Post by adeyp on Apr 13, 2011 9:23:57 GMT 1
As some of you will be aware I have been attempting to record a potted history of Harry's life for some time and the current precis was recently published on my MotoFreako blog. It occured to me that Harry has long been forgotten in Ambleside and the staff at the museums in Ambleside and Kendal have never heard of him.
Apart from his obvious association with Midget Cars, Harry and his family have left a largely unacknowledged legacy in the area around Windermere and Furness. His wifes family operated the first horse drawn carriages into Langdale and ran one of the first large commercial hotels in Ambleside. Harry's brothers were also well known as motorcycle racers, flyers and engineers.
I was speaking with Derek Bridgett recently and some of his comments have planted the seeds for a new project or two... Firstly, I am going to approach the Cumbria Museum Service and the curators at the museums in Ambleside and Kendal with a view to installing a permanent display dedicated to Harry, his life and the cars. I also want to try and get a blue plaque installed on the site of the garage in Lake Road (Dereks idea). Harry's son Malcolm is right behind us and would willingly supply some photographs if we are succesful.
Derek also told me that Walter Makereth and Val Atkinson worked at Harry's garage and all moved down to London at the same time. The young lad who swept up after work also went with them - a certain Johnny Young. We strongly believe that they all still have relatives in the area and Walters trophies are allegedly still in the hands of his realtives in Kendal, so this story and planned display/memorial could go a little further than simply remembering Harry and his amazing family.
Any thoughts from members of the Forum would be most welcome.
Apart from his obvious association with Midget Cars, Harry and his family have left a largely unacknowledged legacy in the area around Windermere and Furness. His wifes family operated the first horse drawn carriages into Langdale and ran one of the first large commercial hotels in Ambleside. Harry's brothers were also well known as motorcycle racers, flyers and engineers.
I was speaking with Derek Bridgett recently and some of his comments have planted the seeds for a new project or two... Firstly, I am going to approach the Cumbria Museum Service and the curators at the museums in Ambleside and Kendal with a view to installing a permanent display dedicated to Harry, his life and the cars. I also want to try and get a blue plaque installed on the site of the garage in Lake Road (Dereks idea). Harry's son Malcolm is right behind us and would willingly supply some photographs if we are succesful.
Derek also told me that Walter Makereth and Val Atkinson worked at Harry's garage and all moved down to London at the same time. The young lad who swept up after work also went with them - a certain Johnny Young. We strongly believe that they all still have relatives in the area and Walters trophies are allegedly still in the hands of his realtives in Kendal, so this story and planned display/memorial could go a little further than simply remembering Harry and his amazing family.
Any thoughts from members of the Forum would be most welcome.