Taylors of Welwyn by Robert J Hawker
Thomas Bates Blow was from a working class background and leading a life
with little direction until he was befriended by a member of a leading British
family: with his patronage and much hard work, Thomas laid the foundation of
what was to become the largest business in Europe supplying the requirements
of beekeepers.
This volume charts the history of Taylors of Welwyn, from its birth through
the challenging changes and large expansion in the last two decades of the
nineteenth century through to the Company being put into liquidation after more
than a century of trading. From zero to zero in three acts, with three leading
men, changing scenery and a large supporting cast involving confl ict, changes of
ownership, fi res, World wars, no infl ation, high infl ation, but mostly about bees,
beekeeping and beekeepers and the vagaries that come with that fascinating mix.
The Author
Bob Hawker is a retired Professional Engineer. Following graduation, training
and employment in the Electrical Supply Industry, he moved over to the academic
world where in addition to normal lecturing duties he acted in Consultancy roles,
organised and talked at Conferences and appeared as Expert Witness in criminal
and civil legal proceedings.
Bob is married with two children and for the last thirty-eight years he has
tended between four and twenty four colonies of honey-bees in his large garden,
most years in late Summer taking them to the nearby Northumberland moors.
Researching and writing beekeeping history is his way of attempting to remain
sane in the dark Winter days.
