I made a mistake re. the date on which I joined the Sunbeam Bicycle div.
It was not actually 1904 but was 1906.
Reason for my error was because I was still recovering from wounds suffered
in the Boer War, when Churchill and I escaped certain capture by fleeing at
night in a hail of bullets.
Like many UK companies, Sunbeam offered veterans employment, as a show of
appreciation for gallant service to the crown.
Anthony, your visiting uncle may not have been exaggerating when he claimed
to have been sent down under as a convict. First, they did this for a
longer time than is officially recorded and second, back then people lived
to much older ages than now. While 170 does seem a bit high, I would think
he meant 107 and merely transposed the numbers?
Jeff, I am not related to Mr. Grey although I met him once in Hyde Park,
London when he made an appearence at "Speakers Corner" (I recognized him
from his picture). He was arguing in favor of a govt. dole for those who
were over 100 years of age. This failed to pass muster in the House of
Commons but did receive a favorable support in Lords (because they were
mostly old farts themselves and were sympathetic to the idea).
Tony, I am not a Buddhist who believes in reincarnation but your suggestion
that I might be a reincarnated Lord Rootes does not sit well with me
because history has shown that the demise of our beloved Rootes Motors is
mainly due to his personal ineptness and inability to keep the co. moving
along with the times. He surrounded himself with buddies, cronies and
chums who themselves were living in a bygone era and out of touch with the
current reality of the marketplace.
Chrysler Corp was the kiss of death for Rootes as well as for the French
SIMCA co. which they also managed to destroy shortly after buying it.
I recall dining with his Lordship on many occasions, during which I pleaded
with him to hire modern thinking management people. My argument was brushed
aside and he always changed the subject to a discussion of his latest Port
Wine accquisitions. Anyhow, in his last years he seemed to have a poor
regard for my once valued advice. I believe this was due to my using
ketchup sauce on his roast beef entre once.
The history of the post-war UK auto industry is one littered with the
demise of many once famous names, such as Jowett, Armstrong Siddley,
Wolseley, Singer, Allard,Alvis,Bristol, Doretti, Triumph,Hillman,Jensen,
Standard, Humber,Healey, Frazier-Nash... ad infinitum....
The Uk once had a great aircraft mfr. business as well but through
management and technical ineptness this too is virtually vanished.
Back in the 1950s and 60s we had a joke that read "Give an Englishman a
piece of sheetmetal and he will do some stupid with it".
When the Daimler SP250 sports car made it's appearence, we modified the
remark to read "Give an Englishman a piece of sheetmetal or some
fiberglass, and he will do something stupid with it".
In all fairness, no country has been immune from this sillyness of body
designs, the US has more than a fair share of it's own "stupidity" , its
just that the English managed to combine the bum styling with shoddy
workmanship , rotten technical support and troublesome equipment from
vendors like Lucas, Smiths , Zenith, Solex and etc. This is a combo
guaranteed to result in closed factories !
The few UK marques still surviving , have joined forces with US, Jap or
German partners (or are wholly owned by them) and therefore have the
benefit of alert experienced international sales, design and technical teams.
Aside from Rolls/Bentley I do not know of a live," major", UK car maker who
is not in this situation today !
FYI, the Rolls-Royce famous "RR" logo may be used now...only on jet
engines. The seperate car div. has had to design a new logo consisting of
the Flying Lady figure.
I am celebrating my birthday soon (somewhere around Oct 2 to 10th. Mum was
uncertain about this as I looked nothing at all like dad...what a puzzle).
If I am able to figure out my exact age I will of course post it for all to
see. The Guinness Book has a wrong age I believe so this cannot be relied upon.
Dick T.
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