Monday, June 4, 2012

grave post - Weston



Some of you may recognize                                                                    this flourished signature






as that of Weston Bakery, started by his father George Weston.
W. Garfield Weston was born above his father's bread factory in Toronto in 1898. He was exceptionally gifted at making business deals and thus able to expand his empire during the Depression after his father's death. He bought out many smaller bakeries across Canada during the early 1930s and eventually ventured into Britain with a plan to buy and modernize bakeries there and (here's the brilliant part) get them to use Canadian wheat. By the end of the war, his vast holdings would include fisheries, frozen foods, and some 2000 (!) bakery, retail and grocery chains in Britain, South Africa, Germany, France, the US, and Australia and NZ. I am sure he was not always welcomed into these countries, yet in 1948 Canadian press reports described Garfield Weston as "the biggest manufacturer of bread in the world, the largest biscuit maker in the British Empire and Canada's largest wholesale grocer". [wikipedia]

Garfield Weston always considered himself a Canadian but moved his family of six girls and two boys (later to add another son, Galen) to Britain in the 1930s. He didn't shirk from helping or getting involved and was the MPP for Macclesfield  (hi Gilly!) during the war and was known for his philanthropic donations such as when during the Blitz, the Nazi aerial bombing campaign, he set up a system of canteens that fed thousands of civilians as they took shelter in the London Underground. He and his family also hosted air service personnel at their estate outside of London, providing a place of retreat.[wikipedia]

The Weston fortune continues to grow and in 2003-04, George Weston Ltd had the highest gross of any Canadian company with 120,000 Canadian employees with another 22,850 worldwide. The family fortune is estimated at around $7.7 billion. Garfield's youngest son Galen is considered among the top 50 richest men in the world.


W Galen Weston (b 1940) the grandson of George, son of W Garfield 
Weston is also head of the world’s second largest luxury goods retailer as Chairman of Holt Renfrew in Canada and the Selfridges Group, owner of Selfridges in the United Kingdom, Brown Thomas of Ireland, the De Bijenkorf department store chain in the Netherlands, and the recently acquired Ogilvy department store in Montreal. (wikipedia)
Yousuf Karsh photo c 1962
and Galen G Weston (b 1972) the great-grandson...

Galen Jr has two sons, neither of whom are named Galen, though the G tradition continues with Griffin and Graydon.
Galen Sr is married to Hilary Weston who was the Lieutenant Governor General of Ontario from 1997-2002.

see more riches of graves at Taphophile Tragics

16 comments:

  1. I just love his commercials....he's such a natural.

    When are you coming to Guelph to explore Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery?

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    1. I used to be such a fan of PC, but my taste for it all has waned a bit. But, young Galen is a good spokesperson.

      and I was hoping to do that by now, but it may have to wait until after my holidays. So end of June. (unless I really get myself organized this week!)

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  2. An amazing family achievement! To sustain a business over time and still inject growth, attention and popularity is quite a feat! Great post!

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    1. It is good to read a positive story about a family business, isn't it?!

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  3. An interesting post about this enterprising family. The memorial is simple and elegant.

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    1. It is very different from what one might expect. And has lots of room for more family names....

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  4. That is an interesting choice of words on the bottom about the set of your sails determining the way you go. Very apt.

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    1. it does seem apt - and a nice play on words sales/sails. though I doubt that was intended.
      I could be reading too much into that.

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  5. Such a fascinating history and beautiful memorial.

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    1. this was one of the easier histories to research!

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  6. I immediately thought of 'wagon wheels' when I saw the signature flourish!

    Yes that is a heartening story, and so different from the one I tell today. I also agree with the 'set of your sails' philosophy. There will always be gales ...

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    1. I had forgotten all about Wagon Wheels... apparently these were started by Garry Weston who cofounded the Weston Biscuits in Australia. He 'invented' Wagon Wheels at age 22.
      His three sons names also begin with a G.

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  7. What a fantastic post. What a wonderful man to have helped Londoners during the Blitz.

    Herding Cats

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    1. Some rich men do their utmost to help those not so fortunate. Possibly more than we ever know.

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  8. i dont know the family!
    the grave is very interesting... i like it!

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    1. I like that we can learn something through these graves and posts.

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