John Haran - Tanner - Father of founder
Credited with saving 30 lives from drowning in the River Cart, John Haran is presented with a silver pocket watch and a purse of 50 sovereigns from a grateful Paisley public. In June 1886, when John Haran was nearly 60 years old, the local press reports on his 31st successful rescue.
Also in 1855...
- Lord Palmerston at 70 becomes Prime Minister for the 1st time
- Aleksandr Romanov becomes Tsar of Russia
- Missionary David Livingstone discovers falls on Zambezi River that later will be called Victoria Falls
William Haran - Founder
One of 9 children, William starts the family painting and glazing business - J & W Haran- with his younger brother John in 1873. John leaves the business shortly afterwards, but the name remains the same. Located in Crookston Street, Kingston, Glasgow the business serves local companies and house factors in the south side of Glasgow.
Also in 1873...
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police founded
- Jesse James and James Younger gang's 1st train robbery
- The "Panic of Wall Street" occurs after banking house Jay Cooke & Co collapses. New York stock exchange closes for 10 days.
Janet Haran - Hard working wife
With husband and founder William enjoying the high life of early business success, William's wife Janet takes over the running of the business.
Also in 1890...
- New York World reporter, Nellie Bly, beats Phileas Fogg's time around the world by 8 days
- The longest bridge in Britain - the Forth Railway Bridge - is opened by the Prince of Wales
- US troops arrest Sioux chief Sitting Bull and police shoot him dead when Sioux warriors try to rescue him
Sons - John & William join company
Both boys leave school at an early age (John is only 12 years old!) and join the family business. Both celebrate the investment in new technology - a Chater Lee motor cycle and side car - which reduces the reliance on wheelbarrows to carry glass.
Also in 1900...
- Casey Jones dies in a train wreck in Mississippi, while trying to make up time on the Cannonball Express
- The 1st petrol powered British buses go into service
- Glaswegian architect/designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh successfully exhibits at the Vienna Secession Exhibition
1st World war
William is called up for active duty and serves 3 years in France with long periods on the Somme. He returns home on sick leave with trench foot, however is returned to the front lines by the Military Police after he is found working for the family business.
Also in 1914...
- Franz Ferdinand - Archduke of Austria - assassinated in Sarajevo
- The 50 mile long Panama canal opens to traffic at a total cost of $352 million
- Explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton embarks for the Antarctic aboard the ship Endurance in the hope of becoming the 1st person to cross the continent
Great depression
With work scarce in Glasgow, the family business is reduced in size and William travels the country looking for business. Though times are tough, the family pull together with other family members helping out at home or in the shop to assist John while William is away.
Also in 1930...
- Uruguay win 1st football World Cup competition beating
Argentina 4-2 in the final - US astronomer Clyde Tombaugh discovers Pluto
- The 77 storey Chrysler Building opens in New York as the world's tallest building, taking the record away from the Eiffel Tower
2nd world war
While Glasgow is targeted by the Luftwaffe, the business is contracted to repair bomb damage in the Glasgow shipyards. However in 1940, William is arrested as a spy for sketching the glazed roof of the British Polar Engineering factory. Thankfully William is released that same evening when the factory manager explains the situation.
Also in 1940...
- Winston Churchill becomes Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
- The first McDonalds restaurant opens in San Bernardino, California
- Frank Sinatra makes his singing debut in Indianapolis
John's son - Ian joined the business
After completing his national service within the RAF, Ian joins the family business. And with his father and uncle still running the show, Ian is put on the tools to learn his future trade. In 1965, after 10 years in the business, Ian takes over as managing director and uses his entrepreneurial skills to expand the customer base and range of services.
Also in 1955...
- Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering (now Sony) begin selling their first transistor radio in Japan
- Albert Einstein - dies at the age of 76
- 12th November 1955 - the date returned to in the film "Back to the Future"
Centenary
Attended by 3 generations of the Haran family, including 90 year old chairman John Haran, the family business celebrates its centenary. The business has now expanded into one of the most prominent glazing contractors & glass merchants in the West of Scotland and has launched associated companies (Harndec Flooring) to provide additional services to their customer base.
Also in 1973...
- The United Kingdom joins the European Economic Community as a full member
- Concord makes its 1st non-stop crossing of the Atlantic
- Jackie Stewart becomes Formula 1 world champion
Westcrowns Group established
To create a stronger financial entity, J & W Haran Ltd and the associated family businesses are restructured to form the Westcrowns Group of companies. The combined strength of this new organisation enables the development and launch of Independent Glass Co Ltd. IG, as it is known today, is now the largest company within the Westcrowns Group.
Also in 1987...
- West German Mathias Rust lands his plane in Moscow's Red Square
- 27th Ryder Cup - Europe defeats the USA for the 1st time on US soil
- Black Monday - the world's stock markets collapse after shares on Wall Street plummet 22%
Next generation - Fraser & Lindsay join business
Fraser, a Chartered Quantity Surveyor, and Lindsay, a Chartered Accountant, join the business as the 4th generation of the Haran family. And similar to their father and grandfather before them, they both learn the business from the bottom up. Lindsay becomes financial director of IG, while Fraser launches Reglit Glass Architecture and forms Westcrowns Contracting Services in 1995
Also in 1990...
- Nelson Mandela is released from prison after 27 years
- East and West Germany unite
- Rugby - Scotland defeat England 13-7 in nail-biting 5 Nations Grand Slam decider
Ian Haran - receives MBE - services to construction industry
Ian Haran is awarded his MBE by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to the Scottish construction industry. The Westcrowns Board is restructured with Ian moving to Chairman and Fraser taking over as Chief Executive. They are joined on the Board by Lindsay Haran, John Devine, Bill McBride & Ian Finlayson, who collectively form the leadership for the Westcrowns Group.
Also in 2002...
- The Euro becomes legal currency in 12 European countries
- The Queen Mother passes away peacefully aged 101
- The UK is declared free of foot and mouth disease after 11
months and the slaughter of 4 million animals
The Westcrowns history
Learning from the past, delivering value in the present, preparing for the future
What have we learned from the last 135 years?
- Passionately protect and continually enhance our reputation - be proud of our achievements
- Encourage a strong family culture throughout all levels of our business - commitment and respect work both ways
- Challenge the status quo - find ways to improve our performance
- Build long term relationships with our suppliers and clients - develop the mutual benefits
