A. W. Parker Coal Merchants has been sponsoring Drybrook Band since 2004 and the players are forever grateful for this support, which has helped to increase the band's musical achievements, cover tuition costs and improve our Band Room facilities.
This progressive Coal Merchants was established in 1920 by Ralph Parker who transported miners to the local colliery in the morning, delivered coal during the day and took the miners home at the end of their shift. Today the business is owned by Graham Parker who took over from his uncle (A. W. Parker) in 1980 and started the transformation from a small one man business to one of the largest independent family coal merchants in the West Country.
After attending several British Coal Instruction Courses at the Coal Research Establishment in Cheltenham, Graham was awarded the 'Approved Coal Merchants Scheme' Diploma, the highest accolade for a coal merchant. As well as the normal bagged rounds and ordered coal, prepacked coal for petrol stations and shops, filled on an automatic bagging, weighing and sealing machine, has become a major part of the business alongside Kindling and Wood logs.
The 4th generation of the Parker family, Graham's daughter Melanie now manages the busy order office, with his niece Sarah assisting with the heavy workload. Between them they ensure the company's nine delivery vehicles promptly deliver 100% British housecoal and Smokeless fuel to Gloucestershire, Monmouthshire and Herefordshire. The 5th generation of the family - Dan - is also now engaged in the business.