Hervey William Gurney Benham (/ˈbɛnəm/; 1910–1987) was an English journalist, the founding proprietor of Essex County Newspapers, an author of books on Essex and the East Coast, a musician, and benefactor. Of his at least fourteen books, among the best known are Down Tops'l, Last Stronghold of Sail and Once Upon a Tide.[1]
Hervey Benham was the son of William Gurney Benham (three-times Mayor of Colchester and editor of the Essex County Standard from 1884 to 1943)[2] and Ethel Hervey Elwes. He succeeded his father as editor of the Essex County Standard from 1943 to 1965. In 1964 he commenced production of the paper using web-offset lithography a revolutionary printing process that he had pioneered with fellow newspaper proprietor Arnold Quick in Colchester, Essex.[1] The Standard was described by the trade paper Printing World as Britain's best produced weekly newspaper.
His daughter, Jane Benham, played a significant role in the maritime educational East Coast Sail Trust, in which Hervey was also involved, and in the preservation of Thames sailing barges.
Books written by Hervey Benham include:
