BY ROWLAND WARD, CIRCA 1900

Rowland Ward (1835-1912) followed the family interest in natural history, travel and exploration, leaving school at the age of fourteen to join his father's taxidermy firm, Henry Ward, in 1864. He established his own business in 1872, which became one of the most prestigious taxidermy firms in the world. Later based at 167 Piccadilly, London, it was aptly described as 'The Jungle', from where Ward's big game hunting trophies, indigeous birds and species and even trophy inkwells were sold. He also produced a number of notable books on big game. After Ward's death in 1912, the firm moved to another location after the war and were present in Nairobi from 1950-70. They ceased buisness in 1977.