Potter magic means business is broom-ing (From Gazette & Herald)

Potter magic means business is broom-ing

IT might not be a Nimbus 2000 or a Firebolt, but one North Yorkshire firm can still whip up an old-style broom faster than Harry Potter can say "Quidditch".

Nicola and Brian Eddon, who are among the country's last remaining producers of tradition besom brooms, have scooped a cash boost from agriculture ministry DEFRA.

And their success has been partly down to the most famous pupil of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, who has helped put the humble broomstick back in fashion.

Mr Eddon is continuing a craft tradition, which has long been associated with his family. The couple make the besoms in their workshop in Farwath, near Pickering, and sell them from the tea garden at their farm.

They have now received a Rural Enterprise Scheme grant from DEFRA, worth about £7,000, which will enable them to develop the business.

A new generator will provide light and power to the tea gardens, allowing the facilities to be upgraded. Improved lighting in their workshop will enable them to devote more time to making the besoms, and to develop an Internet site.

The besom brooms are made from moorland heather, with handles cut from coppice-grown wood. Nicola Eddon said: "The grant will enable us to put the business on a far stronger footing and enable us to develop new ways of marketing our products.

"The tea gardens are very popular with walkers and tourists, but the income is seasonal and very dependent on the weather.

"The Harry Potter stories have been a boost for us; lots of children want a traditional witches' broomstick. However a lot of our customers come to us because they want a traditional, natural product."

Sarah Broadwith, a Rural Development Advisor for the Rural Development Service, said: "This is an excellent example of how unique personal skills can be utilised to develop an enterprise."

In the best-selling Harry Potter books, by JK Rowling, "turbo-brooms", such as the Nimbus and Firebolt, are used in the traditional game, Quidditch.

Updated: 11:52 Wednesday, October 30, 2002