My mentor.
How does one write about a person to whom one owes so much?
While I was very fortunate to get an undercutting job at Henry Poole, the real fortune was that they put me in the hands of the unique Arthur Catchpole, a man of calm but confident disposition and a cutter with unique outlook and skill.
Arthur was already in his late 70s and had enjoyed a full and illustrious career, which ultimately accorded him a Times obituary in March 2011. However, Arthur hadn't had an apprentice to pass on the knowledge collected and developed over this career.
On our first day together, he made it clear that he wouldn't be working long enough for me to have a full five years’ cutting apprenticeship. His solution, which was very Arthur, was to teach me as quickly as I could learn. The more time and energy I put into my apprenticeship, the quicker it would be. As much as the technical skills he gave me, this spirit of constant learning and development defines my work and is central to everything I do.
We started the process of learning, and his quiet confidence was contagious. He expected me to succeed. When he taught me how to cut a pattern, he insisted I do it ‘in anger’ for customers; he thought that the mind was more attentive when doing something where there is a consequence of mistakes. Of course, his eye was there to prevent catastrophe, but not over my shoulder, only when I had done my best. This approach was invaluable to me and accelerated my development
Like all apprentices, I made mistakes. Arthur was always patient and encouraging, knowing his skills in the fitting room could get him out of any difficulties I might create. His only impatience came if he felt a mistake was from lack of attention in the cutting process. Such was his calm authority, a quiet word was more than enough.
Within 18 months, I was looking after his customers when he wasn't at work. By this time, ailing health restricted him to working two days a week.
He taught without jealousy. He had complete confidence in his ability, so he didn't hold anything back with me or the other cutters. He taught without fear. He believed one should always be pushing oneself to make even better work. Three examples emphasise this:
In his 70s, he had trouble with trousers for a customer. He solved the problem by developing a new system and changed how he cut his trousers for everyone from then on.
He encouraged me always to try to take on the new customers with the most challenging shapes. Don't be scared of it being complicated; it's the problems that we learn from and improve and develop our work, he would say.
I had been badgering him to teach me how to cut morning coats, something in which he was uniquely skilled. Finally, he relented. A young man came in that needed a morning suit for a wedding in 10 days. Arthur turned to me as agreed. With no time to fit, we made the garments without fitting. I cut them, Arthur checked them, and the tailors made them. There were no adjustments needed through a combination of luck and Arthurs unique gift at the fitting/collection. Arthur generously toasted my success but of course I was only following Arthurs lead. I continue to do this today.
Arthur Catchpole was a kind, quiet, gentle, confident, strong man with wonderful character and comic timing. I miss him every day, and the with work I do, I try to honour him.