Taylors of Welwyn

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