Ken Stewart died peacefully at home on 24 July. He was ninety years old.
I first met him in 1976 when I was editing a series of self-sufficiency books called ‘Invest in Living’. We were told that the person whose advice had to be sought about what backyard farming books were already in the market and what would sell was Ken Stewart. I caught up with him on the Landsmans stand at the Harrogate spring fair. He was tall, courteous and full of helpful information, not least about the need for good covers.
The second time we met was in December 1979. Ken’s courtesy was being stretched at the Smithfield Show by an argument with Philip Wood, then books manger at Farming Press. In fact this was a blazing row sparked by Philip discounting the price of books on his stand to undercut Landsmans who were Farming Press’s major British retailer. Ken told him exactly what he thought about it.
When I got to know Ken better I appreciated his friendship and knowledge, and understood why he had such a pride in the company he had developed with his cousin Jane Young. They ran bookstalls at all the major farming and gardening events; their trailer toured agricultural colleges, and they issued an annual catalogue of 5,000 titles which was the trade’s bible. He had joined Landsmans from the airforce and he was also a keen sailor.
When Ken moved towards retirement Landsman continued to be run by his son, Peter, and Jane Young’s son, Keith. Ken finally liquidated the company in 2008, as reported here.
Ken is survived by six children, fifteen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.