Edgar Taylor, who died in July 1994 at the age of 84, had lived all his life
in Martley. The founder of Taylor's of Martley,
he built up an outstandingly successful business with his family, but success
never changed the true character of the man: he remained alert, mischievous
and full of vitality to the end of his days. Even after having his leg amputated
in 1987 he continued to enjoy fishing and shooting in the countryside around
Martley which he loved so much.
Born at Rectory Cottage; Edgar Taylor
was a choirboy at St. Peter's Church, and after marrying his beloved wife, Gladys,
he lived in Prickley Bungalows on the Hillside. From here in 1940 he started
his haulage business with one Model T Ford, delivering for Rodge Hill Quarry,
and logs and coal in the Martley area. The Taylors had four children: Donald,
Rosalyn, Lorraine and Lavinia, and eventually there were eight grandchildren
and two great-grandchildren to continue the Taylor dynasty. Edgar and Gladys
happily were able to celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary.
The story of Taylor's of Martley from its first tipper to today's fleet of 150
trucks and 300 trailers, with diversification into warehousing, distribution
and vehicle hire, and a workforce of over 250, was told in The Villager. Only
four weeks before he died, Don Taylor took his father to see the new depot at
Oldbury. "Son, you spend pounds like I spend pennies", remarked
Edgar, but he was very proud of the way the business has developed over the
past few years.
Tales about "The Doc's" sense of fun and his capacity for enjoying
himself are legendary - and most of them are true. He acquired the title of
"Doc" one evening at The Lion in Clifton. Farmer Jones came in with
a raging toothache. "Anyone got a pair of pliers?", asked
Edgar. Someone obliged, and Edgar began tapping each tooth. "That's
it!", yelled Farmer Jones, and Edgar promptly pulled out the offending
molar! Next morning he was extremely worried: there had been an abscess under
the tooth and a lot of blood - had he done irreparable damage? To his anxious
enquiries over the 'phone, Mrs. Jones replied, "He's wonderful, pain's
all gone, he's never felt better". For ever after that Edgar was known
as "Doc" Taylor.
Sometimes he would capitalise on this name. At the Shelsley Hill Climb he would
declare himself as Doc Taylor and he never had to pay an admission fee. Reg
Perks, the Worcestershire fast bowler, was at The Fox Cricket Club at Bransford
and complained to "The Doc" about his back pain. Edgar solemnly recommended
he try wearing a woman's girdle for a week. It worked!
Many people remember the famous dance band. Ron Wilcox had bought a piano accordion
and made a bet with Edgar that he couldn't learn to play it within 14 days.
Edgar was unable to read a note of music but he had a natural ability - you
only had to hum a tune and he could play it. After winning the bet he formed
a dance band, which included Dorothy Tomkins' brother Howard Bufton (accordion),
the blind pianist Billy Barker from Shrawley, Bob Bullock from Areley Kings
(another accordion player) and Jack Bishop (banjo). Edgar played the drums or
the accordion, as the occasion required.
The band played for wartime dances and donated part of the proceeds to a fund
for returning servicemen. During the 50s the band frequently played at The Bridge
Inn at Tenbury and two or three busloads from this area would go to hear them.
One New Year's Eve at the Birche, Edgar was sitting by the fire entertaining
revellers when the damson wine got to him and he tumbled into the fire, accordion
and all! Everyone was laughing so much that his trousers got rather badly burned
before he was rescued.
Edgar loved playing darts, especially with Bill Hoskins. He usually won enough
money to pay for all the drinks of the evening. Air gun shooting was another
passion and he played for Clifton in the Lord Ednam League. When he was young
he went in for grass track motor cycle racing, and during this period he broke
nearly every bone in his body. He loved car racing and going to Silverstone
or Goodwood.
A quieter sport which he relished was cricket and he played it until the age
of 65. His company sponsored local football too. As he grew older Edgar developed
a great love of fishing, especially on the pool he owned on the site of the
old quarry at Shelsley. He was an excellent shot. Martley's former rector, Harold
Goddard, recalls being given a lot of good advice by Edgar: "I want to
see you shoot these birds, not shoot at them!".
All the time Edgar Taylor was working very hard to build up his haulage company;
he had the art of a proper balance of work and play in life. It must have contributed
to his success in the business that he himself was a fantastically good driver,
especially when roads were icy or tracks muddy on shoots. As an employer he
was highly regarded. A former employee, Les Wall, said, "He was a very
fine fellow and a very good boss. In fact you could never wish to meet a better
man".
Throughout his life Edgar Taylor was involved in village affairs and served
his community well. He was a member of Martley
Parish Council for 27 years from 1964-1991, with six years as Chairman.
Just after the war he gave the District Nurse an Austin car to help her with
her work in our scattered parish. And Taylor's provided free transport to London
and back when the church bells were restored; Edgar enjoyed attending the special
service when the Bishop came to celebrate their being re-hung.
At Edgar Taylor's funeral Martley Church was packed to the doors and the huge
congregation overflowed into the churchyard. The Rev. Harold Goddard summed
up the feeling of all present when he described Edgar Taylor as a great character
and a true friend.
Joan Campbell Grant
From Martley Cricket Club
" I would like to write a few words on behalf of the Cricket Club about
Eddie Taylor, known to us all as "Doc". Coming so soon after the death
of Jack Millward it's a blow to lose another of the "characters" of
the village.
Eddie had been our Club President for some 14 years and always took a keen interest
in the Club. He would often park in the gateway and offer us plenty of advice
on how to play the game. Each year he organised The President's XI to play
against us, a mixture of old friends, former players and sometimes top names
like Basil D'Oliveira and Laddy Outschoon, and only two years ago the current
Worcestershire opening bowler James Brinkley was in the President's team. I
know one of Eddie's proudest moments was when he, son Donald and grandson Steven
all turned out for the President's XI.
His prime playing days won't be remembered by some of the youngsters and, indeed,
he was perhaps a little past his best when I played with him, but he was indeed
a fine bowler and, with the right opportunities, I'm sure would have played
County cricket; and how he enjoyed the banter of both team-mates and opponents
in the pub after the game.
He was a great friend of many of the top players of the day and often would
get the likes of Warwickshire and England spinner Eric Hollies to come along
and "guest" for the local teams. He was a great prankster and, even
in latter years when not in the best of health, would still have that little
twinkle in his eye and a wry grin.
As I write this on a glorious July afternoon I'm sure somewhere up above on
those Elysian fields someone will have arranged a cricket match and the "Doc"
will be bowling to "Gandy" with "Nobby" the white coated
umpire, rain wouldn't dare stop play, and the bar will be open long after the
game has finished."
Dave Bradley
Chairman,Martley Cricket Club
Taken from "Martley at the Millennium" by David Cropp
Page created by Lynne Stanley
E Mail Lynne@martley.org
Last updated 14/9/05