Tower and Town, October 2025 (view the full edition)Dobie Wyatt - A Small Family BusinessDobie Wyatt is a small family-run business based in Cadley on the A346 on the way through the forest to Burbage. Small they may be, but for the haulage industry around Marlborough and a pretty wide, almost national, radius they are indispensable. They create the tarpaulins and covers that keep trucks and their important cargos dry and undamaged. In addition Dobie Wyatt will create a waterproof cover, made to any specific shape or design, so that garden furniture, cars or whatever can be kept protected from the elements when not in use . In their sixty years, they have created their own niche. Now in the fourth generation of family ownership and management, they have expanded steadily, adapting to the needs of the industries served and are looking to embrace new advancements wanted by their long term regular customers such as automatic sheeting systems. In 1964 Dobie Wyatt Ltd was founded by Fred and Molly Wyatt, along with Joyce (née Wyatt) and her husband Spencer Dobie. Remarkably, Spencer, who has just retired at the age of 85, continues to remain involved, offering his invaluable experience and wisdom when needed. In the early days, their product range included hay nets, climbing nets, coconut matting mattresses for athletics, and small tarpaulins. Today, the business is run by Graham and Sue Dobie and Nigel and Lorraine Thatcher, with their son Tom as Managing Director. Together with his wife, Katie, Tom is committed to continuing the family tradition of excellence, and in the future the family are hopeful that the next generation, Max, Ellie and Molly will one day join the team, carrying the family legacy into the future. But as in many other family owned and managed businesses, the 'family' extends beyond the bloodlines. Their dedicated staff are part of that wider 'family' as well. The small team at Cadley includes four skilled employees who uphold the values of quality and service that Dobie Wyatt have built their reputation on. They would like to note the contributions of Carolyn Sheppard and Michael Maguire, who, although no longer on staff, remain close friends of the company and continue to visit regularly. As to the future, the best way to succeed is to provide customers with what they want, with first class service and in a way that those customers value, whilst also understanding what they might want just down the road but everything at competitive prices. Lorraine (Dobie) Thatcher |