Leslie Leighton Thorne

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

[edit] Early life

Leslie (Les) Thorne was born in a small cottage in Wragby, Lincolnshire in April 1923. 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 North Africa, mainly working on maintenance and repair of vehicle engines. In 1946, he was given an early B release to return to work with his ailing father in developing the family business - beekeeping. H

[edit] Beekeeping

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

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

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

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

He was the President of the Lincolnshire Beekeepers Association, an Honorary member of the British Beekeepers Association, a member of the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers and a freeman and Liveryman of the City of London.

[edit] Outside interests

He was also the organist at Wragby Methodist Church, and a keen amateur film-maker. In the 1950s, he bought a cine camera and started taking film of all the Wragby events. He was also a freelance cameraman for Granada TV and travelled throughout Lincolnshire taking film of events from train crashes to the Queen opening Pelham Bridge in Lincoln. It almost got him into serious trouble one day. President John Kennedy flew in briefly to Waddington. Mr Thorne went and surreptitiously took 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 of shooting President Kennedy.

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