Willerby Welcomes Founder’s Family Back in 80th Anniversary Year
Family members of Willerby have returned to the company’s headquarters and manufacturing hub in Hull for a special VIP visit as the business marks its 80th anniversary. Jean Morris, the only child of founder Walter Allan, travelled from her home in Devon to reunite with her father’s legacy at the site where the modern Willerby operation now stands.
A return to Hull after eight decades of growth
The visit brought 92 year old Jean back to the city where her father’s journey began. She was joined by her sons Simon and Andy, and daughter in law Patricia for the occasion. Together, they met Willerby colleagues, toured the company’s extensive facilities and stepped inside the manufacturer’s newest model.
Jean said: “I never imagined I’d have the opportunity to come back to Hull and see the current Willerby site. I’m completely amazed by it. The thing which surprises me the most is the size and scale of the operation.
My father started this business as a one-man band from a small shed and it’s grown to such an impressive scale. I don’t think he could have ever imagined what it would look like all these years later, but I know he’d be delighted!”
From saw mill to caravan pioneer
Walter Allan moved to the Hull area from London in the early 1940s with his wife Margery and their young daughter Jean. He opened a saw mill and timber business in nearby Beverley. In 1946, he turned his business know how and creativity towards building caravans, inspired by the growth of caravan holidays in the post war years. That decision laid the foundations for what would become one of the UK’s leading holiday home manufacturers. After Walter’s death in 1970 and Jean’s move away from Yorkshire, she gradually lost touch with the business and was unaware of how significantly it had expanded.
Having read a media article about Willerby’s achievements last year, Jean contacted the company’s head office to say her father would be proud of how far the business had come. The Willerby team invited her to tour a modern Willerby holiday home at a luxury holiday park in Cornwall near where she now lives. That reunion led to a further invitation to visit Hull and see the manufacturing hub first hand.
A culture that still reflects its founder
During the visit, Jean and her family met many of Willerby’s team members, including some colleagues who have worked for the company for more than 40 years.
Jean said: “My father really cared about his workforce and he was well-liked and respected by all his employees, so he’d be thrilled to hear so much positive feedback from colleagues who work for the business now. Ensuring his employees were treated well was close to my father’s heart, so he’d be delighted to know that that ethos is still firmly at the heart of the business today.
He was also very innovative, creative and came up with numerous new products and ideas during the early days of Willerby, so it’s fantastic to see how the company is continuing to innovate and develop new industry-leading products,” said Jean.
As Willerby celebrates 80 years since its founding, the visit provided a poignant reminder of the values and ambition that helped shape the business from its earliest days.
Highlights
- Founder’s family reunited with the business in its 80th year
- VIP tour of modern manufacturing facilities in Hull
- Reflection on growth from small shed to major UK manufacturer
- Strong emphasis on workforce values and innovation
FAQs
Who founded Willerby?
Willerby was founded by Walter Allan in 1946 after he moved into caravan manufacturing following the Second World War.
Where is Willerby based?
Willerby’s headquarters and main manufacturing hub are located in Hull.
Who visited Willerby during its 80th anniversary year?
Jean Morris, the daughter of founder Walter Allan, visited the Hull site with her family.
What did the family do during the visit?
They toured the manufacturing facilities, met long serving team members and viewed one of Willerby’s newest holiday home models.
What values has Willerby retained since its founding?
According to Jean Morris, the company continues to prioritise employee welfare, innovation and creativity, values that were important to her father.