The Story

The last Smith family member to own the company was Eddie Smith who, together with his wife Winnie ran it until they retired. Although, sadly, Eddie and Winnie are no longer with us but Winnie was a frequent visitor to our workshops for many years. Since then the company has undergone several changes of owner and was purchased by Robin & Peter Tuppen, Anna Piper and Frank Odell in 1989.

Robin now runs the business, supplying Trugs all over the World. He exports somewhere in the region of 40% of the Trug production every year. In the autumn of 1997 Robin Tuppen demonstrated Trug making at the Courson Gardening Show in France where he was awarded the ‘Ruban d’Argent’ (Silver Ribbon) for his Trugs and then in the spring of 1998 and 1999 he was awarded the ‘Ruban d’Or’ (Gold Ribbon).  Other awards have been received in the United Kingdom and mainland Europe.

Robin is a Yeoman Member of the Worshipful Company of Basketmakers of the City of London.

http://www.basketmakersco.org/

All other Trugs are imitations as Thomas Smith’s were the original makers in 1829!

Prize medal winners for 190 years in Britain and mainland Europe.  Our company is 190 years old this year – 2019!

As featured on BBC Antiques Road Trip January 2019