Booker Family

Most people have heard of the Booker Prize, the prize awarded annually to the best literary work published in the UK or Ireland. And many people will know that the Booker Prize gets its name from Booker Group, a wholesale distributor dating back to 1835, which was the original sponsor of the prize.

But it was only recently that we became aware of the connections between the Booker family and the village of Over Kellet, where we live.

The Booker shipping line was established in 1835 by George and Richard Booker when they bought their first ship. The family has its origins in Over Kellet and George, Richard and their five brothers were all educated in the village. Over time most of the brothers were involved in the business and Septimus, the youngest brother, practised as the growing company's solicitor.

Only 3 years after the business was established, Richard died young and Septimus inherited a large part of the business which already had many global interests including the control of the sugar industry in Demerara, Guyana.

Septimus is buried in Over Kellet and there is also a memorial plaque to the family inside the village church. They were clearly an influential family locally, owning land and property in the area. As God-fearing men they were involved in the village church and Septimus purchased an organ as well as a new stained glass east window, in memory of his parents.

Over time the Booker business became mainly about distribution of food and it established wholesale outlets across the UK. The Booker Cash & Carry's distinctive orange warehouses became a common sight on industrial estates across the UK, with the company growing through acquisition of less successful rivals until it, too, was purchased by Tesco in 2018 for £3.7 billion.

And in 1969, the successful Booker Group decided to start sponsoring an annual literary prize, the Booker prize, which is now one of the best known - and one of the most generous - literary prizes in the world.

But few would imagine a connection between the quiet north Lancashire village of Over Kellet and this successful business, nearly 200 years old, and a literary prize.