This article is in "Removals and Storage" of December 1957. It is an interview with WGRA himself. And as it reveals one or two interesting details of the history of AC&Co that were previously unknown to me, I will transcribe it in full:
TRANSCRIBED ARTICLE IN "REMOVALS AND STORAGE"
Few removal men are regarded with greater esteem and affection than genial forthright Wlliam Archer, chairman of Archer Cowly & Co, Oxford, who are celebrating their centenary this year. Born at Shillingford Oxford in 1878, his father was a civil servant. At the age of 14, he started at 5s a week office boy in the business of his uncle James Archer, who in 1857 bought a horse for £7, borrowed a cart, and started a parcel-carrying business. ( pba: £7 in 1857 corresponds to £714 in 2018 according to an inflation-calculating website, so the price paid was that of an extremely modest second hand van in 2018, Interesting).
William left his uncle after a year, and for the next six years was with the Dutch Paper Pulp Co Ltd, in Holland. Back in England in 1900 he joined a house furnishing concern (Geo Blake & Co) in Oxford, where he remained for 19 years.
In 1919, when Uncle James was anxious to retire, William was invited back to a partnership in Archer Cowley & Co. He accepted the offer, worked hard to improve the business, and now at the age of 79 can be found every day at the office, keenly interesed in every detail of management and staff welfare.
He married in 1902. His two sons, Fred and Arthur, are both happily in the business, and his three daughters are prominent in the medical profession.
He is a Freeman of the City of Oxford, and his outside interests are considerable. For eleven years he has been energetically engaged as vice-chairman of the Oxford Rent Control Tribunal. Church and Sunday School work, bee-keeping and gardening, are hobbies he has diligently pursued.
Respect for William Archer is universal. He never seems to miss a conference or area meeting and continues to take an active interest in Association work - a shining example to members half his age. His firm was among the first to join the Association at the opening of the 19th (crossed-out and corrected to '20th' in ball-point) century, and the late James Cowley was a member of the Executive.
At that time 'Archer Cowley's' fifteen ton traction engine hauling three mamoth vans and a water cart, was an unforgettable sight on the roads. (not clear to me whether the article continues or not. [pba.14.4.2018]
NOTES BY PBA:
1. Interesting to know that James Archer bought his first horse for £7;
2. Interesting that WGRA does not mention that his work in Holland was with his maternal Uncle Albert Reed's firm; (probally not mentioned as he gave it up, probably because he was not technically qualified to make much progress);
3. Also interesting that he does not mention that George Blake for whom he worked for 19 years was in most respects his father-in-law; (probably not menioed for reasons paralled to those for not menioning who Albert Reed was);
4. Also interesting that he does not mention that his three daughters were (and remained to the end) directors of the firm Archer Cowley & Co, and not just 'prominent in the medical profession', with very significant effects on the future of the business as a family concern; but
5. He does make clear that he was and remained to the end a total 'control freak' in relation to all aspects of the business and had no idea whatsoever of (or was in total denial of) that fact and its effect on his children, particularly his two sons; and the only way that he was able to do all those things that are recited as his interests, was by having others do (some paid and some unpaid) all the day-to-day work around him while he pulled all the strings. Not particularly admirable in my opinion. But one way of running your life, and not all that uncommon. (14.4.2018).