|
OLD PLYMOUTH
. UK |
||
|
© Brian
Moseley, Plymouth Webpage created: June 28, 2021 Webpage updated: December 11, 2021 |
||
|
|
||
|
NICHOLAS ROSEVEARE TRAHAIR (1914-2003) Following the death in 1934 of Mr William Bolitho Trahair (1855-1934), who had purchased the secret recipe for Farley's rusks back in 1912, the business of Messrs Farley's Infant Food Limited was controlled for a short time by Mr Richard Ernest Trahair (1874-1938), the eldest son of Mr Richard Hitchens Trahair (1848-1901), who was the older brother of the aforesaid William. But Mr Richard Ernest Trahair (1874-1938) did not survive for very long and passed away on September 14th 1938, when his eldest son, Mr Nicholas Roseveare Trahair took joint control with his younger brother, Mr David Ladner Trahair (1917-2000). During that year the factory at Torr Lane had been expanded and brand new machinery installed. The factory at Torr Lane did not get through the Second World War entirely unscathed even though the stark white building was covered in camouflage paint. During the night after it was painted, October 17th 1940, it took a direct hit, causing a great deal of damage and destroying the fortunately unoccupied air raid shelter.
A Farley's Rusks advert from 1953. In 1959 the factory was once again updated with the installation of the latest machinery, and a new mixing block, raw material bulk store and despatch warehouse were added, taking over the former recreation area that had been used by many local organisations for their sports days. Messrs Farley's Infant Food Limited was sold in 1968 to Messrs Glaxo Laboratories Limited, an old established New Zealand milk drying firm. The new name of Messrs Farley Health Products Limited dates from this period, when other health products such as Complan and Ostermilk were added to the Farley brand. It is believed that Mr Trahair retired at this time.Mr Nicholas Roseveare Trahair passed away on February 6th 2003 at the grand age of 88 years. His Obituary in the Western Morning News called him a "Motivating figure in post-war Plymouth", declaring that 'Farley's Rusks after the Second World War was a struggling business with a bomb-damaged factory and a future far from assured'. He threw himself wholeheartedly into the challenge of turning the business around. But although he never served on Plymouth City Council, he took a serious interest in the fortunes of the City. He sat on the British Broadcasting Corporation's Advisory Council and when he heard that they proposed to open a television regional centre at Bristol, he persuaded them to set one up in Plymouth, where he became its first Regional Chairman. Those were the days when Hugh Scully and Miss Angela Rippon were recruited to the local centre. His efforts also assisted the Nuffield Hospital at Derriford to be built. Mr Trahair was a founder and long-time director of the Western Trust and Savings Bank and of course was a member of the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce. He was a keen supporter of the Plymstock Operatic Society and the chairman of governors of Plympton Grammar School. His younger brother, Mr David Ladner Trahair (1917-2000), continued with the new owners until his own retirement.
|
||
