November 3rd, 1953 at Banner Lane. Sir John Black and Ken Richardson were testing the Swallow Doretti Prototype (Registration 623E). Suddenly a Works van, came out of a turning unexpectedly. Ken swerved the car to avoid killing them both in a headlong collision. Continue reading “Sir John Black’s Car Accident”
Ken Richardson Pt1
In the Charleston, Black-Bottom and Tea-For-Two days of the nineteen-twenties you ran the risk, if you walked around Bourne, in Lincolnshire, of being carved up by a lithe schoolboy of thirteen using the village streets as a T.T. course for his 2 1/4 h.p. round-tank B.S.A. motorcycle. You would not have run much risk of being mown down by his subsequent mount, a 350 c.c. A.J.S., as he crashed this within three weeks. Continue reading “Ken Richardson Pt1”
Albert Bates Pt2
Albert worked at the Allesley Standard Service Department in the late 50’s and worked right through until he took voluntary redundancy in December 1979. Marilyn writes, The best days of my life was the expression always used by Albert when fondly speaking of his working days and experiences with Standard as a motor mechanic.” Continue reading “Albert Bates Pt2”
Arthur Brunt
A Welsh lad at heart, Arthur was born near Llanidloes and was one of 15 siblings. He came to Coventry at the age of 22 to work.
He was a manager at Standard Motors which later became Standard Triumph, and that is where he met his wife Norma, who is now 96.
“I was working under an aircraft, and saw her walk past. The next time she walked past, I asked her out.”
And it seems that pragmatism would come in handy as the war crept into their lives.
The couple were married at St James’ Church in Stivichall and enjoyed a fortnight’s honeymoon to Hampshire and Wales.
As the war drew on, the windows of their house in Queensland Avenue were “blown in”, and mass unemployment set in, which left Arthur out of work for two years after the war.
“Rationing was absolutely dreadful, there were coupons for everything, but we managed.
“Everybody was so friendly, people looked after one another.”
“It was horrible after the Blitz”
Tragedy was an every day occurrence as Arthur explains: “If you came into work on the morning, and someone didn’t turn up you knew what would have happened.
“After the Blitz….it was horrible after the Blitz, so many people went missing.”
But things got better.
“The celebrations at the end of the war were fantastic. There was street parties, drinking, just fantastic.”
Arthur and his wife Norma went on to have three children, five grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.
“Coventry is home to me, I have a lovely family.”
They moved to Beechwood Gardens, where Arthur had his prized allottment. Tales of his gardening prowess spread far and wide. and the land behind the house was named Arthur Brunt Way.
Soon after, the couple moved to their current care home, where they enjoy the regular activities such as tea parties, film screenings and even visiting the roof top garden.
In fact, Arthur (now aged 102) what advice does he have for this generation?
He says simply: “To eat good food, and live properly.”
Bill Williams – No.15 Shop, Canley
“Body Basher” Bill Williams retired in 1963. Bill was a car body handler in No. 15 Shop, Canley and he had 35 years broken service with Standard Triumph. Continue reading “Bill Williams – No.15 Shop, Canley”
Tom Carss
Tom joined as a car body builder around 1920ish. He was foreman by the 1939 census and then probably in body design in the drawing office. Continue reading “Tom Carss”