at Regions Field in the Southern League opener. Sanders, 23, was a fourth-round pick by the Chicago Cubs in the 2023 draft, and played college baseball at South Carolina. The Atlanta native is in his second season in the minors, and was assigned to the Smokies last season in September from the High-A South Bend Cubs Advertisement The Double-A Smokies play their first home game April 15. The home opener marks the Smokies' return to Knoxville after playing a quarter century in nearby Kodak, and the game will be the first in the newly built Covenant Health Park in the Old City. The 2025 club features familiar faces, including infielders Hayden Cantrelle, Haydn McGeary and BJ Murray, outfielders Parker Chavers and Felix Stevens, and catchers Pablo Aliendo and Casey Opitz. The Knoxville Smokies roster Infielders BJ Murray, Hayden Cantrelle, Ed Howard, Haydn McGeary, Pedro Ramirez Outfielders Parker Chavers, Jordan Nwogu, Jaylen Palmer, Felix Stevens, Advertisement Pitchers Sam Armstrong, Brad Depperman, Wil Jensen, Nick Hull, Chris Kachmar, Grant Kipp, Rob Kwiatkowski, Ben Leeper, Zac Leigh, AJ Puckett, Will Sanders, Frankie Scalzo Jr., Tyler Santana, Mitchell Tyranski, Cayne Ueckert Catchers Pablo Aliendo, Ethan Hearn, Casey Opitz Promotions revealed, fireworks set, tickets available for purchase The Smokies will offer 32 promotional nights at home games and a record-setting 27 fireworks displays during the 2025 season, including their largest fireworks show of the year on July 4. Tickets can be purchased online at including packages such as the "Pitches on the Pitch" collaboration with One Knox SC, a $230 deal featuring tickets for five Smokies games, five One Knox games and a Smokies hat and One Knox hat. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knoxville Smokies reveal 2025 roster, opening day starting pitcher
