Leslie Leighton Thorne

Leslie Leighton Thorne was one of the most significant figures in
British beekeeping during the 20th Century.

Early life

Leslie (Les) Thorne was born in a small cottage in Wragby, Lincolnshire in April1923. He left school at 14 and joined his father Edgar Henry Thorne,who was a joiner, painter, decorator and made beehives.

In 1942, he was called up and joined REME. He served in Italy and NorthAfrica, mainly working on maintenance and repair of vehicle engines.In 1946, he was given an early B release to return to work with hisailing father in developing the family business - beekeeping.H

Beekeeping

He began to expand the business, introducing new products and sellingfurther afield than Lincolnshire. The business temporarily diversifiedinto construction; however, his main love was the bees and beekeeping.He used any profit from the building side to buy machinery to make partsfor beehives.

He would import woodworking machinery from around the world, oftenreconfiguring it, and developing innovative manufacturing techniques.This enabled him to produce a high volume of quality beehives for theBritish market.

Mr Thorne also oversaw the company's production of other beekeepingequipment - protective clothing, wax foundation, extractors andcandlemaking equipment. Throughout this, the size of the factory andthe numbers employed grew steadily.

In 1984, Thornes bought E.H Taylor of Welwyn - once the largest beehivebusiness in the country. This made them the largest in the UK and oneof the largest in Europe. Thorne's regularly exhibited at Apimondia -the world beekeeping conference - and began exporting all over theworld.

He was the President of the Lincolnshire Beekeepers Association, anHonorary member of the British Beekeepers Association, a member of theWorshipful Company of Wax Chandlers and a freeman and Liveryman of theCity of London.

Outside interests

He was also the organist at Wragby Methodist Church, and a keen amateurfilm-maker. In the 1950s, he bought a cine camera and started takingfilm of all the Wragby events. He was also a freelance cameraman forGranada TV and travelled throughout Lincolnshire taking film of eventsfrom train crashes to the Queen opening Pelham Bridge in Lincoln. Italmost got him into serious trouble one day. President John Kennedyflew in briefly to Waddington. Mr Thorne went and surreptitiouslytook film from outside the base but he soon had a tap on his shoulder.The film was confiscated and he hit the headlines locally - accused ofshooting President Kennedy.

In his retirement, he was able to spend more time with his wife, Joan,their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He would oftenspend winters in Tenerife, but throughout his life never lost hisdedication and love for his bees.