Over The Years We Have Visited Many Museums,

one of my favourite ones is the Horniman's Museum in Forest Hill, London,

famous for its over stuffed walrus, which took a trip to Margate back in 2013, we have visited the museum a few times, this is one of them back in 2016, the reason I mention the museum is that I have just found out that a book has been written about the Horniman family, titled Mr. Horniman’s Walrus: Legacies of a Remarkable Victorian Family by by Clare Paterson, Frederick Horniman's fortunes began in middle age, he hit upon the one idea that made him a very wealthy man. He decided to sell tea. Instead of selling loose tea, he would offer it in foil-lined sealed packets to guarantee its purity. This was an immediate success, Horniman’s Tea was soon familiar in every household in the country. Adverts appeared showing Gladstone, Florence Nightingale and a then famous preacher named Charles Spurgeon enjoying the tea, John’s son, Frederick, the walrus purchaser, inherited the family business and fortune. An enthusiastic collector from youth, his money enabled him to splash out, today, Horniman’s Tea is largely a name from the past. The brand, which (curiously) remains popular is Spain, has long disappeared from the shelves of British shops, so no prizes for guessing which book will be heading to the top of my Christmas list!