tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77731874877154748932024-03-13T22:24:56.167-07:00Sir Alfred HerbertIndustralist and Benefactor of CoventryHerry Lawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649872903736528348noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773187487715474893.post-84015529424361402362021-03-02T03:55:00.002-08:002021-07-01T20:58:56.829-07:00Sir Alfred Herbert Index<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/Sh5EKpkV8TI/AAAAAAAAUxU/CAvlUbZf__o/s1600-h/P1070461.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340781157855654194" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/Sh5EKpkV8TI/AAAAAAAAUxU/CAvlUbZf__o/s400/P1070461.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 400px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 392px;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">This website records something of the life of the industrialist Sir Alfred Herbert from information and photos collected by his family. If you have any information or reminiscences that could suitably be added to this site, please e-mail herry.lawford@gmail.com or contact <a href="http://www.theherbert.org/">The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Index</span><br />
<a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herbert-1866-1957_28.html">Sir Alfred Herbert 1866 - 1957</a><br />
<a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/alfred-herberts-schooldays.html">Alfred Herbert's Schooldays</a><br />
<a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/07/sir-alfred-herberts-apprenticeship-with.html">Alfred Herbert's Apprenticeship with Joseph Jessop & Co</a><br />
<a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/alfred-herbert-ltd.html">Alfred Herbert Ltd</a><br />
<a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/alfred-herbert-apprentices-association.html">Alfred Herbert Apprentices Association</a><br />
<a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/12/alfred-herbert-ltd-societies.html">Alfred Herbert Ltd Associations and Societies</a> <br />
<a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/08/sir-alfred-herberts-close-assocates.html">Sir Alfred Herbert's Close Associates</a><br />
<a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/07/sir-alfred-herberts-three-wives.html">Sir Alfred Herbert's Family</a><br />
<a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2010/02/ellen-ryley-1863-1918.html">Ellen Ryley 1863 - 1918</a><br />
<a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/09/lady-florence-herbert.html">Lady Florence Herbert 1870 - 1930</a><br />
<a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/lady-nina-herbert-nee-arundel-later.html">Lady Nina Herbert 1874 - 1967</a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="https://lawfordherry.blogspot.com/2021/03/june-gracey-1920-2016.html">June Gracey 1920 - 2016</a><br />
<a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herbert-and-asthall-manor.html">Sir Alfred Herbert and Asthall Manor, Burford</a><br />
<a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/11/sir-alfred-herbert-in-1st-world-war.html">Sir Alfred Herbert at the Ministry of Munitions 1915 - 1918</a><br />
<a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herberts-estate-at-dunley.html">Sir Alfred Herbert's Estate at Dunley, Hampshire</a><br />
<a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/lady-herberts-homes-and-garden-coventry.html">Lady Herbert's Homes and Garden, Coventry</a><br />
<a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herbert-on-machine-tools.html">Sir Alfred Herbert on Machine Tools</a><br />
<a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/07/sir-alfred-herberts-motor-cars.html">Sir Alfred Herbert's Motor Cars</a><br />
<a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/alfred-herberts-hobbies.html">Sir Alfred Herbert on Fishing</a><br />
<a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herberts-hobbies-shooting.html">Sir Alfred Herbert on Shooting</a><br />
<a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2018/09/the-bombing-of-coventry-in-november-1940.html">The Bombing of Coventry in November 1940</a><br />
<a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.co.uk/2009/05/rebuilding-of-coventry-cathedral.html">The Rebuilding of Coventry Cathedral</a><br />
<a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/lady-herberts-memorial-at-st-james-less.html">Lady Herbert's Memorial at St James the Less, Litchfield</a><br />
<a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/07/st-barbaras-church-earlsdon.html">Sir Alfred Herbert and St Barbara's Church, Earlsdon</a><br />
<a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/07/town-thorns-residential-school.html">Sir Alfred Herbert and Town Thorns Residential School, Easenhall</a><br />
<a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/09/sir-alfred-herbert-and-coventry-and.html">Sir Alfred Herbert and the Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital</a><br />
<a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herberts-memorial-service-in.html">Sir Alfred Herbert's Memorial Service in Coventry Cathedral 1957</a><br />
<a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/herbert-art-gallery-and-museum-coventry.html">The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, Coventry</a><br />
<a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herberts-induction-into.html"></a><a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/01/sir-alfred-herberts-wealth.html">Sir Alfred Herbert's Wealth</a><br />
<a href="https://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herberts-induction-into.html">Sir Alfred Herbert's Induction into Coventry's Walk of Fame 2009</a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="https://lawfordherry.blogspot.com/2021/03/june-gracey-1920-2016.html">June Gracey 1920 - 2016</a><br />
<a href="https://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2018/08/the-hutton-window-comes-to-litchfield.html">The Hutton Window Comes to Litchfield</a></div>
Herry Lawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649872903736528348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773187487715474893.post-55449853177528451602020-10-07T21:33:00.002-07:002020-10-07T21:39:27.677-07:00Sir Alfred Herbert and the Coventry and Warickshire Hospital<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/StbPvZw6R3I/AAAAAAAAXaw/2e4lVkBsobM/s1600-h/P1120492.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392726017099581298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/StbPvZw6R3I/AAAAAAAAXaw/2e4lVkBsobM/s400/P1120492.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 290px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 400px;" /></a>
<span style="font-style: italic;">Sir Alfred Herbert - centre, standing with his characteristic cigarette - the hospital board and senior staff in 1950</span>
Sir Alfred had a close association with the Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital from the 1890s to the 1950s and was several times the chairman of the board of the hospital. He was chairman between 1903 and 1906 and again from 1909 to 1911, and in recognition of this, he was presented with a beautifully illuminated address by Sir Edward Iliffe*, the following chairman, and signed by the board and the senior staff. <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/StbS2PJ7-uI/AAAAAAAAXa4/48MvXeddYq0/s1600-h/P1130348.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392729433045727970" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/StbS2PJ7-uI/AAAAAAAAXa4/48MvXeddYq0/s400/P1130348.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 400px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 299px;" /></a>
He donated £2000 towards a ward for injured soldiers after the First World War and when the hospital suffered damage in the bombing of Coventry on 15th November 1940, he donated £20,000 towards the rebuilding.
To mark his 90th birthday, the staff of Alfred Herbert Ltd collected funds for the construction of a ward in his name, the Alfred Herbert ward. <div><br /></div><div> * Sir Edward, later Lord Iliffe, succeeded Alfred Herbert as Controller of Machine Tools in 1917.</div>Herry Lawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649872903736528348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773187487715474893.post-82420166262462976952020-10-07T21:31:00.000-07:002020-10-07T21:31:56.305-07:00Alfred Herbert Ltd and the British Machine Tool IndustryIn manufacturing centers such as Coventry, a set of interrelated business firms emerged that embraced bicycle manufacture, engineering component manufacture, motor vehicle manufacture, and machine tools. At the centre of these activities was Herbert's, whose early development and its rise to prominence in the industry, owed much to the expanding bicycle trade. Founded in 1887, the company began by producing a range of components and machine tools for the Coventry bicycle trade as well as machinery for the ribbon trade. Bicycle production stimulated machine tools in Coventry and Herbert's, among others, took its share in the designing and building of machines particularly suitable for the bicycle trade. The company's early association with the bicycle industry set a technological pathway for future development as Herbert's diversified into supplying firms in general engineering, as well as supplying manufacturers in the emerging Coventry motor vehicle industry. In 1914 Herbert's was one of 17 firms in Coventry ' generally of somewhat greater size than firms in other areas, and specialising in support for the local cycle, motor and small arms trade'. The output of the British machine tool industry increased significantly between 1890 and 1914, and central to this expansion was Herbert's, which accounted for 42.1% of output of leading firms on the eve of the war.
The founder of the company, Alfred Edward Herbert (1866 - 1957) symbolised the new men in the machine tool trade. A common characteristic of machine tool entrepreneurs was that they had served formal <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/07/sir-alfred-herberts-apprenticeship-with.html">apprenticeships in firms engaged in mechanical engineering</a>, 'facilitating a stream of new ideas, new machine tools or modifications to old tools'. In house training was a prerequisite to success and in 1880, Alfred was apprenticed to the engineering business of <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/07/sir-alfred-herberts-apprenticeship-with.html">Joseph Jessop and Sons, Leicester</a>. This enabled him to secure the post of works manager at the Coventry boiler making firm of Cole[s] & Matthews in 1887, and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/3731897378/">in partnership with William S Hubbard</a>, they purchased the firm, having been provided with £2000 each by their fathers. Assistance was also provided by Alfred's brother William who owned the Premier Cycle company of Coventry. William facilitated the purchase of Cole[s] and Matthews by offering the owner 'an alternative source of income' as sales manager for Premier in Germany. The new business of Herbert & Hubbard acquired its initial reputation by manufacturing weldless manufacturing tubes using a French patent secured by William Herbert. 'The profits earned by the tube agency business were ploughed back into machine tool manufacture' and 'also laid the foundations of the agency side of the business' which later focused on the marketing of other firms machine tools, both British and foreign. Pursuing a strategy of profusion, manufacturing a wide range of machine tools for the expanding Coventry cycle trade, success was assured by guaranteed orders from the Premiere Cycle Company.
In 1887 Herbert's was small firm, employing just 12. During the period 1888 to 1896 total sales were modest, peaking in 1891 at £29,000. Net profits were also modest, but in 1894 Alfred became the sole owner, converting the company to limited liability with a capital of £25,000 and trading under the name of Alfred Herbert Ltd. From 1896 to 1907 then firm experienced a rapid phase of growth, with total sales rising steadily, with the exception of 1901, to a peak of £324,000.
<span style="font-style:italic;">This has been extracted from Alfred Herbert Ltd and the British Machine Tool Industry by Roger Lloyd Jones and MR Lewis.</span>
Return to <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herbert-1866-1957.html">Sir Alfred Herbert Index</a>Herry Lawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649872903736528348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773187487715474893.post-12023988311643866942020-10-07T21:30:00.000-07:002020-10-07T21:30:42.806-07:00Sir Alfred Herbert and St Barbara's Church, Earlsdon<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/Slhv7X74gRI/AAAAAAAAV3c/824sZD3z0N4/s1600-h/St+Barbara%27s+Earlsdon+by-David-Stowell.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/Slhv7X74gRI/AAAAAAAAV3c/824sZD3z0N4/s400/St+Barbara%27s+Earlsdon+by-David-Stowell.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357154822585352466" /></a>
<span style="font-style:italic;">St Barbara's, Earlsdon. Photo by David Stowell on Geograph</span>
Sir Alfred was considerably involved with helping the inspirational vicar, the <a href="http://www.thepeerage.com/p24596.htm">Rev Claude Russell</a>, with the building of a new church at Earlsdon, Coventry in 1929-1931. and the Lady Chapel at the church is dedicated to the memory of his second wife, Florence. A later vicar of St Barbara's, Canon Cooke, married his granddaughter June Hollick to Capt Milo Vapenik at Stoneleigh in 1941 and Claude Russell and another local vicar, the <a href="http://www.historiccoventry.co.uk/cathedrals/charredcross.php">Rev AP Wales</a>, remained good family friends for many years.
The history of the church can be found on the church's website<a href="http://www.stbarbarasearlsdon.org.uk/history_of_st_barbara's.htm"> here</a> .
The original consecration of the church was reported in The Coventry Standard of 3rd October 1931 thus:
"<span style="font-weight:bold;">St Barbara's Earlsdon - Consecration by the Bishop of Coventry - Tribute to Vigorous Leadership - Canon CAH Russell</span>"
On Saturday afternoon, with dignified ceremonial, and in the presence of a large and representative congregation, the Bishop of Coventry (Dr Mervyn Haigh) consecrated the first portion of the new permanent church of St Barbara, situated on the corner of Rochester Road and Beechwood Avenue, Earlsdon. The consecration of the church marks the culmination of a strenuous ten years leadership by the present Vicar, CAH Russell, backed by a no less eager and enthusiastic congregation. It was a happy thought for the Bishop to choose the occasion to make an announcement that he proposed to confer upon Mr Russell an honorary canonry in the Cathedral.
The first sods for preparing the site of the new church were cut on Sept 29th, 1929, the foundation stone was laid by Sir Alfred Herbert on September 28th 1930, and the pillars of the western porch, which is to be given by Freemasons to whom the Vicar is chaplin, were set up at an imposing Masonic service this year. Services were transferred from the old church in Palmerston Road to the new church on Sunday.
<span style="font-weight:bold;">The New Church</span>
The new Church has been built by Messrs Harris of Coventry, from the designs of Messrs Austin and Paley of Lancaster and Mr HT Jackson, architiect has acted as Clerk of the Works. It is built in a modernised version of the Mediaeval style and consists of a nave with side aisles, a chancel terminating in an apse, an organ chamber and vestries on the north side, and a porch and a Lady Chapel on the south side. The north aisle and the west front are of a temporary nature, and when funds permit the nave will be extended another bay and a half, the north aisle will be rebuilt, and the permanent west front with the Masonic porch erected. The present accomodation is for 416 people. The design is of the 14th and 15th Centuries, the aisle and clerestorey windows being square-headed and treceried, and those of the apse pointed with the exception of the east window which is circular and is filled with stained glass. The exterior material used is strong and durable Staffordshire brick with internal facings of sand stocks made locally.
St Barbara's is claimed to be the first Church of England church in which the use of reconstructed stone has been permitted. It is a prefect imitation of natural stone and is more durable and less porous. The interior of the chancel, apse and Lady Chapel, and of the nave piers and arches, are of this stone. The rooks are of Columbian pine and the lighting is concealed in the roof timbers. The ancient pulpit, dated 1661, is of a type known as the wine glass, and has been given by Mr J Rochelle Thomas in memory of Jane Rochelle Thomas. The chancel is paved with terrazzo and the sanctuary of the Lady Chapel with marble. The choir stalls have been made from seats removed from the Cathedral.
The Lady Chapel, which is the gem of the building, is divided from the chancel by three arches, in which are elaborately carved oak screens. The chapel forms a memorial to Lady Herbert and the cost of its sumptuous decorations has been borne by Sir Alfred Herbert. It is divided from the nave by a carved oak screen. The three side windows and the eastern rose window contain stained glass. The walls are oak panelled with carved figures of saints on either side of the altar. The roof is of hammer-beam construction and the hammer-beams are carved to represent angels with outstretched wings. The chapel contains a stone with an inscription in memory of Lady Herbert.
The gifts received for the furnishing of the church are too numerous to mention. Sir Alfred Herbert and Mr and Mrs H Mander have given the choir vestry, and Alderman J.I. Bates (a generous contributor to the building fund), has given 50 chairs. [Alderman Bates also contributed to the building of the <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/herbert-art-gallery-and-museum-coventry.html">Herbert Art Gallery and Museum</a> and a gallery there is named in his honour]. The approximate cost of the building, excluding furnishing and Sir Alfred Herbert's gifts, is £16,000, of which £4000 remains to be raised.
<span style="font-weight:bold;">The Service</span>
The congregation filled the new Church long before the ceremony was timed to commence. A procession of clergy entered and took their places in the chancel. They included the following: The Revs Canon Conder (Leamington), <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/alfred-herberts-hobbies.html">Canon TW Downing (Knowle)</a>, CVB Robinson and AM Pryde (St Mark's, Coventry), HC James (St Thomas's), GW Clitheroe (Holy Trinity), LEW Bosley (Radford), GHK Pedley and DA Foster (the Cathedral), PA Morson (St Mary Magdalene), and EW Bryan (Whitnash). Among the congregation were the Mayor of Coventry (Ald Batchelor), Sir Alfred Herbert, Mrs Pepper and the Misses Pepper (relatives of the late Lady Herbert). Mr and Mrs Harold Blyth (Leamington), Mr and Mrs J Rochelle Thomas and Miss Rochelle Thomas, Col and Mrs WF Wyley, Ald J.I Bates, Conncillors OM Flynn, TE Friswell,and J Holt, Mrs GA Dickins (Warwick), Mrs AHM Russell, Mrs CAH Russell, Miss M Russell, Miss Evelyn Russell, Mr and Mrs Paley (Lancaster), Mrs WH Herbert and Miss Herbert, (Leicester), Mrs Alfred Herbert, Mr HT Jackson (Clerk of Works), Mr EJ Corbett (Chairman of the Building Committee), Mr JW Lee and Mr WH Spencer.
Punctually and three o'clock the Bishop was heard knocking at the west door demanding admittance. Within was the Vicar (the Rev CAH Russell), with the churchwardens (Mr R Head and Mr H Clements), and the choir. The door of the Church was opened and the Vicar petitioned the Bishop to consecrate the Church. The Bishop having expressed his readiness to do so, the Vicar delivered the key of the church to the Bishop, and after a prayer at the Church door, the procession passed to the sanctuary singing Psalm 122. "I was glad when they said unto me'. The Vicar was accompanied by the Archdeacon of Warwick, Ven H St B Holland (who took the place of the Archdeacon of Coventry), the Provost of the Cathedral ( the Very Rev CE Morton), Mr Walter Browett, (Diocesan Registrar), Mr PS Nichols (Chapter Clerk), and the Bishop's Chaplains (the Revs AK Swallow and R Jones).
After more prayers, the Bishop and his procession visited the appointed places including the font, the praying desk, the lectern, the Chancel steps, the pulpit and the two altars where the Archdeacon read appropriate passages of
Scripture, and the Bishop offered prayer. Then, seated in a chair with a table before him, the Bishop ordered the sentence of consecration to be read by the Diocesan Registrar. This having been done, the Bishop signed it and ordered it to be enrolled and preserved in the miniments of the Diocesan Registry.
The Bishop pronounced the sentence of consecration, setting apart the Church in the name of St Barbara, and then proceeded to the entrance of the Chancel, where he traced the consecration cross on a pillar. During the singing of the hymn 'City of God', a mason carved the cross in the stone. The Bishop then addressed the congregation, and during the singing of the hymn 'O Worship the King', a collection was taken for the building fund. Prayers and the Benediction offered by the Bishop concluded an impressive service. Mr E Alcott (choirmaster and organist) officiated at the organ and the service was sung in a reverent and dignified manner.
[The Coventry Standard then prints the whole of the Bishop's sermon]
After the service the visiting clergy were entertained to tea in the Parish Room.
The ceremony of consecration was concluded on Sunday morning when the Bishop was celebrant at at an early celebration. Special services were held during the day, the Provost preaching in the morning and the Archdeacon of Coventry (Dr JW Hunkin) in the evening.
<span style="font-style:italic;">The Coventry Standard Friday and Saturday October 2 & 3. 1931</span>Herry Lawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649872903736528348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773187487715474893.post-71876209942035712362020-10-02T04:41:00.000-07:002020-10-02T04:41:36.648-07:00Sir Alfred Herbert's Induction Into Coventry's Walk of Fame<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/Sg88m4o7CVI/AAAAAAAAUvg/2YgttNjxwXM/s1600-h/P1100510.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/Sg88m4o7CVI/AAAAAAAAUvg/2YgttNjxwXM/s400/P1100510.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336550722194049362" /></a>
The City of Coventry has created a 'Walk of Fame' in Priory Place near the<a href="http://herrylaw.blogspot.com/2008/10/coventrys-beautiful-cathedral.html"> Cathedral </a>where the most famous of those with links to the city (as chosen by the public) are commemorated with plaques set into the pavement.
On 26th May 2009, <a href="http://">Sir Alfred Herbert</a>'s plaque was unveiled at a ceremony at which two of his step-grandchildren represented the Herbert family. At the ceremony, one of his step-sons gave the following address:
<span style="font-style:italic;">It’s a great honour for the family of Sir Alfred Herbert that the public should have voted him on to the city’s Walk of Fame; he loved the city and in particular the many who worked with him and for him building up his highly respected machine tools business which was for a time, the largest in the world.
He was born and brought up in Leicester, but from the time that he persuaded his father to allow him become an engineering apprentice – an unusual career in those days for a <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/alfred-herberts-schooldays.html">public schoolboy</a> from a wealthy background - he made Coventry the centre of his working life.
His first joined the firm of Coles and Matthews in the Butts, but by 1888 he had bought the business in partnership with a school friend and by 1894 had formed the firm that bore his name - running it until his death in 1957 at the age of 90.
In 1889 he married Ellen Ryley, the daughter of the manager of Lloyd’s Bank, who was born in Little Park St, very close to where <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/herbert-art-gallery-and-museum-coventry.html">The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum</a> stands today. She bore him four children – all daughters. Sadly she died in 1918, just after he received his knighthood for his services to the country as Controller of Machine Tools during the First World War and also just after he bought his estate at<a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herberts-estate-at-dunley.html"> Dunley</a> in Hampshire, which was his country home until he died.
Thereafter he married Florence Pepper, a matron at the Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital. Very sadly she too died, in 1930, but not before he had begun the negotiations to create <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/lady-herberts-homes-and-garden-coventry.html">Lady Herbert’s Homes and Garden</a>, which are still much valued today.
His final marriage was to our grandmother <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/lady-nina-herbert-nee-arundel-later.html">Nina</a>, herself a widow, in 1933.
They maintained a simple flat ‘over the works’ at Edgewick and used to stay there in the week. However during the war when bombing was expected, they were persuaded to stay with his granddaughter June Vapenik and her husband at Leamington Spa. On the awful night of 14th / 15th November 1940 they were there, and she can remember him watching in agony from the windows, pacing up and down saying ‘My poor men, my poor men’. His granddaughter later took in five refugees from the city, as many did.
Those of you here well know the enormous success of his business up until the time of his death, and of his role as benefactor to the city, but above Sir Alfred’s great talent as an engineer, he was probably an even greater manager and leader of men, and treated every man as an equal. He would go down onto the works floor at all hours and especially on the night shift, cigarette in hand, and chat to whoever was there. As the Bishop of Coventry said at the<a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herberts-memorial-service-in.html"> memorial service</a> for Sir Alfred in the shell of the cathedral in 1957, ‘he thought and cared and planned and suffered ..... with those men with whom he had worked so long. He did not regard them as his employees as much as his friends.’
And the Coventry Standard‘s headline put it beautifully: ‘The Humble and Eminent Unite In A Tribute To A Man Who Was Both’
</span>
Herry Lawford and Dr Piers Lawford
Step-grandsons of Sir Alfred Herbert
Also representing June Gracey (nee Hollick, later Vapenik), his granddaughter
Coventry 16th May 2009
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On 24th August 2009 on behalf of Sir Alfred's family, Herry donated the glass sculpture commemorating Sir Alfred's induction into the 'Walk of Fame' to <a href="http://www.theherbert.org/index.php/home">The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum</a>, as being the most fitting place for it to rest. Here he is handing it over to Keith Railton, chairman of the <a href="http://www.theherbert.org/index.php/home/about-us/coventry-heritage-and-arts-trust">Coventry Heritage and Arts Trust</a> outside The Herbert.
Return to <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herbert-1866-1957.html">Sir Alfred Herbert Index</a>Herry Lawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649872903736528348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773187487715474893.post-64471899833078009122020-09-26T03:54:00.001-07:002020-09-26T03:54:32.373-07:00Lady Herbert's Memorial at St James the Less. Litchfield<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SexQX0xng7I/AAAAAAAAUms/9BFWEZG3dkc/s1600-h/Litchfield+Lychgate.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326720829506421682" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SexQX0xng7I/AAAAAAAAUms/9BFWEZG3dkc/s400/Litchfield+Lychgate.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 259px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 400px;" /></a>
<span style="font-style: italic;">St James the Less, Litchfield, in the 1930s. Note Lady Herbert's tomb and the lychgate, as well as the wall and the path up to the church</span>
<a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herbert-1866-1957_28.html">Sir Alfred Herbert's</a> second wife, <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/09/lady-florence-herbert.html">Florence</a>, died unexpectedly in May 1930, the day before the completion of the legal arrangements for the creation of <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/lady-herberts-homes-and-garden-coventry.html">Lady Herbert's Homes and Garden</a> in Coventry. She was buried at St James the Less, Litchfield (the church for his estate at <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herberts-estate-at-dunley.html">Dunley</a>) in a tomb which <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/3427018590">she later shared with Sir Alfred</a>. Her mother and her two sisters raised a lychgate at the entrance to the churchyard in her memory. The following press cutting (from June Gracey, Sir Alfred's granddaughter) gives more detail about the memorial and Sir Alfred's improvements to the churchyard.
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SexPmv_gu8I/AAAAAAAAUmk/zFr-T9KBvQY/s1600-h/P1090991.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326719986408930242" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SexPmv_gu8I/AAAAAAAAUmk/zFr-T9KBvQY/s400/P1090991.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 400px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 246px;" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Late Lady Herbert - Memorials at Litchfield</span>
<span style="font-style: italic;">Beautifying the Churchyard</span>
Memorials which have been erected at St James' Church, Litchfield, Hants to the memory of the late Lady Florence Herbert, wife of Sir Alfred Herbert, of Dunley Manor, Whitchurch, Hants and head of <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/alfred-herbert-ltd.html">Alfred Herbert Ltd</a>, Coventry, were dedicated on Saturday afternoon by the<a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/alfred-herberts-hobbies.html"> Rev Canon TW Downing</a>, of Knowle, Warwickshire.
The memorials consist of a churchyard wall, which completely fronts the churchyard along the side of the Newbury to Wincheter main road, and a long slab path from the road through the churchyard to the church porch, these being the gift of Sir Alfred Herbert; also a handsome lych-gate, which is the gift of the late Lady Herbert's mother and two sisters.The lych-gate is constructed of English oak on a stone base, and there is a seat on either hand. On the beam on the road side of the gate is inscribed "Come Ye Apart and Rest Awhile" and above this is a bronze tablet which bears the inscription:
<span style="font-style: italic;">"To the Glory of God and in Dear Memory of Florence Herbert, the Gift of her Mother, Louisa Pepper, and of her Sisters, Blanche and Margaret Pepper. May 25th 1930'</span>
The tablet is surmounted by a bronze cross. A paraffin lamp hangs in the centre from the roof. On the churchyard side of the gate appears the words "Depart in Peace".
One feature of the design is that the lych-gate has been set back from the road, which permits of more safely for worshippers leaving the church, the road past being a particularly busy one [sic]. It also allows a car to draw up comfortably without obstructing the road.
Besides giving the churchyard wall and path, Sir Alfred has greatly beautified the churchyard in many ways. One side has been completely opened out, decayed trees removed, and hundreds of bulbs planted in the grass. Another typical work of Sir Alfred has been to ascertain the number and names of children buried in the churchyard, without monumental recognition, and he has erected a <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/3782250686/">headstone</a> on which all the names of those children have been inscribed.
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Picture of Beauty
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The lych-gate on Saturday was surrounded by a wealth of spring flowers, and daffodils, primroses, hyacinths, lilies-of-the-valley and suchlike flowers abounded in the churchyard, which was a perfect picture of beauty, whilst the day was most genial, the sun shining brilliantly while the clergy and large congregation gathered for the dedication ceremony. The immediate members of the family present were: Sir Alfred Herbert. Mrs Pepper, Miss Blanche Pepper, Miss Margaret Pepper, Masters George Blyth and Gerald Egan, Miss Betty Price, Captain and Mrs Hollick and Master Ian Hollick, also Mr Albert Herbert FRIBA of Leicester, (the archictect responsible for the scheme), who is a cousin of Sir Alfred Herbert. There were also present several members of the Coventry firm, including <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/08/sir-alfred-herberts-close-assocates.html">Mr Oscar Harmer</a>, <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/08/sir-alfred-herberts-close-assocates.html">Mr J Pickin</a>, <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/08/sir-alfred-herberts-close-assocates.html">Mr D Grimson</a> (Directors), and Mr H Grinyer (London).
A short service in church preceded the dedication.
The original cutting can be seen <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/3457184304/">here </a><div><br /></div><div>
Return to <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herbert-1866-1957.html">Sir Alfred Herbert Index</a></div>Herry Lawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649872903736528348noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773187487715474893.post-57953713841732676692018-08-06T08:17:00.001-07:002018-09-05T01:15:06.158-07:00The Hutton Window Comes to Litchfield<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">The West Screen at Coventry Cathedral by John Hutton</td></tr>
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When Coventry Cathedral was built Sir Basil Spence, the architect, chose John Hutton to create the vast screen on the building's western end where it forms an open link between the ruins of the old Cathedral and the nave of the new one. The screen is engraved with a translucent pattern of saints and flying angels which partly, but never entirely, obscures the view in either direction.<br />
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Sir Alfred Herbert was of course a generous benefactor to the new Cathedral (<a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/rebuilding-of-coventry-cathedral.html">despite having argued for the old cathedral church of St Michael to be rebuilt</a>) and although he died before it was completed, his widow, my grandmother, continued to take a great interest in the building and attended the Consecration in 1962. As a consequence, in due time the family received one of a limited edition (of 25) miniature windows engraved by John Hutton with one of the flying angels. </div>
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This miniature window, sealed in aluminium, has spent some time at Old Swan House but has now been donated to Litchfield Church, to commemorate Sir Alfred Herbert and his family's links with both Coventry and Litchfield.<br />
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Herry Lawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649872903736528348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773187487715474893.post-57688136500284111022009-09-04T17:01:00.000-07:002018-09-08T06:44:17.643-07:00The Bombing of Coventry in November 1940<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The terrible fate that befell Coventry on the night of 14th / 15th November 1940 is etched in the minds of all that lived and worked there, but also in the minds of millions who have only read about it.<br />
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It was, in the context of WWII however, unexpected only in its ferocity, since as early as 1936 the Government had realised that rearmament was a necessity and had implemented a plan by which aircraft production would be enormously and quickly increased. This required the building of numerous new factories and in May 1936 the government met the leading motor manufacturers in the Midlands to discuss how they could help achieve this dramatically increased production. This led to the urgent construction of enormous 'shadow ' factories around Coventry. And on 23rd July 1936, Sir Alfred Herbert himself was told by the defence services that the planned rearmament drive would require almost 18,000 new machine tools costing in the region of £10m (about £500m today). This meant the huge expansion of Alfred Herbert's already massive works at Edgwick so that it would eventually occupy 22 acres. Sir Alfred himself clearly saw that war was inevitable following the Munich Crisis of September 1938 and had given instructions for the works to be 'blacked-out' and a night shift added.<br />
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During the lull that extended through the first winter of the war, The Times published a series of articles under the heading 'Great Britain in War-Time' and one of these appeared on 8th February 1940 entitled 'Coventry's Task'. <i>"Coventry',</i> it read,<i> 'is a great centre of the machine tool industry which in war-time might almost be termed a master-key industry. Coventry makes machines that make the munitions. It is, therefore, contributing to the production of war supplies not only directly, its own munition factories, but by equipping engineering shops all over the country with precision tools. </i><i>The principal war task allotted to Coventry is to turn out aeroplanes, aero engines and aircraft accessories, besides machine tools. The so-called shadow factories for aircraft construction are today things of substance; the eight of which are in or near Coventry will all be in full production within the next few months'.</i><br />
<i><br /></i> This 1200-word article, highlighting Coventry's rapid and continuing expansion and it's crucial importance to British wartime armament production reads (with hindsight) practically as an invitation for Germany to bomb the city. And indeed less devastating bombing did begin in early 1940 continued until 1942, actually killing more people in the city than the November raid itself.<br />
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During the terrible raid of November 1940, Sir Alfred and Lady Herbert were fortunately in Leamington. The<a href="https://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herberts-induction-into.html"> citation</a> for Sir Alfred's induction into Coventry's 'Walk of Fame' records:<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13px;">'They maintained a simple flat ‘over the works’ at Edgewick and used to stay there in the week. However during the war when bombing was expected, they were persuaded to stay with his granddaughter June Vapenik and her husband at Leamington Spa. On the awful night of 14th / 15th November 1940 they were there, and she can remember him watching in agony from the windows, pacing up and down saying ‘My poor men, my poor men’. His granddaughter later took in five refugees from the city, as many did.' </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span> <span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">There is no available record of how many of Alfred Herbert employees died or were injured in the raid, or how badly damaged the Edgwick works was. Both were probably war-time secrets. But the works continued to turn-out crucial machine tools throughout the war and Sir Alfred continued to spend much of his time there, often visiting the shop floor at night, talking to the men, cigarette in hand. He cared greatly for his employees and their families.</span></span><br />
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Herry Lawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649872903736528348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773187487715474893.post-475437147790334032009-05-30T06:02:00.002-07:002020-10-07T21:55:26.605-07:00Memories of the Test at Whitchurch by June Gracey<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "lucida grande"; font-size: small;">'[Your photograph] was a happy reminder of days fishing at the mill when Gavin was about 10 years old. Piper came with us each day armed him some breadcrumbs (grandfather's suggestion) to drop in the water and provoke a 'rise' is so the boy would not be disappointed and turn into a good fisherman - which he did. </span><span style="font-family: "lucida grande"; font-size: small;">Gavin could tie a number of excellent flies and was so keen'. </span><span style="font-family: "lucida grande"; font-size: small;"> Grandfather (Sir Alfred Herbert) left the Mill and its bit of fishing in his will to Ian Hollick, (June's brother). </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "lucida grande"; font-size: small;">Extract of a letter from June Gracey, Sir Alfred's granddaughter, to Herry Lawford 25th July 2010</span></div><div style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 11.0px Calibri; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: lucida grande;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 11.0px Calibri; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: lucida grande;">See also <a href="http://lawfordherry.blogspot.com/2010/04/june-gracey.html">June Gracey 1920 - 2018 </a><br /></span>
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Herry Lawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649872903736528348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773187487715474893.post-27690547327524635822009-05-29T11:52:00.000-07:002010-11-19T09:15:08.189-08:00Alfred Herbert Apprentices Association<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/Szm0CqX5gQI/AAAAAAAAYXU/N28rU52CSmw/s1600-h/P1120584.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 237px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/Szm0CqX5gQI/AAAAAAAAYXU/N28rU52CSmw/s400/P1120584.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420561584344367362" /></a><br />
<span style="font-style:italic;">Sir Alfred Herbert looking on as Lady Herbert presents the Certificates at to the Apprentices on 19th March 1953</span><br />
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One of the most important associations at Alfred Herbert Ltd was the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/sets/72157623473795259/">Alfred Herbert Apprentices Association</a>. Many of the Alfred Herbert staff were former apprentices - including <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/3811082428/">Col Clark</a>, later chairman of the company - and some became well-known engineeers with their own businesses, such as <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/3810252845/">Sir Harry Harley</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._C._Bamford">JC Bamford</a>. <br />
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Sir Alfred himself had served an <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/07/sir-alfred-herberts-apprenticeship-with.html">apprenticeship*</a> with Joseph Jessop and Sons in Leicester, and strongly supported this path of learning. He and Lady Herbert used to invariably attend the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/3811101068">annual presentation of certificates</a> to apprentices. <br />
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*For many years until 1952 his fellow apprentices from Jessops made <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/3811066028/">an annual visit</a> to the works to see him.<br />
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Return to <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herbert-1866-1957.html">Sir Alfred Herbert Index</a>Herry Lawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649872903736528348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773187487715474893.post-60458391800237617372009-05-29T02:36:00.000-07:002016-07-09T22:39:59.557-07:00Sir Alfred Herbert's Hobbies - Fishing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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A<span style="font-style: italic;">lfred Herbert loved the country pursuits of <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herberts-hobbies-shooting.html">shooting</a> and fishing. His greatest love was fishing, and in the 1930s he wrote <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/3820769636/">a monograph</a> describing his fishing career. It has fine descriptions of the rivers he fished and the people he met as well as the places he stayed in, and he gives space to his great fishing friends - particularly Dr FM Haig, <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/lady-herberts-memorial-at-st-james-less.html">Canon 'Tommy' Downing</a> and <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herberts-memorial-service-in.html">Dr Hugh Bankes-Price</a>.</span><br />
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FISHING<br />
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Like most boys of my age, I started fishing by catching minnows and sticklebacks with bent pins. Afterwards came coarse fishing for roach and perch, but fly fishing did not begin until my early twenties. Then I met Tom Iliffe, one of Dr Iliffe's brothers. He was a fly fishing enthusiast and quickly infected me.<br />
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On his advice a blue Mahoe spliced fly rod was bought from James Ogden of Cheltenham with all the rest of the equipment. Tom Iliffe gave me lessons on the lawn. Quite apart from the hope of catching trout, there was a certain fascination in the art of casting and as soon as I got the hang of it I was keen to test my skill on a river.<br />
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After a good deal of enquiry Derbyshire was chosen and I found myself installed in the Charles Cotton Inn at Hartington. Oliver, the landlord, was a fisherman and through his good offices I got several days on the Dove, and its tributary the Manifold. These are limestone streams, not so clear as the chalk streams of the South, and more apt to run thick after heavy rain, but with plenty of week which means fish food and that means fish.<br />
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I made friends with a great character, one Fosbrooke who knew everybody in the neighbourhood. At one time he had been a water-keeper and in a long life he had accumulated a great store of knowledge about fish and flies. I kept in touch with him for many years.<br />
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My first day of trout fishing brought me a wonderful piece of duffer's luck. Fosbrooke took me to the Manifold and set me fishing in a lovely pool at the foot of a weir near the remains of an old Saxon flax mill, called The Brund. For once everything was just as it should be: weather cloudy but fine, water in perfect condition, and trout madly on the feed. Those were the days of wet fishing - three flies on a cast. Fosbrooke had chosen the flies wisely. He showed me all the likely spots for casting and before the days was over my basket was heavy and my heart very light. That experience made me a fisherman. But duffer's luck does not come often, nor last long, and fishing with all its joys usually gives more blanks than prizes. <br />
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The Dove below Hartington runs through Beresford Dale, first though meadow lands and then through the Dale itself, between high limestone banks covered in part by turf but with rock always near the surface and breaking through here and there into cliffs and pinnacles. <br />
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It was my good fortune to fish the <a href="http://www.derbyshireuk.net/beresford.html">Beresford Dale</a> water for several years. At first my friend Haig and myself had rods on it; afterwards I rented the whole stretch of water. Beresfored Dale had been has been famous for its trout for generations. Charles Cotton, 'the father of flyfishers' lived at Beresford Hall on the high ground beside the river. Every years his friend, Isaac Walton, rode on horseback from his home in London to spend a fishing holiday with Cotton on the Dove. In memory of their friendship, Cotton built a fishing house, which still stands at the head of beresford Dale. Over the door is inscribed 'Piscatoribus Sanctum', with Cotton's and Walton's initials intertwined. Here they lunched and rested and sheltered, just as it was my own good fortune to do long years afterwards. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SxjyRF3iR1I/AAAAAAAAYGw/UqLTbReA5Ao/s1600-h/P1150271.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411341327732459346" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SxjyRF3iR1I/AAAAAAAAYGw/UqLTbReA5Ao/s400/P1150271.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 400px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 319px;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">Sir Alfred outside Charles Cotton's Fishing House</span><br />
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The Beresford water joins Lord Hindlip's fishing and here I met Ernest Lock, his keeper, who has tied flies for me ever since. He now lives at Andover and has charge of some beautiful water on the Anton for Colonel Ratcliff. He tells me I am his oldest customer for flies and I think this must be true for it is well over forty years since he first supplied me.<br />
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I owe much to my fondness for fishing, for it brought me three of my best friends: Dr FM Haig, Canon Downing and Dr Hugh Bankes-Price who, I grieve to say, have all passed away. <br />
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Dr Haig succeeded Dr Reed and practiced in Coventry for many years. He will be remembered still with affection by his many old patients in the City. From him I leared what little I know about the art of dry fly fishing, of which he was a past master. He was so thorough, so skilful, and so accurate both in his work and in his sport that we called him 'The Professor', a name which stuck to him until his death.<br />
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<a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/lady-herberts-memorial-at-st-james-less.html">Canon Downing</a>, known to his friends as Tommy Downing, was curate of Trinity Church, Coventry. Afterwards he became vicar of Knowle, where the memory of his unselfish devotion to his work is treasured by many of his old parishioners. <br />
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<a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herberts-memorial-service-in.html">Dr Bankes-Price</a> was house surgeon at Coventry Hospital, during the time that <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/09/lady-florence-herbert.html">my second wife</a>, then Mrs Lucas, was matron. When Dr Haig left Coventry for Woking, Bankes-Price bought his practice and when he in turn relinquished it he settled near Lampeter in Wales where he combined doctoring with farming. When he set out for river or field he was always s little anxious lest his patients should think that he was unduly neglecting the practice - so he set forth in his dog cart with top hat and professional overcoat - and groom in livery - all covert. It was refreshing to see the joy with which he discarded all these trappings at the end of the journey and emerged in country suit and cap, his Clumber spaniel slept in seclusion under his seat.<br />
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These three spent many happy fishing days with me on many rivers and the memory of them is very dear.<br />
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Both Lathkill and Wye are beautiful streams not very far from the Dove. The former is, or was, full of trout, but I never had the good fortune to fish it.<br />
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I fished the Wye above Rowsley many years ago: there were then plenty of trout, but when i fished it years after, I found that the brown trout had diminished in numbers and their place had been largely taken by rainbows, which were obviously doing well - quite contrary to general experience.<br />
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Now we leave Derbyshire and come South-West to one of the most charming districts in England - the Cotswolds. I began to explore this country quite by chance. Mrs Bankes-Price gave me 'A Cotswold Village' by Gibb, a book which I recommend to all who love the unspoilt countryside. On my motor-tricycle I made expeditions to some of the beauty spots described in Gibb's book and then began to search for fishing. <br />
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Cotswold scenery is less wild and romantic than the Derbyshire hills and dales, but it has charms of its own. The main roads are mostly on high ground and the wide expanse of stone walled country, often rather lacking in trees and with few hedgerows, gives the impression of austerity and dreariness particularly in winter. But leave the highways and take the byeways, which lead down to the valleys, and there beside the little rivers you will find lovely grey stone villages set among green pastures and sheltered by groups of beech and elms. <br />
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The pleasant 'Glarstershire' speech of the people is dying out thanks to wireless and talkies and to more frequent contact with the outer world, but among the older people it still remains and adds to the feeling of remoteness from the rush and bustle of city life.<br />
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Bibury is a typical Cotswold village on the banks of the upper Coln. In the garden of the Swan Hotel there is a wonderful spring of water welling up from the limestone to join the river. It's brightness and transparency are amazing; every pebble can be seen through four or five feet of water.<br />
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Before the motor car the village was an oasis of peace and rest and the angler was undisturbed even when fishing from the main street, beside which he river flows. Now there are many tourists, the village inn has doubled, but Bibury still remains a beauty spot. Arlington Row, a group of cottages beside the river, is typical Cotswold architecture at its best. Pictures of it have been hung in the National Gallery, now it is preserved by the National Trust.<br />
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We used to stay at the Swan, to fish the Bibury water and one year I rented some fishing higher up the river beyond the village. Here my friend, Bankes-Price and I had a red-letter day. There was a great rise of Mayfly and the trout were feeding madly; a gale lashed the surface into waves and accurate casting was impossible, but no matter where our flies alighted, a trout was waiting to seize them. I am afraid to say how many fish we caught, but I think over twenty. <br />
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At Bibury Arthur Severn, a great fisherman and a fine sportsman had a Hatchery for many years and sent trout all over the country. It is great fun to see his huge breeding fish at feeding time; dashing madly at the food and rolling about like porpoises.<br />
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Some miles below Bibury the Coln runs through Fairford, another pleasant village, but on a main and rather busy road. The Bull Hotel has a length of beautiful water, plenty of trout but uncommonly hard to catch. They rise freely but they have seen many artificial flies and felt them too and have acquired great discrimination. I have fished here often. I remember Mr Carbonel, once vicar of Fairford, who was master of the angler's art and who rarely went empty away. There is a fine church at Fairford with wonderful stained glass windows - rather terrifying to evil-doers.<br />
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And then I discovered the dearest of all little rivers, the Leach, which rises among the downs and runs through Eastleach to join the Thames at Lechlade Mill. Eastleach was a much larger village in the past; there are actually two parishes Eastleach and Eastleach Turville. The two churches are hardly a stone's throw apart and the custom was to hold morning service in one and evening service in the other. <br />
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Harry Penson was a typical Cotswold farmer, his house and garden were close by the river which ran through his farm. I rented his water and remained his tenant form twenty-five years. Gradually I was able to rent adjoining stretches from Barton, George White, Luker, Arkell an Lord de Morley so that at one time or another I had fishing rights on almost the whole length of the little stream. At first I used to stay at Penson's farm, where he and his good wife treated me as a friend rather than as a lodger. later on when my family increased in numbers we had to find more roomy quarters and I rented a small house from Innocent in Lechlade. At other times we put up at the Lechlade New Inn Hotel, a very comfortable place with the Thames (rather surprisingly) running at the bottom of the garden.<br />
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On the Leach, Haig, Downing, Bankes-Price, my eldest daughter Gladys, and I had great times. There was a good Mayfly rise and for some time before and after its appearance the Alder was very successful. Indeed, even while the mayfly was on, trout would often prefer the Alder.<br />
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As I have not kept a fishing diary, I can only trust to memory for some of the good days, but some recollections come back to me: A wonderful Mayfly rise, in heavy rain, Penson carrying a huge umbrella, pointing out the rises and laughing with delight as one fat trout after another came into the net.<br />
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Another day on the water below Arkell's when I waded a rather deep stretch of not more than a hundred yards and came out wirth nine good fish all on the Alder.<br />
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Still another day when my daughter, Gladys, and I got twenty-two trout before lunch an not one after, and once more when whole day's fishing had resulted in nothing up to six o'clock, then it suddenly turned cold and the fish came madly on and six brace were killed.<br />
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But every day on the Leach was delightful, whether the bag was heavy or light, and I remember every twist and turn of the stream with the regret that the fishing is no longer mine, but with the hope that my lucky successors have as good times as I had.<br />
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In 1913 my late wife and I rented Asthall Manor not far from Burford. The Windrush ran through the garden and we had some miles of fishing. It was heavier water than the Leach and did not hold so many trout, but they were bigger and there were grayling too and pike and great chub. I have noticed that where there are some pike the trout, though less numerous, are larger and always healthy as the pike make short work of any invalids.<br />
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The Windrush had an amazing hatch of Mayfly, far too much in fact, for the fish soon became gorged and would look at nothing. <br />
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It was great fun on the river bank. We kept our rods all set up in the billiard room and if conditions looked auspicious we could start fishing in five minutes.<br />
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Windrush memories include one three pounder trout which took my Mayfly and promptly weeded me, apparently hopelessly. My sister-in-law, Miss Pepper, threw stones into the water above him until his nerve gave way and he left his weed bed and came down the stream and was played and killed. The thirteen pound pike, which adorns the hall at Dunley, was caught in the Windrush too, One of my labourer friends told me he had seen a pike 'as long as the bar of a gate' in the lower water, so off I went. He was not as big as that, but he was big enough tom give me a very exciting ten minutes when I hooked him on a light trout spinning rod. He made a gallant attempt to go over a big weir, but he just failed and I got him after a great fight.<br />
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Other rivers I have fished are the Lugg, near Leominster, and the Rye in Yorkshire, near Rievaulx. Both these rivers are different in character from the Cotswold streams; they depend more on surface water and less on springs, so they rise more rapidly in wet weather and shrink faster in dry times. They have steep banks with bushes and trees coming down to the water. On both streams the minnow is legitimate as well as the fly, and often accounts for the larger fish.<br />
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Foe spinning I used a short rather stiff rod and a natural minnow (killed previously of course) mounted on aerial tackle. It was not necessary to make long casts of to use a spinning reel. With a fine dressed line I found it best to collect the line in the left hand and to cast from the coils in the hand. Wading upstream and casting close under the banks paid best. This means recovering line rather quickly to keep the minnow spinning, as it comes down stream. On a larger water some form of spinning reel must be used, one of the thread-line reels or a Pfleuger.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/S_N44opOYXI/AAAAAAAAaa0/0OeagiiduJw/s1600/P1180104.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472850886563619186" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/S_N44opOYXI/AAAAAAAAaa0/0OeagiiduJw/s400/P1180104.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 231px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">Fly fishing on the Itchen at Ovington in Hampshire</span><br />
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In 1918 we came to my present home - <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herberts-estate-at-dunley.html">Dunley</a> near Whitchurch. This is the real chalk country and the Test and the Itchen are considered the best dry fly rivers in England. But although I have never had the good fortune to fish the Costa and the Driffield Beck, in the North, I believe they are nearly as good. <br />
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The Itchen was the favourite water of the late Earl Gray and he writes very charmingly about it. I know little of this stream, in fact only one beat which belongs to my great friend, Phelps, who for may years has given me happy days, generally in the Mayfly time. Phelps has one of tbe most charming places I have ever seen; the river divides into two streams both of which run through his garden, which in this and many other ways comes close to the Garden of Eden. On the whole I prefer it for I believe neither Tigris nor Euphrates produce trout and graying and one does not miss the Serpent. The trout which are large and rise freely offer quite enough temptations. <br />
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One stretch of this water is unique: the main river and the Old Barge stream run parallel for some distance with a narrow path between, and to have a trout stream on either side is surely more than any fisherman deserves (except perhaps Phelps) and whichever way the wind blows it is always right for one stream or the other.<br />
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The Test I know better. I have fished it up at Oakley, where it is quite clear and free from contamination and as bright as gin. <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.co.uk/2010/07/memories-of-test-at-whitchurch-by-june.html">Just above Whitchurch I have an Old Mill</a> with a small length of water which adjoins the Whitchurch Angling Club. It was here that Charles Kingsley fished and here that his 'Chalk Stream Studies' where inspired. Another beat on the Lower Test at Compton, above Romsey, I have rented for a good many years. Here the river is wide and deep and the trout run larger (the limit is a pound and a half) but they are not very numerous. For some unknown reason this beat has gradually deteriorated, especially during the last three years; not only are there fewer trout but even the grayling, of which there were any number, are much reduced. At one time many grayling were netted every year, an still increased, while now although netting has been discontinued they are very little in evidence. The Mayfly too, of which at one time there were almost too many, has grown less and less, but the Mayfly comes and goes without apparent reason, and it may return. I hope it will for, on heavy water holding big trout, the Mayfly is all to the good, though on smaller streams I would rather be without it for the fish become gorged and and refuse for some time afterwards to even rise for smaller flies. The Compton water is entirely without shelter for the valley is wide and flat, and every wind of heaven tears across it, generally from the West, (mine is the East or left hand bank). if not from the West, then from the north, so that one has to flog against it more often than not and long casting is necessary for it is a big water. There are Halcyon days of course when 'every wind is laid' but the are few and far between and so are the days when a gentle breeze from the South-East comes to cheer the fisherman and fill his bag. <br />
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Just above Compton is Stockbridge water, perhaps the most famous length on all the river. <br />
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At Longstock, higher up, through the hospitality of Mrs Beddington, I have had many delightful days. It would be hard to imagine a more prefect water. It is well sheltered by woods with paths running through them, so that after having fished up the beat, one can walk back again through the woods without disturbing the fish.<br />
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At Leckford my friend Barker, alas no more, often invited me to fish. This too is a beautiful stretch.<br />
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Compton holds many happy memories for me of days when with my late wife <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/07/sir-alfred-herberts-three-wives.html">[Florence]</a>, Haig, Downing, Price, my sister-in-law Margaret Pepper, or other friends, we have fished through the long summer days, often staying for the evening rise, and have driven home tired but very content. My wife's best trout was three pounds. once I had a four pounder, and Miss Pepper had many good fish including a grayling of three pounds and a half. She is one of the best woman anglers I have ever known. She was my pupil and I am very proud of her skill. She casts a beautiful line, has marvellous eyesight (a great gift to anglers) and an instinct for choosing the right fly. One of the most interesting days she and I had at Compton produced thirty-four grayling, of which she caught fifteen without changing her fly.<br />
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The Middleton water at Longparish I used to fish when my friend, Hornsby, rented it, a very attractive beat, but Hornsby - a fine shot and an excellent fisherman - has to the regret of all who knew him, left the district.<br />
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The Dever is a tributary which rises near Micheldever, and joined the test at Bullington. This I used to fish with my late wife when Henry Nicholl was alive. To him I have been indebted for many good days with rod and gun, and I remember him always as one whose charm and courtesy were unexcelled. The Dever is wide and shallow and full of trout, though I think that the grayling have increased in recent years.<br />
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And now we come to Hurstbourne Fishery, belonging to the Portsmouth Estates. This includes almost all of the Bourne from St Mary Bourne down to its junction with the Test above the Heronry. It is this water about which Plunkett Greene writes in <a href="http://www.flyfishinghistory.com/where_the_bright_waters_meet.htm">'Where The Bright Waters Meet"</a> which all anglers should read and which leaves little to be said by one so unskilled in writing as myself. <br />
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Six lucky men, of whom I am one, have rented this water for some years. Edward Grove is the leading spirit and manages the water, and us, fore love of the job, and so gently does he drive his team that we are almost unconscious of his guiding hand, and everything fits together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle: everybody knows where to go on every day of the fishing season without risk of being disturbed and, which is much more important, without risk of disturbing anybody else. Wilkins, the keeper, is an old hand with his heart in his work and every day in the year he is doing something to make things better for us all. He is a great hand at spotting a trout and many a good one has he spotted for me.<br />
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Several books have been written about the Test, among others 'A Summer On The Test" by JW HIlls, 'River Keeper' by Hills and 'Fifty Years On The Test' by CE Pain.<br />
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Dry fly fishing was known and practised long before my time, but when I began to fish it was by no means general and I was fortunate enough to see its growth and development.<br />
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It would be a presumption for me to offer any advice to the old hands who know so much more about the subject than I, but one picks up ideas and get experience during long years , which might be helpful to the beginner.<br />
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I suppose an engineer naturally stresses the importance of having the best possible machinery for any job that comes his way, and as I am at least some sort of engineer, I feel that one should start fishing with really good equipment. One of my favourite business mottos (I believe it is original) is "the best is good enough, but only just". Anyway it is a sound motto for a young fisherman. Get, if you can, a split cane rod, with some backbone in it (9'-0" for choice); a reel with a large barrel for quick recovery, and the best double tapered line you can find, and be sure it is heavy enough for the rod (better too heavy than too light). These are the essentials, and there is one other, a good big net with a telescopic handle and a good stiff bow. Collapsible nets with a leather thong in front are no good for a weeded fish. You cannot dig him out because the net collapses.<br />
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Every fisherman has his own ideas about flies and "de gustibus non est disputandum" but I think that most of us have a far greater variety of flies in our boxes than necessary. I am sure that that i have, but i am learning. The most important thing about a fly is its size, colour coming definitely second. Maxwell for instance found that scarlet Mayflies of correct size killed just as well as those of natural colour. As to the merits of winged versus hackle flies I am no good as an adviser, for I wobble continually and make an inglorious compromise by using both. Frequently during a rise I have killed fish with three or four flies all of quite different colours and patterns. Niceties of pattern probably appeal to the angler much more than to the fish. Form is important; slenderly dressed flies are better than mops.<br />
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The trout sees the floating fly mainly as a silhouette against the sky and is conscious of its size, shape and natural behaviour, far more than of colour. With a wet fly, colour is no doubt of greater importance. By natural behaviour I mean that the fly should float freely over the fish at the same pace as its natural prototypes, and without drag either positive of negative. Avoiding drag is most difficult; get behind your fish when you can, but when you must fish across the cast as slack a line as possible, so that for at least a second or two the fly floats freely before intervening irregularities of current snatch the fly across the water. Experts are said to be able to cast lines with a bow (convex side upstream) and if they can it is no doubt an advantage, but I have never attained such skill. <br />
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I have just ordered my stock of flies for the coming season. Here is the list in what I believe is the order of merit at least for the Test and the Bourne:-<br />
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Reg Quill, winged and hackle<br />
Greenwell's Glory, winged an hackle<br />
Iron Blue, winged<br />
Medium Olive, winged and hackle<br />
Pale Olive, winged and hackle<br />
Tup<br />
Red Spinner<br />
Sedge<br />
A few nymphs of sorts<br />
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I raise a respectful hat to the big game fishers who circumnavigate the world in search of monsters: sharks, swordfish, tunny, tarpon and the like, using for bait fish far bigger than any I have ever caught, but I envy them not at all, preferring the familiar chalk stream and the quiet refreshment that it brings.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/Sn9E5e772RI/AAAAAAAAWCc/0bCQTCtgWSY/s1600-h/Itchen+fishing.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368085035196602642" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/Sn9E5e772RI/AAAAAAAAWCc/0bCQTCtgWSY/s400/Itchen+fishing.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 267px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Fishing on the River Itchen. Photo by Derek Hampshire</span><br />
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Here is my ideal:- to wade up a long and broad shallow in May or June, the water just deep enough to come halfway up one's thigh, and with patches of weed alternating with clear spaces of clean bright gravel; a gentle breeze at one's back, bright sunshine but with occasional clouds and a gentle shower every now and then; a rise of Olives or Iron Blues, just enough to bring the trout out from their shelters to take up feeding positions over the gravel patches, and with the light just right so that every fish can be seen.<br />
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To see the trout and not merely the ring of its rise adds greatly to the joy of fishing, because you can chose your fish and like carpenter with the oysters pick out those of the largest size, and avoid wasting your time on the smaller fry. When you can see your fish you can quickly decide what he is up to and what will be his most likely response to your efforts. If he lies deep and inactive in the water he may rise to you but the odds are against it. If he is deep but animated and moving from side to side with little jerky darts he is probably feeding on nymphs and will probably take an artificial one if you are not too much of a dry fly purist to use it. I am not. But if he rises quietly and sucks in every dun that floats above him, then he will probably take your fly if you present it to him neatly and deftly. If he lying on top of a weed patch with his back showing brown and bright with only an ince of two of water to cover him then he is yours almost for certain. <br />
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I say almost, for although he will take your fly you may fail to hook him. If you tighten too soon, the fly is snatched away, if too late it is rejected, if you strike too hard the 4X gut breaks and you leave your fly in his mouth. Even when well hooked he is not yours for certain, for he will surely plunge into the weeds if he can, and seizing a weed in his mouth, hold on like grim death to a deceased African. If you are quick and clever you may haul him downstream before he has realised what is the matter. But even if he weeds you there is still some hope. First slacken the line, he may fancy the trouble is over and come out of cover. If not, don't try to pull him out with the rod, but lower the rod and point it straight at the fish and put a firm but gentle pressure on him by pulling the line with your hand. Why this manouvre should succeed I don't know, but it often does. If not, then up with the rod point and reel up steadily, keeping a gentle pressure on the fish, wade up behind him and dig him out with you net, if indeed he is still there, for often enough the trout has got rid of the hook by this time and left it embedded in the weeds. <br />
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But the ideal does not often come in the angler's way and he must be content with something part way between best and worst.<br />
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The worst is something like this:- A tearing downstream wind making neat casting almost impossible and always a labour; no fly, or very few and those blown off the water as soon as they hatch; fish sheltering under the weeds and the water so rough that they would be invisible anyway; masses of floating weed from some upstream neighbour, who has chosen that very day for weed-cutting. It only remains to step into a hole and fill both waders with water, to stagger to the side and to smash one's rod point in struggling up a greasy bank, and the day is complete - especially if the flask has been left behind and the sandwiches are soaked to pulp in the rain. <br />
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But if few days reach the ideal let us be thankful that few are really of the worst.<br />
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Of loch fishing I have done little save for some dapping years ago in Loch Carrib were we were nearly drowned by our boatmen who got us on a mass of rocks in shallow choppy water, on which we bumped and bumped , expecting any moment to see a rock come though the bottom of the boat, but all was well and we got safely ashore at last.<br />
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For dapping, a light seventeen foot rod is used, at the end of the line some yards of floss silk are tied on and then a cast, with a natural Mayfly (or two) mounted on the hook. The boat drifts with the wind; when the rod is lifted the light floss silk is carried forward by the wind and when the point is lowered the fly falls light;y on the water where it floats until it is picked up again for a fresh effort, or until it disappears into the mouth of a great trout. Then the line is tightened slowly and the circus begins. <br />
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But I must not forget Loch Leven at Kinross, in some ways the most wonderful loch in the world. More than once over a thousand fish have been killed in the day. The fish average something under the pound. This sounds incredible but the loch covers more than four thousand acres so it means only one fish to four acres after all. There are about forty boats with two rods (and sometimes three) in each. Fishing goes on till midnight in the summer and very keen fisherman take three or four hours sleep and start again before dawn.<br />
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Loch Leven it must be admitted is rather commercialised. There is a large building on the Kinross with offices, waiting rooms, stores, boatmen's quarters and a tackle shop, where everything necessary to the fisherman can be bought. Boats can be reserved in advance by telephone and the while thing is organised on thoroughly businesslike lines. But for those who have only limited time to spare, Loch Leven probably offers the best chance of catching trout of any place in the British Isles.<br />
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There is a station close at hand and excellent roads. You can leave London by sleeper and be on the loch in good time the next morning. While to folk living in Glasgow or Edinburgh it is quite possible to start in the morning, fish all day and be back at work the next morning.<br />
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The actual fishing is comparatively easy. the boat is rowed up wind and then allowed to drift down broadside on; one rod sits in the bow, the other in the stern, and as the wind is always behind the line goes out with very little effort. Four wet flies are used, the favourite patterns are Peter Ross, grouse and green, grouse and claret, woodcock and yellow, Wickham, teal and red, teal and green, black and blue, the butcher is generally used as top dropper.<br />
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In this wet fly fishing colour does no doubt count more than with the dry fly and it very often happens that most of one's fish select one particular fly on the cast. the tail fly on the whole probably catches more fish than the droppers.<br />
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As in all fishing the weather is the main factor., an overcast sky but without heavy black cloud, and a gentle breeze from the East are the ideal conditions. With heavy winds the water gets very rough and fishing is then uncomfortable, but not necessarily unproductive. In hot calm weather the loch become glass smooth and then one's chances are very poor; in fact it is hardly worth going out until the evening. Just before sunset on such days there is often a rise of white moth (caenis) a small fly with greenish body and white flat wings. This appears in incredible quantities covering the boat, settling on one's coat, hat and face, and getting in eyes, ears and nose. Then the fish usually come on and feed greedily making a chain of rises in succession without troubling to go down between rises. They are almost impossible to catch in these conditions. There is no satisfactory imitation of the caenis, and if there were the artificial fly would only have one chance in a million. But don't give up hope. Wait till the sun has quite disappeared behind the western hills, then there comes a chill in the air, the white moth disappears as suddenly as it came, some larger flies are now seen and taken by the fish and the angler's opportunity comes to him at last. And it is worth fishing as long as one can see, and after.<br />
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Of sea trout fishing I know very little, and I envy those who have the chance of catching these most sporting of all fish. We spent some days on the Ythan over August. There are plenty of good sea trout but we were not lucky. Most of the fish are caught by trolling with a sand eel mounted on a spinner, but it is a slow business without the interest and exercise of casting.<br />
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[<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/3820769636/">The original manuscript - typed (probably by Miss Tidd), with Alfred Herbert's handwritten corrections</a> - is 25 pages long]<br />
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Click<a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.co.uk/2010/07/memories-of-test-at-whitchurch-by-june.html"> here</a> for a short reminiscence by June Gracey, Sir Alfred's granddaughter, about her son fishing on the Test at Fulling Mill<br />
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Return to <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herbert-1866-1957.html">Sir Alfred Herbert Index</a></div>
Herry Lawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649872903736528348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773187487715474893.post-87482733328167343542009-05-29T02:35:00.000-07:002010-08-09T12:05:15.276-07:00Sir Alfred Herbert's Hobbies - Shooting<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/S_4V17rP32I/AAAAAAAAad4/QvGKZZrIeTI/s1600/P1160253.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/S_4V17rP32I/AAAAAAAAad4/QvGKZZrIeTI/s400/P1160253.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475838213225439074" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Sir Alfred shooting at Dunley with Crouch behind him</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Sir Alfred loved the country pursuits of shooting and <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/alfred-herberts-hobbies.html">fishing</a>. His greatest love was fishing, and he wrote a monograph on the subject in about 1935 which can be read <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/alfred-herberts-hobbies.html">here</a>. He was also a fine shot and particularly loved grouse shooting on the moors of Scotland and the North of England. This piece recounts some of his shooting experiences. </span><br /><br />Of the three British game birds - grouse, partridge and pheasant - the grouse must, I think, take the first place in his home among the moors and mountains of the North.<br /><br />The red grouse is a truly wild creature found nowhere else but in these islands and those who are fortunate enough to enjoy his pursuit find themselves surrounded by some of the most delightful scenery in the country.<br /><br />The grouse may be shot be walking in line (to my mind the least satisfactory way) over pointers or setters, or by driving.<br /><br />I recall with vivid memories my first opportunity of shooting grouse through the kindness of my friend the late<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kemp_Starley"> JK Starley</a>. He is was who produced the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/4484395579/">Rover Safety Bicycle</a>, which, as his advertisements very truly claimed, 'set the fashion to the world'. This machine was one of the forerunners of all bicycles used throughout the world today, and finally signed the death-warrant of the penny farthing, which for many years preceded it.<br /><br />Starley had rented a moor in Scotland which had a limit of 200 brace. After killing 120 brace he was called away leaving 80 brace still to be shot. I had a telegram from him asking if I would like to take a friend and finish the quota.<br /><br />Up to that time I had never even seen a grouse, except on the table, so it is easy to imagine the excitement with which I accepted this quite unexpected invitation. With a Coventry friend, William Burton, who was quite a good shot, we caught the night train to the North and arrived at our destination - Garve, on the shores the Beauly Firth - in good time next morning. Here we found comfortable accommodation in the local inn, an excellent innkeeper and a ghillie with a couple of pointers and a couple of setters. The moor was a delightful one within sight of the sea and in three wonderful days of perfect weather we killed the 80 brace and in due course returned from one of the most exciting holidays I can recall.<br /><br />This was in fact the only time I have shot grouse over dogs and I am convinced that this is one of the most delightful ways of pursuing them. though, of course, it gives scope for only two or at most three guns to take part.<br /><br />Walking in line with seven of eight guns is less satisfactory. It is very difficult to keep a straight formation, particularly on hilly ground: the young and enthusiastic are continually getting too far jn front, while the older and less athletic members of the party lag behind and the line is continually getting broken.<br /><br />Driving is a much more complicated business, involving scientifically-sited butts, a well-organised group of beaters and all sorts of other preparations, but it is well worth the trouble and , with good weather and a reasonable stock of birds, it provides shooting at its best. Driving, however has its own particular risk of accidents for the inexperienced or excitable. When streams of grouse are coming from all directions and at all angles and if one has turned round two or three times in the butt, it is quite easy momentarily to lose one's sense of direction. The line of butts, which are not always very conspicuous, may be forgotten for a moment, and is then that dangerous shots at low birds may be fired. As a safe-guard, upright posts are sometimes stuck into the butts at the right and left of the gunner, so that his gun comes into contact with these posts when it has reached the limit of its swing.<br /><br />For a good many years my nephew, Gerald Herbert and I rented a small moor in Aberdeenshire - <a href="http://www.oxfordhotelsandinns.com/OurHotels/HuntlyArms">The Forest of Birse</a>. A jolly party of us stayed at the <a href="http://www.oxfordhotelsandinns.com/OurHotels/HuntlyArms">Huntly Arms Hotel, Aboyne</a>, where we were hospitably entertained and provided with wonderful Scottish food. When taking a moor I think it is far better to stay at an hotel rather than to take a house, for with a hotel there are no problems of catering and the lady members of the party have a real holiday instead of being worried with all the problems of household affairs.<br /><br />A party of young and thrifty students used to come out from Aberdeen University to help us with the beating. They camped in a tent on the moor, did their work in first-rate style, and were quiet happy to earn a beater's pay, which in those days was I think, about six or seven shillings a day. But times have changed.<br /><br />In grouse shooting one is very much at the mercy of the weather, which may vary from extreme heart to quite wintry conditions. On the high ground, gales, fog or even snowstorms may be encountered.<br /><br />The stock of birds fluctuates within wide limits from year to year from a variety of causes; weather, nesting conditions and good or bad growth of young heather, and the absence or presence of grouse disease. In a goodyear the problem is to kill enough birds to reduce the stock to reasonable numbers. If too many birds are left, one may be confronted next season with an outbreak of disease through overcrowding and lack of food. While we had several satisfactory seasons, we did have one very disappointing one when we were able to have only one day's shooting and that was a very poor one.<br /><br />During one of my visits to Scotland, my host enquired if I would like to shoot a stag. In his garden was a life-sized silhouette of a stag cut out of a sheet of iron as a target. He lent me a rifle and after a few shots at it I managed to perform satisfactorily. I was taken by the keepers to a wood and posted outside among some rocks. A stone wall ran alongside and I was told that if there happened to be a stag in the cover he would most likely jump the wall in front of me. Then the men proceeded to beat the wood and sure enough a magnificent stag jumped the wall at the exact spot indicated. He caught sight of me and stopped short in astonishment looking straight at me for a moment. Up went my rifle, but it was wobbling so much from excitement that I missed him clean. And that was my one and only shot at a stag. Looking back I am thankful I missed such a beautiful creature.<br /><br />Now we come to the partridge - a very good second to the grouse. He gives far more widespread sport to many hundreds of people, often quite near to their homes, and thus saves the long journeys and much of the time and expense which grouse-shooting involves. For many years hampshire ran Norfolk and Cambridgeshire very close for partridge-shooting records, but throughout the country (with of course some notable exceptions), the partridge has suffered many setbacks during recent years. in fact we have learned that modern agriculture and partridges do not agree.<br /><br />We used to believe that the old proverb, 'the partridge follows the plough' was true and so indeed it was when the plough and all other farm implements were drawn by horses and farm work followed its old leisurely routine. Now all has changed and the horse has practically disappeared.<br /><br />In the old days we could very safely predict that a dry nesting time would result in a satisfactory stock of birds, but now, apart from weather risks, which are always with us, we have to contend with such fatal operations as the making of silage, which involves cutting the silage crops in which the partridges are very fond of nesting, at the very time that the birds are sitting and when very many of them and their eggs are inevitably destroyed.<br /><br />Now we have also the various noxious and deadly sprays which destroy insect life so essential for baby partridges and eradicate weeds, the seeds of which are another favourite food, while the dressing ofd seed corn with poisonous compounds is a further source of loss.<br /><br />Even when satisfactory covers are hatched and keepers' faces are wreathed with smiles, we cannot feel safe for one by one the young birds disappear mainly, I believe, because so much insect life which essential has been poisoned. But in spite of all the troubles of the past few years there are some welcome signs of improvement, though it is certain that we shall never see a return to the wonderful bags of past years such, for example, as the following: On a beat not far from Whitchurch, 315 brace of partridges killed in a single day (in this I had the luck to take part); on another beat near Longparish, 198 brace and on only 700 acres and my own beat, 156 brace. These bags were all made in the thirties. On another beat not far away there is a record 530 brace in a day.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/TF_MAbz8R2I/AAAAAAAAak4/kV5uFUeUbv0/s1600/Step+Shooting.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/TF_MAbz8R2I/AAAAAAAAak4/kV5uFUeUbv0/s400/Step+Shooting.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503341577507719010" /></a><br />S<span style="font-style:italic;">ir Alfred Herbert (second left) on a shoot in about 1950</span><br /><br />Vermin, of course, we have always with us. When I first came to <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herberts-estate-at-dunley.html">Dunley</a> it became a by-word that our main preoccupation was to deal with the 'Three R's' - not reading, 'riting and 'rithmatic, but rats, rabbits and repairs. Rabbits, through myxamitosis, have largely disappeared, and although from a farmer's point of view this is a blessing, they did supply excellent sport for many people, who had no other form of shooting, and particularly to lads in the learner stage.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/TAwQ2qmYFRI/AAAAAAAAafQ/NoDQto-66LQ/s1600/Norman+and+Capt+Brodrick.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 319px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/TAwQ2qmYFRI/AAAAAAAAafQ/NoDQto-66LQ/s400/Norman+and+Capt+Brodrick.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479773377937282322" /></a><span style="font-style:italic;">This superb photo, which appeared in Country Life, is not of Sir Alfred, but of Capt George Brodrick and his gamekeeper Norman Buckingham. Capt Brodrick bought the Herbert estate at <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herberts-estate-at-dunley.html">Dunley</a> in 1979.</span><br /><br /><br />Return to <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herbert-1866-1957.html">Sir Alfred Herbert Index</a>Herry Lawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649872903736528348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773187487715474893.post-22985674940333680732009-05-29T02:34:00.000-07:002011-01-13T13:26:56.514-08:00Sir Alfred Herbert's Motor Cars<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SnbVbpliaAI/AAAAAAAAWBg/2EAPsbfq-Os/s1600-h/P1110991.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365710677055006722" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SnbVbpliaAI/AAAAAAAAWBg/2EAPsbfq-Os/s400/P1110991.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 290px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">Motor Cars by Sir Alfred Herbert. This monograph, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/3819963343/">the original of which is corrected in his own hand</a>, was probably written in the mid 1930s. The last car he mentions owning - the Lancia Astura 27hp - was being made in about 1935. A copy has been provided to the <a href="http://www.transport-museum.com/">Coventry Transport Museum</a></span><br />
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The first self propelled vehicle I can remember was a motor bicycle. The Coventry Humber Co. made some experimental machines of this kind, with two long tubular horizontal cylinders. We were called upon, at <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/alfred-herbert-ltd.html">the works</a>, to bore out the first of these cylinders as the Humber Co had no machinery that would do the job.<br />
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About the same time, a small single cylinder motor was introduced. It was clipped to the front fork of the safety bicycle and drove the front wheel by a friction roller engaging with the tyre. This was probably the precursor of the outboard motor now used for boats. I think the first motor of this type was made by Werner. Leon Bolle, a Frenchman, was among the pioneers of the motor bicycle. <br />
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One of the earliest of Coventry's motor builders was the Horseless Carriage Company which started business with great eclat in the old Coventry Cotton Mill; Iden was the manager. This was succeeded by the Daimler Motor Company, of which Colonel Manville, subsequently Member for Coventry, was chairman. Charles Martin, an engineer of great courage and confidence, with Italian and American experience, joined the Daimler Company at an early stage. He now rusticates in the Elysian Fields of Kenilworth and breeds Guernseys. <br />
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The first motor vehicle I drove was a motor-quadricycle built by the Enfield Company and owned by my old friend,<a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/08/sir-alfred-herberts-close-assocates.html"> WS Hubbard of Leicester</a>. It went extraordinarily well and I had a great thrill. <br />
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The first car I drove was a small de Dion with engine at the back and with belt transmission. This also belonged to Hubbard.<br />
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Then I had a motor tricycle and after that an American steam-driven Locomobile. A multitubular cylindrical boiler, the shell reinforced by coils of high-tensile steel wire, supplied the steam. The boiler, which was under the seat, was fired by a circular burner like an exaggerated gas ring. Before starting, a removable section of the burner was taken out and heated in the kitchen fire. It was put back into postion, the petrol was turned on and vaporized by the hot section of the burner. It was then lighted (with a great bang): in a few minutes pressure was up to 220 lbs. The blazing burner just behind the driver's legs was rather terrifying and unexpected draughts brought the flames a good deal nearer to one's calves than was pleasant.<br />
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The water tank had to be filled up every twelve miles, and a rubber bucket was part of the outfit. Naturally it was never safe to take the chance of finding a convenient ditch or pond at precisely twelve mile intervals and so every time water appeared one stopped and filled up the tank.<br />
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The engine was a tiny two-cylinder double-acting marine type with link motion for reversing. There was no gear box and the drive was always direct on top. The whole thing was extremely light and beautifully made. Steering was by tiller and was sensitive and correct. The car was almost perfectly silent and delightful to drive. At the foot of a hill you stopped and watched the hand of the pressure gauge gradually climbing up to 220 lbs, then the throttle was opened and the hill rushed, as long as the pressure lasted.<br />
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My next venture was a small single-cylinder car built by EJ West of Coventry, with a de Dion engine. Then came another West car with a two-cylinder engine made by Forman, who was, I believe, the predecessor of the present Alvis Company. This car carried two in the front and two in the back in a tonneau, a minute wagonette, with a door at the back.<br />
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I had now got the fever and bought from SF Edge a four-cylinder Gladiator built by Clement of Paris. France at the time was definitely leading in the development of the motor-car. She had been building cars successfully at a time when we were limited by the legal necessity of driving mechanically propelled vehicles at speeds not exceeding four miles an hour and preceeded by a man carrying a red flag.<br />
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The Count de Dion and Panhard Levassor were among the earliest French engineers to develop the internal combustion engine and in Germany Benz was early in the field.<br />
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This Gladiator was really first-rate judged by the standards of its time. Up to now all motor-cars had open bodies. Few of them even had wind-screens making goggles a necessity and weird and wonderful garments: in cold weather shaggy coats, and when it rained a waterproof called a poncho, reaching down to one's ankles. One sat on the cushion in a pool of water, which did not matter much until the poncho began to leak. I got a local coach builder to rig up a canopy for the Gladiator with a windscreen in front and side curtains of waterproof material running on rings - a wonderful contaption but quite useful in bad weather.<br />
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Next I got from Edge a four-cylinder 15HP Napier with an extensible hood which clipped to the top of the windscreen side curtains, and a good many elements of a modern car. <br />
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Then came a 40HP six-cylinder Napier; a big car holding seven people with an outside seat on the running board for the mechanic. When in a good mood this was a comfortable and speedy vehicle, but it suffered from crank-shaft whip. <br />
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A six-cylinder closed car built by the Standard Motor Company came next and then a 20/30 HP four-cylinder Renault. This was about 1907. It was far in advance of its time and gave wonderful service till three years ago when I finally persuaded a loacl dealer to take it away. <br />
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Just before the war I had a 45HP Rolls with a double-purpose body built by Hamshaw's of Leicester. While the body was being built, I drove the chassis with a temporary wooden body of the soap box type and in this form it was the most delightful car I ever drove before or since, having practically no body weight. It was rare to require any gear but at the top, and from four miles and hour to fifty or sixty it was perfect. During the war it was impossible to get petrol enough for a car of this kind and I sold it and dropped back to very modest vehicles: a two-seater Standard with a dickey, followed by a Windsor. <br />
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Then the four-wheeled brake was introduced in France and as English makers were rather slow to follow this, I imported an excellent Delage; very satisfactory but badly sprung.<br />
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After that my nephew, Gerald Herbert, brought me an early Lancia to try. The independent front wheel suspension made it altogether delightful , particularly on bad surfaces and it sat on the road like a poached egg on toast. Lancia engines were good but never very silent. I have had four or five of these cars in succession. My present one - and eight-cylinder Astura of 27HP - is satisfactory and comfortable. The long chassis has always appealed to me, there is plenty of room for dogs and guns and other impedimenta and a comfortable interval between front and back passengers. <br />
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I have always been rather a fogey about speed: forty miles is the limit at which I am driven. My idea of a perfect driver is one who never causes his passengers to look up from what they are doing, whether admiring the scenery, reading, or, as is my frequent practice, dictating letters. <br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Motor Cars by Sir Alfred Herbert. This monograph, the original of which is corrected in his own hand, was probably written in the mid 1930s Lancia Astura 27HPs were being made in about 1935. A copy has been provided to the <a href="http://www.transport-museum.com/">Coventry Transport Museum</a></span><br />
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Return to <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herbert-1866-1957.html">Sir Alfred Herbert Index</a>Herry Lawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649872903736528348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773187487715474893.post-46823038700364594742009-05-29T02:07:00.000-07:002012-09-01T01:26:01.443-07:00Sir Alfred Herbert's Close Associates<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SoFP67b5x4I/AAAAAAAAWCs/FZbzuqc3IuY/s1600-h/P1120276.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368660104608073602" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SoFP67b5x4I/AAAAAAAAWCs/FZbzuqc3IuY/s400/P1120276.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 176px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
T<span style="font-style: italic;">he opening of a new Extension at Alfred Herbert Edgwick works in 1928. Sir Alfred and Lady Florence Herbert with PG Vernon (1), Joe Pickin (2), AH Lloyd (3), David Gimson (4), Mr Kelway (5), Mr Perkins (6), and Oscar Harmer (7). Click for a larger view</span><br />
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Alfred Herbert made one of his closest friends while <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/alfred-herberts-schooldays.html">at school at Stoneygate</a>. <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/07/sir-alfred-herberts-apprenticeship-with.html">William Hubbard</a> was his immediate contemporary and next to him in class, and it was Hubbard's first job after leaving school - <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/07/sir-alfred-herberts-apprenticeship-with.html">as an apprentice with Joseph Jessop in Leicester</a> - that caused Alfred to chose a career in engineering rather than in the church. Subsequently Alfred and Hubbard worked together at Coles & Matthews in Coventry, before buying the firm when Matthews left and forming the partnership of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/3731897378/">Herbert & Hubbard</a>. Their partnership was later dissolved but they remained friends and Hubbard, a brilliant engineer, returned to Jessops and designed some ingenious machines for the boot trade. Subsequently he became a director of Taylor & Hubbard, building cranes and went on to develop motor cycles and tricycles with Hubbard Motor & Engineering Co Ltd.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SngAr15Dm0I/AAAAAAAAWB4/BvuVQ1jhlLA/s1600-h/P1120588.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366039709212711746" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SngAr15Dm0I/AAAAAAAAWB4/BvuVQ1jhlLA/s400/P1120588.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 400px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 268px;" /></a><br />
David Gimson (1880 - 1963) attended<a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/alfred-herberts-schooldays.html"> Stoneygate</a> after Sir Alfred, and was a fine mathematician and athlete. After leaving school, he became an accountant, forming the firm of Wilshere & Gimson in Leicester which, in 1903, became auditors to Alfred Herbert Ltd. Gimson left the firm in 1918 and joined Alfred Herbert as their Financial Director, a position he held until he became <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/3811081770">chairman</a> in the 1950s on Alfred Herbert's retirement from that position. He died in 1963, shortly before he was due to retire. Alfred relied heavily on David Gimson's financial acumen and would often answer questions with "Go and ask Gimson". They were very close and of course Gimson was one of those who attended the memorial ceremony at <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/lady-herberts-memorial-at-st-james-less.html">Litchfield</a> for Florence, Alfred's second wife, in 1930. Gimson's uncle was the famous Leicester architect <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Gimson">Ernest Gimson</a>. [With thanks to his grandson, Guy Gimson, for corrections]<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SoxZQHA0hrI/AAAAAAAAWEo/kxkIGMQ8EC8/s1600-h/Oscar+Harmer.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371766588841428658" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SoxZQHA0hrI/AAAAAAAAWEo/kxkIGMQ8EC8/s400/Oscar+Harmer.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 400px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 327px;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">Sir Alfred Herbert, standing, with Oscar Harmer (with beard) and Capt Hollick, Sir Alfred's son-in-law, at the Ex-Servicemen's Dinner in 1932.</span><br />
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Oscar Harmer was an Irishman who Alfred recruited in 1897 and became Herbert's Technical Director. A brilliant engineer, he had spent some of his youth in America and was well-connected with both the American and British machine-tool industries and was a particular friend of Charles Churchill, who introduced him to Alfred Herbert. His son, known as 'Tiny', married Sir Alfred's youngest daughter Phyllis. The Harmer's lived in a house in Coventry called Dalhousie. Oscar Harmer too was among those who attended the memorial ceremony at <a href="tp://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/lady-herberts-memorial-at-st-james-less.html">Litchfield</a> for Lady Florence Herbert. He died in 1939 aged 90, after 42 years service with Sir Alfred.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SoZUJxkF3sI/AAAAAAAAWEY/dzqy456Dam8/s1600-h/P1120495.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370072132586168002" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SoZUJxkF3sI/AAAAAAAAWEY/dzqy456Dam8/s400/P1120495.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 400px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 294px;" /></a>Harold (AH) Lloyd, MBE, joined Alfred Herbert as an apprentice in 1905 with a B.Sc from London University, and became head of equipment design and from 1926 Works Director. He was Design Director from 1945 until his retirement and died in 1955. A Welshman from Lampeter, he was a a founder member of the Coventry Amateur Dramatic Society and a great personal friend of Sir Alfred's.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SoZUYSBCjQI/AAAAAAAAWEg/PXr357hSrBQ/s1600-h/P1120494.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370072381815688450" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SoZUYSBCjQI/AAAAAAAAWEg/PXr357hSrBQ/s400/P1120494.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 400px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 299px;" /></a><br />
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Joseph Pikin joined Alfred Herbert as a draughtsman in 1895 after serving his apprenticeship at George Richards & Co and took many positions within the company and eventually became Herbert's Commercial Director. He lived near Sir Alfred's daughter Gladys and her husband Arthur Hollick, and their daughter June remembers him coming sometimes to collect Sir Alfred when he stayed with them and drive with him to the works. He was also another who attended the <a href="tp://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/lady-herberts-memorial-at-st-james-less.html">Litchfield</a> ceremony. He retired in 1955 after 60 years with the company.<br />
Return to <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herbert-1866-1957.html">Sir Alfred Herbert Index</a></div>
Herry Lawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649872903736528348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773187487715474893.post-21990504629781566332009-05-28T07:10:00.001-07:002021-04-15T23:44:45.861-07:00Alfred Herbert's Schooldays<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/Sh6c36B-3tI/AAAAAAAAUxk/mMjs0Y0Shsw/s1600-h/P1100365.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340878692392296146" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/Sh6c36B-3tI/AAAAAAAAUxk/mMjs0Y0Shsw/s400/P1100365.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 264px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 400px;" /></a>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/Sh6da6iaS0I/AAAAAAAAUxs/SbXWDbqM3eg/s1600-h/P1100366.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340879293823732546" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/Sh6da6iaS0I/AAAAAAAAUxs/SbXWDbqM3eg/s400/P1100366.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 225px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 400px;" /></a>
<span style="font-style: italic;">The Stoneygate Class Lists of 30th July 1880. Click to read. 'Herbert' is mentioned on both pages.</span>
Alfred Herbert went to school at <a href="http://www.stoneygateschool.co.uk/">Stoneygate</a>, a private school on the outskirts of Leicester with - in those days - some 50 pupils.
The class list for July 1880, when Alfred was 14, show him excelling at divinity, English and the sciences. In that year, he won the Class II prize jointly with another boy, as well as a music prize. He still had at least two or three years to go and was must have been top of Class I when he left. Interestingly, the boy next to him in class was William S Hubbard who excelled in maths, algebra and geometry and with whom he later went into business. Also, above him in Class 1 was <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/3765549514/">Gimson P.</a>, who was probably the older brother of <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/08/sir-alfred-herberts-close-assocates.html">David Gimson (1880 - 1963)</a> who went on to be an accountant and in 1918 became the Financial Director of Alfred Herbert Ltd and later its chairman after Sir Alfred had died. <div><br /></div><div>Although Alfred was expected to go on to Oxford and into the church when he left school, he visited Hubbard, who had joined Joseph Jessop's Engineering Co in Leicester as an apprentice. Herbert was fascinated by what the small lathes at Jessops produced, so he persuaded his father to let him follow his friend's example. Subsequently <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/07/sir-alfred-herberts-apprenticeship-with.html">he became an apprentice at Jessops</a> and thereafter joined <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/3731897378/">Coles and Mathews</a>, a firm of engineers in The Butts, Coventry, which he later bought with Hubbard and which became the foundation of his own company, <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/alfred-herbert-ltd.html">Alfred Herbert Ltd</a>.
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SmGVZbiiWwI/AAAAAAAAV6U/ieGgbm1k8vs/s1600-h/P1120006.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359729295669484290" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SmGVZbiiWwI/AAAAAAAAV6U/ieGgbm1k8vs/s400/P1120006.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 267px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 400px;" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>
T<span style="font-style: italic;">he 'Great Paul' being transported to London. Herbert and Hubbard took this as the logo of their firm.</span> </div><div><br /></div><div> He must have been interested in engineering from an early age. In fact, a short memoir that Alfred wrote in 1954 recalled that during his schooldays he was fascinated by the transportation in 1882 of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/3574038120/">'The Great Paul'</a>, a 17 ton bell for St Paul's Cathedral from Taylor's foundry in Loughborough by a special lorry built by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/3731738452">Coles and Matthews</a> - the firm he later joined in Coventry. He wrote that he was at Stoneygate as the bell passed the gates and that 'we boys were allowed to see the procession and I climbed on to the lorry and wrote my name in pencil on the bell'. The story continues: "It was an imposing cavalcade preceded by a man with a red flag. Then came two great traction engines hauling the bell, a caravan for the men to sleep in and a water-cart completed the train......At Fenny Compton the road gave way, so boiler plates and jacks had to be sent to the rescue. The journey took about a fortnight and ultimately the bell was safely delivered." </div><div><br /></div><div> Return to <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herbert-1866-1957.html">Sir Alfred Herbert Index</a></div>Herry Lawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649872903736528348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773187487715474893.post-50326281716707009732009-05-28T01:50:00.000-07:002011-07-05T14:28:43.732-07:00Alfred Herbert's Apprenticeship with Joseph Jessop & Co<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SoJ3lTRHS9I/AAAAAAAAWC8/wxpIl0jgP4M/s1600-h/P1120273.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368985188489972690" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SoJ3lTRHS9I/AAAAAAAAWC8/wxpIl0jgP4M/s400/P1120273.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 261px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">'Some of my Shopmates and myself when young' - a photo from Alfred Herbert News November - December 1953. Both Alfred Herbert and William Hubbard appear in the photo, Alfred in the back row, second from the left </span><br />
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My old school-fellow (a farmer's son like myself), <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/3790886151/">William Hubbard</a>, afterwards my partner, was apprenticed to a firm of engineers, Joseph Jessop & Sons in Leicester, our native town. One day I went to see him at work. He was running a small lathe and I was spellbound to see the curly chips he was producing. It was intended that I should go to a University with the idea of becoming a parson and with that object I had already struggled through the Oxford Junior and Senior examinations. But Hubbard's achievements on this lathe were too much for me and I persuaded my father to let me follow his example. I wonder what would have happened to me, and to many others, if I had pursued my original intention.<br />
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In due course my indentures were signed [1880]. They were of the traditional kind, stipulating that in consideration of a modest premium I was to be instructed into the arts of a turner, fitter and draughtsman. For my part, I promised not to haunt play-houses and taverns, not to waste my master's goods or see them wasted by others; my master's lawful commands gladly to obey; not absent myself from work without permission and in all things to behave as a good and diligent apprentice should. My wages were 5/- a week, rising by half a crown a year; not very high pay by today's standards. I remember the thrill when I got my first five shillings. The was real earned money, quite different stuff from the pocket money my father gave me. With that five shillings I was able to buy five first-rate lunches at Boulter's, a small eating-house nearby. I wish I could get as good meat today!<br />
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There were five or six premium apprentices; our only priviliges were that we started work at 7 o'clock instead of 6 in the morning, we had the use of a small room to change and wash, and we spent our last year in the drawing office. <br />
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In winter my people lived in Leicester. In the morning I stood in a flat bath, poured a jug of cold water over my head, jumped into my clothes and ran a mile and a half to the shop with bread and butter and a screw of coffeee and sugar in my pocket for breakfast. At 8.30 the whistle blew and there was a wild rush to the steam kettle to fill our coffee tins. <br />
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In summer we moved to my father's farm at Whetstone Gorse about seven miles out of Leicester and I started work at 9 o'clock instead of 7, and I often rode my penny-farthing bicycle there and back. <br />
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My apprenticeship was one of the happiest times of my life. I was intensely interested in the work and in everything that was going on in the shop, and my shop-mates, without exception, were most kind and friendly. They answered my questions and did their best to teach my some of the rudiments of my trade. <br />
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Jessops employed about 150 men. They were engaged mainly in building cranes, hositing and lifting machinery, steam engines, and in general engineering. they turned out really good work, judged by the standards of their time but, by comparison with a modern shop, their equipment and their methods were distinctly primitive.<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">From Alfred Herbert News November - December 1953</span><br />
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His 'shopmates' remained friends all his life. Here are photos of some them on their annual visits to Alfred Herbert Ltd. These visits began in 1918 and continued until 1953!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SoJ4X4NKaEI/AAAAAAAAWDE/IzK2WZy3kMg/s1600-h/P1120274.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368986057398970434" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SoJ4X4NKaEI/AAAAAAAAWDE/IzK2WZy3kMg/s400/P1120274.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 270px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">Immediately after the First World War, parties of Sir Alfred Herbert's old shopmates - apprentices at Jessop's of Leicester, made an annual visit to his Coventry Works. This meeting was in 1932 and the last one occurred in 1954. 'The Erector' (sitting, middle right) was referred to by Sir Alfred as 'Yankee' who apparently did no work but sat on an upturned packing case chewing tobacco and directing his sweating mates.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SoJ4yu3CMbI/AAAAAAAAWDM/IdEEY2e4Kgo/s1600-h/P1120314.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368986518746706354" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SoJ4yu3CMbI/AAAAAAAAWDM/IdEEY2e4Kgo/s400/P1120314.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 291px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">Sir Alfred Herbert's old shop-mates from his apprenticeship at James Jessop, Leicester, in the 1880s on an annual visit to Alfred Herbert Ltd on 15th Sept 1937.<br />
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Standing: G Smith, Mr Arthur Hollick (son-in-law), TW Jones, Sir Alfred, A Underwood, W Jayes<br />
Sitting: CA Sault, W Bloxham, Mrs Gladys Hollick (daughter), Ian Hollick (grandson), Lady Nina Herbert, W Grundy, J Taylor. <br />
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Return to <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herbert-1866-1957.html">Sir Alfred Herbert Index</a>Herry Lawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649872903736528348noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773187487715474893.post-56333011269460466782009-05-28T01:47:00.000-07:002011-12-16T06:06:54.657-08:00The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, Coventry<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SQyc6GQkoDI/AAAAAAAAMPY/KT2jiJkwP2c/s1600-h/P1070461.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263754586415734834" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SQyc6GQkoDI/AAAAAAAAMPY/KT2jiJkwP2c/s400/P1070461.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 400px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 392px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SQxU4ebFHsI/AAAAAAAAMPQ/t2oo1eI1crw/s1600-h/P1080054.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263675393705320130" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SQxU4ebFHsI/AAAAAAAAMPQ/t2oo1eI1crw/s400/P1080054.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 400px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 334px;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">The following is extracted from the brochure above, which was produced for the first opening of the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum in 1960. The photos are of Sir Alfred and <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/lady-nina-herbert-nee-arundel-later.html">Lady Nina Herbert</a>. Click <a href="http://www.theherbert.org/index.php/home">here</a> for The Herbert website</span><br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">'Alfred Herbert was born on 5th September 1866, the son of a Leicestershire farmer. After attending <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/alfred-herberts-schooldays.html">Stoneygate School</a> in Leicester, he was <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/07/sir-alfred-herberts-apprenticeship-with.html">apprenticed to Jessop and Sons</a> after which he came to Coventry to take up the position of works manager in a firm of jobbing and general engineers, Coles & Matthews, in The Butts. <br />
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A year later the partnership was dissolved and the business was offered to Alfred, who was 22 years of age at the time. He went into partnership with an old school-friend, WS Hubbard and with their fathers' supplying the necessary capital, formed the firm of Herbert and Hubbard.<br />
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Hubbard was a clever mechanic with considerable inventive genius, so they decided to make machine tools, the first of which was a very ingenious machine for picking, sorting and storing pills. Machine tools suitable for use in the rapidly expanding bicycle industry were produced and quickly added to the firm's growing reputation. After two or three years Herbert and Hubbard dissolved their partnership and in 1894 a small company, <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/alfred-herbert-ltd.html">Alfred Herbert Ltd</a> was formed in which Alfred Herbert held the majority of shares. The new firm rapidly forged ahead with the production of machine tools of all kinds; agencies were taken on and foreign branches established all over the world.<br />
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Soon after the outbreak of the First World War, Alfred Herbert was appointed Deputy Director and then <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/11/sir-alfred-herbert-in-1st-world-war.html">Controller of Machine Tools at the Ministry of Munitions</a>, for which service he was awarded a knighthood.<br />
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During his lifetime Sir Alfred Herbert developed from very small beginnings, the largest machine tool works in the world. <br />
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Not that he is only remembered as one of the greatest industrialists of his day; he was also great in another sphere, as benefactor to his adopted city of Coventry.<br />
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Among his many gifts to the city were £1000* in 1934 to equip a ward in the <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/09/sir-alfred-herbert-and-coventry-and.html">Warwickshire and Coventry Hospital</a> for wounded soldiers, two acres of land in The Butts for a park and playground; <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/lady-herberts-homes-and-garden-coventry.html">Lady Herbert's Homes and Garden</a> as a memorial to Lady Florence Herbert in the centre of the city, <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/07/town-thorns-residential-school.html">Town Thorns Manor</a>, which he gave to Coventry as a childrens' home, £10,000 to the hospital and the loan of a like sum free of interest; a covenant with the <a href="http://herrylaw.blogspot.com/2008/10/coventrys-beautiful-cathedral.html">Cathedral Reconstruction Committee</a> whereby it received £25,000 over seven years; and £200,000 for the provision of the <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/herbert-art-gallery-and-museum-coventry.html">Herbert Art Gallery and Museum</a> which is being opened today. This latter sum, with the accumulation of interest, has meant a contribution of nearly £275,000 to the cost of the buildings. <br />
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In addition to his public gifts, his private gifts were also many; such as the £25,000 he disbursed amongst his employees to celebrate his 90th birthday.<br />
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His death on 2nd May 1957 brought to a close a life of immense achievement and generosity. He was a natural leader of men and carried to the present age the Victorian virtues of thrift and industry.<br />
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He will long be remembered not only for his public gifts for which the <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/herbert-art-gallery-and-museum-coventry.html">Herbert Art Gallery and Museum</a> will stand as a most fitting monument, but also for the unfailing courtesy and kindness he extended to all those who worked for him.<br />
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The world lost one of its greatest engineering geniuses, Coventry lost a true and loyal friend and Alfred Herbert Ltd its founder and father.'</span><br />
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The Herbert website records Sir Alfred's contribution thus:<br />
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<a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/herbert-art-gallery-and-museum-coventry.html">The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum</a> is named after Sir Alfred Herbert, a local industrialist who founded <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/alfred-herbert-ltd.html">Alfred Herbert Limited</a>, at one time the world's largest machine toolmaking company.<br />
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In 1938, Sir Alfred donated £100,000 to the City of Coventry to pay for the construction of an Art Gallery and Museum. Building work started in 1939 on a site on the other side of Bayley Lane from the present building.<br />
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At the start of World War II only the basement had been completed and work was stopped.<br />
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By the end of World War II the city centre lay in ruins, and work on the gallery was put on hold, although the basement was converted to a temporary art gallery in 1949.<br />
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In 1952 new plans were drawn up and on 20th May 1954 Sir Alfred was able to lay the foundation stone of the new building. He also donated a further £100,000 to the scheme.<br />
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In 1956 the plans were revised to include a room for science and natural history collections. This was because of a bequest from Alderman JI Bates which gave an additional £34,500 to the scheme. This room was called The Bates Room in his honour.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SmSdiPI-x0I/AAAAAAAAV7g/4KiYDnQ-EoE/s1600-h/P1120041.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360582667983046466" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SmSdiPI-x0I/AAAAAAAAV7g/4KiYDnQ-EoE/s400/P1120041.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 279px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum takes shape - From The Alfred Herbert News July-August 1957</span> <br />
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Sadly Sir Alfred did not live to see the Art Gallery and Museum opened as he died on 5th June 1957 aged 90.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/S3EtbaApImI/AAAAAAAAY8c/XrIzgT9QCdI/s1600-h/P1130421.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436176174074634850" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/S3EtbaApImI/AAAAAAAAY8c/XrIzgT9QCdI/s400/P1130421.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 262px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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On 9th March 1960 <a href="http://lawfordherry.blogspot.com/2009/01/marions-fraser-nina-herbert-nee-arundel.html">Lady Herbert</a>, his third wife, declared the Art Gallery and Museum open<br />
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Click <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/sets/72157608537347519/">here</a> for some recent photos of the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum after its reopening in October 2008<br />
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In May 2009, Sir Alfred was inducted into the city's 'Walk of Fame' in Priory Place. Click <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herberts-induction-into.html">here</a> for details of the ceremony and a photo of the sculpture commemorating the award being donated to The Herbert by a member of his family.<br />
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The event is also referred to on the Herbert's <a href="http://www.theherbert.org/index.php/home/news/sir-alfred-herberts-special-commendation-returns-t">website</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.theherbert.org/index.php/home/collections/the-herbert-at-50-display">A new display</a> marks the 50th Anniversary of the opening of The Herbert Art Gallery in 1960 and Museum and a ceremony was held in September 2010. <br />
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In December 2011, the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum received its 1 millionth visitor since its refurbishment in October 2008.<br />
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A mosaic<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> compiled from over 7,000 images from exhibitions, events, collections, visitors, staff, objects, promotional materials, partners logos and more has been made in the likeness of the museums founder, Sir Alfred Herbert.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M0pli8cwEQA/TutP434R8iI/AAAAAAAAdyY/pfHg4iy9kSA/s1600/Sir+Alfred+Herbert+Mosaic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M0pli8cwEQA/TutP434R8iI/AAAAAAAAdyY/pfHg4iy9kSA/s640/Sir+Alfred+Herbert+Mosaic.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The Herbert is also prominent on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Coventry/The-Herbert-Art-Gallery-Museum-Coventry/164930276125?ref=ts">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/The_Herbert">Twitter</a><br />
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*About £35,000 today (2010)<br />
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Return to <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herbert-1866-1957.html">Sir Alfred Herbert Index</a><br />
Return to <a href="http://www.theherbert.org/index.php/home">The Herbert website</a>Herry Lawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649872903736528348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773187487715474893.post-73357537307289352982009-05-28T01:34:00.000-07:002009-07-18T13:03:21.353-07:00Memories of Dunley - Richard Johnson<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SmIqe7e_9kI/AAAAAAAAV60/rY6YNE6FK7M/s1600-h/Dunley+Tea+party+1940s.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 228px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SmIqe7e_9kI/AAAAAAAAV60/rY6YNE6FK7M/s400/Dunley+Tea+party+1940s.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359893217376466498" /></a><br /><br /><br />"My mother too lived at '3 <a href="http://lawfordherry.blogspot.com/2007/08/dunley-manor-was-run-by-fierce-but.html">Dunley</a> Cottages', just like <a href="http://lawfordherry.blogspot.com/2007/08/e-mail-from-jackie-sopp-19807-following.html">Jackie Sopp</a>! She has a <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/24353401@N06/2307331524/">photograph</a> of her younger sisters sitting on the step outside. She does not recall Jackie but says a large number of evacuees were present over the WWII period. She does recall Nancy Seabrooke.<br /><br />The tap across the road which Jackie refers to was a well in my mother's time, and a deep one at that. She recalls a barn with a number of individual coal sheds with the well at the end. All of which are long gone.<br /><br />In the six cottages were: Bone/Fuller/Morgan/Randall/Vincent/Ted Munday.<br /><br />She recalls how Crouch (who had an Irish wife) would call on the parents complaining that the children had let off his gin traps in the woods. She recalls 'Mondon's old horse' and how they would get out of the way for it. Monden may have been the dairy maid.<br /><br />My mother remembers Fairfax (Fuff). She is not sure, but thinks that somebody's father was killed in Italy during the war? [this was Capt Michael Pugh, Annette's brother]. She recalls 'Crouch' who she thinks was 'the keeper' and MacKenzie, the parlour maid, who they would tease by throwing gravel at her door. She recalls a dairy maid with a name similar to 'Mondon'. <br /><br />I am told that a worker was killed in the little pump house there and have been given a graphic account of it that I cannot verify. There is also a tale of a man shooting someone in the pond a 'little further up from Dunley towards Woodcott'. Again, I have no information on this other than a rumour.<br /><br />I was able to rumble around Dunley Manor looking for cabling following a lightning strike last year. A tree behind the old dairy (now a flat) took a direct hit and it blew up all the phones nearby (Dairy, House, Cottages, Lodge etc.) Working out just how engineers of old had wired up Dunley Manor was a task and I finally found what I needed in a little cellar. My mother remembered it and put me on to it. At this time she told me there was a room with a 'stage' in it. The current elderly lady owner had the staff make me tea and chatted with me in the morning room. She was quite unaware of any of the previous owners, which was sad"<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Richard Johnson - extracted and abridged from various e-mails in February 2008.</span><br /><br />Return to <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herberts-estate-at-dunley.html">Dunley</a>Herry Lawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649872903736528348noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773187487715474893.post-848153492144478612009-05-28T01:33:00.001-07:002009-06-24T05:01:29.305-07:00Memories of Dunley - Jackie Sopp"The following (in no particular order) are some of my mother's (Nancy Seabrooke's) reminiscences......<br /><br />Piper was indeed a Chauffeur (but she said he was the 'under-chauffeur) who sometimes drove a pony and trap. Apparently, he was very friendly with my grandfather, Arthur Seabrooke, who was Estate Carpenter. Busby was the Chauffeur.<br /><br />Miss MacKenzie had been parlourmaid to an artist (Mother can't recall the name) who was well-known, in London circles. Then she had worked for Winston Churchill (no time period given here, so don't know whether it was before the war - presume so?). Her brother was a policeman in Edinburgh, and they originated from Sutherland, away up in the Highlands. Mother says, once Miss MacKenzie gave some bread (which was left-over,) to the dogs and Lady Herbert severely reprimanded her because she had fed them with bread bought up in Coventry, which cost 1/2d more than in Whitchurch!<br /><br />The gardener's name was Mr Sopp (honestly, no known relation! - but we suspect he may have a connection with my husband's father's family who all hailed from Linkenholt/Vernham Dean/Hungerford areas.) His wife may have been a cook at Dunley, my Mother thinks.<br /><br />She also recalls the sugar basins on the dresser at Dunley, with Sir Alfred's name, Lady Herbert's name and all live-in staff names labelled on them. Sugar was still rationed, and woe betide the person who used someone's sugar ration!<br /><br />Mother also spoke about Miss Tidd, Ursula, and Miss Tidd's adopted daughter, Penelope.<br /><br />She mentioned the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/sets/72157603992067515">Gun Book </a>, and says she well remembers packing the hampers for the shooting party, with Miss MacKenzie taking charge.<br /><br />And finally, yes, I did receive a very interesting email from your brother, who named most of the people above. I am sure he would recall my mother if you said she was NANCY SEABROOKE, as she remembered 'the boys' visiting the Manor from time to time. She would've been about 24-26 years old at the time. As I said previously, we lived in 3 Dunley Cottages (The Swedish Houses, as they were known). Among our next-door neighbours were the Bone family, and my grandparents Arthur and Helen Seabrooke. The water was drawn from a tap across the road, (finally piped into the cottages when Mother was close to having me!) and the lavatories were up steps in the garden! Apparently, there is still a lilac tree growing where our WC stood.......<br /><br />Oh, and Lady Herbert knitted bootees for me before I was born."<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Extracted from an e--mail from Jackie Sopp 19/8/07</span> (Jfsopp@aol.com)<br /><br />Return to <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herberts-estate-at-dunley.html">Dunley</a>Herry Lawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649872903736528348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773187487715474893.post-50567510331671522882009-05-28T01:30:00.000-07:002020-10-07T21:36:11.035-07:00Memories of Dunley - June Gracey<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SXS3nVgV9YI/AAAAAAAAT54/sF5Y4cPyGJ4/s1600-h/Herberts+Four+Generations.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293057348482758018" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SXS3nVgV9YI/AAAAAAAAT54/sF5Y4cPyGJ4/s400/Herberts+Four+Generations.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 264px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 400px;" /></a>
<span style="font-style: italic;">Sir Alfred Herbert with his daughter, Gladys Hollick, grandaughter June Vapenik (now Gracey) and great grandson Gavin Vapenik - taken from his book, Shots at the Truth (1948). He was married three times and had four daughters from his first marriage to Ellen Ryley. Gladys was his eldest</span> <div><br /></div><div> June Gracey's memories of Dunley include:
Miss Tidd (Sir Alfred's Hampshire secretary) had four adopted children - Penelope who went to Australia; Ursula, Belinda and Carol.
Miss Tidd and her mother are both buried at Litchfield. Busby - was 1st chauffeur and had a son, Ernest. Harry Piper - 2nd chauffeur and trusted friend. Pickett - bootman and odd-job-man. He used to fetch the dogs from the billiard-room after dinner and take them to be bedded down.
Benham - the head gardener
Mrs Barnes - was cook. Mackenzie - ruled the dining room and the under-parlourmaids went in great fear of her.
Maud - was an under-parlourmaid and married Pickett's son and lived in Coventry. Apocathary - was a housemaid who bathed the three Yorkshire terriers and the dachshund.
Michael and David Pugh had a fierce Sealyham, Taffy, who June was allowed to take on walks. On shooting party days he had to be shut up as he fought with the gun dogs. They also had a pony, Myfanwy, which Piper used to drive to the shops on petrol rationing days </div><div><br /></div><div> Return to <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herberts-estate-at-dunley.html">Dunley</a></div>Herry Lawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649872903736528348noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773187487715474893.post-75267504056282697362009-05-28T01:29:00.000-07:002009-08-06T00:10:57.381-07:00Memories of Dunley - Annual Dunley TeapartyNotwithstanding the many changes effected and about to be made in the Poor Law world, one thing remains unchanged, and that is the kindness and generosity which has been bestowed upon the occupants of the "House on the Hill" by the residents of <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herberts-estate-at-dunley.html">Dunley Manor</a>. As far back as 1922 the late Lady Herbert invited the occupants of the House to Dunley, this invitation being repeated each year until 1930. Since Lady Herbert was called to her rest, Sir Alfred Herbert has given the annual treat to perpetuate <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/lady-herberts-memorial-at-st-james-less.html">the memory of Lady Herbert</a>. Owing to the increase in the number of inmates the affair has taken place at the House, the women occupying the dining hall, and the kitchen being used as an annex for the men.<br /><br />On Friday in last week loads of good things to eat were sent to the Institution, including meat pies and fancy cakes to numerous to mention. The meal was served under the direction of the Matron at 5 p.m. The walls of the dining hall were delightfully decorated with branches of beech, the tables strewn with beech leaves as decorations, with pot plants and palms having a place in the centre of the hall. After tea each woman was presented with a bag containing a jam sandwich, chocolate, pint jellies, an orange, necklace and handkerchief, while each man received a pipe, tobacco, cigarettes, orange, handkerchief, cake, fruit, sweets and chocolate.<br /><br />After tea the Master telephoned the grateful thanks of all the inmates to Sir Alfred Herbert, who in response sent his best love, and expressed the hope that all would thoroughly enjoy themselves. From 6 o'clock to 8 the programme consisted of gramophone records and songs and character sketches by several of the inmates. After hearty cheers had been given for Sir Alfred Herbert, the singing of the National Anthem concluded a most happy and enjoyable evening.<br /><br /><strong>Andover Advertiser - 75 Years Ago - Dunley Manor Generosity - Remembering The Way We Were - 18th November 1932</strong><br />Return to <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herberts-estate-at-dunley.html">Dunley</a>Herry Lawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649872903736528348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773187487715474893.post-36780050429352209422009-05-28T01:28:00.000-07:002016-09-18T20:47:36.838-07:00Sir Alfred Herbert's Estate at Dunley, Hampshire<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SrpgQEt_ttI/AAAAAAAAWPs/ee3vSqQvP64/s1600-h/P1130426.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384722133735683794" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SrpgQEt_ttI/AAAAAAAAWPs/ee3vSqQvP64/s400/P1130426.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 300px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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The <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/sets/72157604012316751/">Dunley Estate</a> was originally part of the land belonging to the Earls of Portsmouth (the Wallop family) and was bought by <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herbert-1866-1957_28.html">Sir Alfred Herbert</a> in 1917 and owned by him until his death in 1957. <br />
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Sir Alfred's family were farmers from Leicester and he attended <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/alfred-herberts-schooldays.html">Stoneygate public school</a>, but unusually for that age and time, he became an engineer and one of the century's most successful industrialists, founding <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/alfred-herbert-ltd.html">Alfred Herbert Ltd</a>, at one time the largest manufacturer of machine tools in the world. He was a noted benefactor in Coventry, where he contribted to the reconstruction of the <a href="http://herrylaw.blogspot.com/2008/10/coventrys-beautiful-cathedral.html">cathedral</a> as well as <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/herbert-art-gallery-and-museum-coventry.html">The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum</a>. His second wife, Florence, for whom he created <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/lady-herberts-homes-and-garden-coventry.html">Lady Herbert's Homes and Garden</a> in the centre of Coventry, lived at Dunley until her death in 1930 and she is buried with him at <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/lady-herberts-memorial-at-st-james-less.html">Litchfield</a>. <br />
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Sir Alfred later married a widow, <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/lady-nina-herbert-nee-arundel-later.html">Nina Pugh</a>, in 1933. They used to drive to Coventry each week, staying in a small flat over the Herbert works at Edgewick.<br />
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It was at Dunley that Sir Alfred pursued his favourite recreations - <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herberts-hobbies-shooting.html">shooting</a> and <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/alfred-herberts-hobbies.html">fishing</a>. He was a <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/22608935">fine shot</a> and had as friends and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/22608935/">guests</a> some of the best shots in the country. He described his fishing career in a short memoir written in the early 50's, which can be read <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/alfred-herberts-hobbies.html">here</a>. In it he writes about all the rivers he had fished and the friends he fished with. Stuffed fish in cases lined the walls of the hall at Dunley. <br />
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Typically, given their support for <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/07/town-thorns-residential-school.html">Town Thorns Residential School at Easenhall</a>, Sir Alfred and Lady Herbert used to hold an annual tea party for the inmates of a local institution. Click <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/07/annual-dunley-teaparty.html">here</a> for a description of it from the local paper. <br />
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The house was run by a fierce but kindly Scotswoman, Mackenzie, who had been parlourmaid to Winston Churchill. There was a substantial complement of household and estate staff whose stories are equally interesting. Click <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/memories-of-dunley-jackie-sopp.html">here</a> to read an e-mail from Jackie Stopp whose mother and grandparents worked at Dunley, and <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/memories-of-dunley-richard-johnson.html">here</a> to read exerpts from e-mails from Richard Johnson, whose mother, Winifred Morgan, also lived and worked there. Sir Alfred's daughters (from his first marriage to <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herbert-1866-1957_28.html">Ellen Ryley</a>) and grandchildren also stayed at Dunley and one granddaughter, June Gracey (nee Hollick), has provided some further names and reminiscences which can be found <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/memories-of-dunley-june-gracey.html">here</a>.<br />
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On <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herberts-memorial-service-in.html">Sir Alfred's death</a> in 1957, Lady Herbert moved to <a href="http://lawfordherry.blogspot.com/2007/10/wadwick-house.html">Wadwick House</a>, and lived there until she died in 1967. The Dunley Estate was sold to Sir Brian Mountain of Eagle Star.<br />
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Click <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/sets/72157604012316751">here</a> for some more photos of Dunley and the family<br />
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Return to <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herbert-1866-1957.html">Sir Alfred Herbert Index</a></div>
Herry Lawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649872903736528348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773187487715474893.post-63375258250197076152009-05-28T01:25:00.000-07:002011-07-10T01:05:05.335-07:00Lady 'Nina' Herbert 1874 -1967<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/Sc3nhuwR6MI/AAAAAAAAUiQ/XmhdSOuJBX8/s1600-h/P1100948.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318161301666654402" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/Sc3nhuwR6MI/AAAAAAAAUiQ/XmhdSOuJBX8/s400/P1100948.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 389px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Nina and Alfred Herbert at Dunley c. 1953 [Photo by Gavin Vapenik, his grandson]. Click <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/sets/72157616012894600/">here</a> for more photos</span><br />
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Marian Fraser Arundel (known as Nina), was born in 1874 in India, the second daughter of <a href="http://lawfordherry.blogspot.com/2009/04/sir-arundel-arundel-1843-1922.html">Sir Arundel Tagg Arundel</a> KCIS. Her elder sister was Violet - always known as Vi, who married Evelyn Norie.<br />
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She <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/1812649285/">married</a> Archie Pugh - later <a href="http://lawfordherry.blogspot.com/2008/09/col-aj-pugh-1871-1923-obituary-21st.html">Col AJ Pugh CBE, VD</a> on 18th December 1904 in <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/1813494986/">Calcutta Cathedral</a>. He was a solicitor in Calcutta and and a member (and from 1912 <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/3024280711">Colonel</a>) of the Calcutta Light Horse for 32 years. They had six children - Archie ((1908), Jimmie (1910), <a href="http://lawfordherry.blogspot.com/2008/02/annette-lawford-1911-1998_22.html">Annette</a> born in 1911, Ivor (1916) Michael (1918) and David (1922). The children were brought up mainly in Wales, at the family home at Cwmcodwig, Llanfarian. Their cousin <a href="http://lawfordherry.blogspot.com/2008/04/ruth-howard.html">Ruth Howard</a> (born 1910) who remained a close friend of Annette's all her life has written about their childhood in a short memoir. An excerpt dealing with Nina and her family can be found <a href="http://lawfordherry.blogspot.com/2009/03/ruth-pughs-memories-of-her-childhood.html">here</a>.<br />
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Col Archie Pugh died in Wales in 1923, aged only 52.<br />
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Nina <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/3456367177/">remarried</a> <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herbert-1866-1957_28.html">Sir Alfred Herbert KBE</a> (who we called 'Step') in September 1933 becoming his third wife and devoted herself to his business <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/alfred-herbert-ltd.html">Alfred Herbert Ltd</a> in Coventry and around the world and his estate at <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herberts-estate-at-dunley.html">Dunley</a> in Hampshire. She was accompanied everywhere by her spaniel 'Bramble'. June Vapenik (Sir Alfred's grandaughter) and her husband Milo used to put them up at their house at Leamington during the war to avoid them sleeping in their flat over the works at Edgewick during the bombings.<br />
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Step called her 'an angel' - and indeed she was a beautiful and gentle soul who loved poetry, studied Ramakrishna and other great texts and became a Christian Scientist. This latter teaching caused the only arguments between Step and Nina, when a doctor was consulted when David Pugh had polio.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/Sgcep-iLZJI/AAAAAAAAUuc/ocPX-LkuuCM/s1600-h/P1080935.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334265990153462930" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/Sgcep-iLZJI/AAAAAAAAUuc/ocPX-LkuuCM/s400/P1080935.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 338px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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After his death in 1957, she moved to <a href="http://lawfordherry.blogspot.com/2007/10/wadwick-house.html">Wadwick House</a> near the Dunley Estate accompanied by some of the staff including Mackenzie. In 1962, she opened the <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/herbert-art-gallery-and-museum-coventry.html">Herbert Art Gallery and Museum</a> in Coventry as well as conducting a number of other civic duties, such as attending the reconsecration of <a href="http://herrylaw.blogspot.com/2008/10/coventrys-beautiful-cathedral.html">Coventry Cathedral</a>. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SgcfHqqXs9I/AAAAAAAAUuk/fim3ylxctNk/s1600-h/P1080053.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334266500215190482" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SgcfHqqXs9I/AAAAAAAAUuk/fim3ylxctNk/s400/P1080053.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 400px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 339px;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">The brochure accompanying the opening of The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum in 1962, showing Sir Alfred (who had died in 1957) and Lady Herbert</span><br />
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She sadly suffered a stroke in 1963 and was nursed at home by two Sicilian nurses, Maria and Conchita, until she died in 1967. She is buried in Wales.<br />
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Return to <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herbert-1866-1957.html">Sir Alfred Herbert Index</a>Herry Lawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649872903736528348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773187487715474893.post-88215344275734537852009-05-28T01:23:00.000-07:002011-01-20T01:09:40.352-08:00Sir Alfred Herbert's Memorial Service in Coventry Cathedral 1957<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SerbbXHlrmI/AAAAAAAAUls/mD75s9SljuU/s1600-h/P1090973.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 330px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SerbbXHlrmI/AAAAAAAAUls/mD75s9SljuU/s400/P1090973.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326310772427828834" /></a><br />
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"Humble workers and eminent industrialists united in Coventry Cathedral this week to honour in a Memorial Service the great man who embodied them both - <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herbert-1866-1957_28.html">Sir Alfred Herbert</a>. The tribute of little women pensioners who came from the homes he provided for them in <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/lady-herberts-homes-and-garden-coventry.html">Lady Herbert's Garden</a>, and the tribute of the company directors from the length and breadth of the land would have been of equal value to Sir Alfred. <br />
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One line in one hymn stood out in the whole service provided food for thought by those who loved and those who honoured him. It was 'Beauty for ashes of the vanished years'. Besides being a man of faith, Sir Alfred has left much behind to show for the vanished years. The quiet works of this generous man were enumerated by the Bishop, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/3838975158/">Dr Cuthbert Bardsley</a>. Some had never been heard publicly before; all had been done in an unostentatious manner. <br />
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As the bishop spoke, a few yards away men worked on Coventry's glorious <a href="http://herrylaw.blogspot.com/2008/10/coventrys-beautiful-cathedral.html">new Cathedral</a>, answering a request for silence in such a way that not a sound disturbed the simple service - building quietly for the future as Sir Alfred had, yet paying their respects to him as he had to his employees and fellow men. <br />
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Twenty-six stewards, employees of <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/alfred-herbert-ltd.html">Alfred Herbert Ltd</a>, conducted the 2000-strong congregation to their seats in the Cathedral under a grey sky. Many were there an hour before the service started and sat in a cold wind to pay their tribute. Others had travelled hundreds of miles for the occasion. <br />
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<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SetZyhNCg6I/AAAAAAAAUl0/rnkFcxgOXr0/s1600-h/Sir+Alfred%27s+Memorial+Service.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SetZyhNCg6I/AAAAAAAAUl0/rnkFcxgOXr0/s400/Sir+Alfred%27s+Memorial+Service.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326449708737135522" /></a> The service was relayed to Holy Trinity, where the organ music for both services was played by Mr L Tanner. Mr <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/3299066723">David Pugh</a>, son of <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/lady-nina-herbert-nee-arundel-later.html">Lady Herbert</a>, read the lesson from Revelations, and the service was conducted by the Provost, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Thomas_Howard">Very Rev. RT. Howard</a>. The Bishop was preceded into the Cathedral by the Coventry Cross, born by Mr Raymond Lucas, and employee of Sir Alfred Herbert Ltd. Brother Ronald; the Rev Ian Miller, Vicar of Foleshill, and the Rev RM Spurin, the Foleshill curates who are works chaplins at Alfred Herbert Ltd; the Precentor of the Cathedral, the Rev JH Proctor; the Rev Lincoln Minshull, Superintendent Minister of the Methodist central hall; the Provost of Coventry, Canon E Moore Darling, Canon Missioner in the Coventry Diocese. <br />
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"A man who did much good in his lifetime". Thus Coventry's Lord Bishop described Sir Alfred. He said: "it isn't easy to be rich and a good man. The temptation of the wealthy man is to retire from creative life to live an entirely selfish existence. "Not so Sir Alfred Herbert. He could have retired years ago and enjoyed himself. But he didn't; right up until nearly the end he and Lady Herbert would travel up to the factory each week. He could have ceased to take any interest in in the men in his factory. He had plenty of money with which to live in luxury. But no. He thought and cared and planned and suffered right into his eighties with those men with whom he had worked so long. He did not regard them as his employees as much as his friends. 'Sir Alfred', stated the Bishop, 'was a man who did good with his money and his mind. Just as money could be used for good or ill, so could the mind.... Sir Alfred had a brilliant, scientific mind aligned with a perhaps still more brilliant administrative mind. To you men who have lost a 'boss' - a greatly respected and almost venerated boss - our hearts go out in sympathy. To his wife and family who mourn the loss of husband and father, we extend our deep compassion. But your sorrow should today be tinged with pride that it was your privilege to know and serve and love a very great man, a prince among men, a good man, full of the Holy Ghost, and of faith. May his soul rest in peace and let light perpetually shine upon him."<br />
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Family and Principal Mourners were: <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/lady-nina-herbert-nee-arundel-later.html">Lady Herbert</a>, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/3706778067/">Miss U Tidd</a> (private secretary), Mr and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/2300217796/">Mrs AO Hollick</a>; <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/2300217796/">Mrs J Vapenick</a>; Major and Mrs W Allen; Mr and Mrs DWAH Allen; Mr and Mrs I Hollick; Mr and Mrs J Pugh; Mr I Pugh; <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/3299066723">Mr D Pugh</a>; <a href="http://lawfordherry.blogspot.com/2008/02/annette-lawford-1911-1998_22.html">Mr and Mrs P Lawford</a>, Mrs RS King Farlow; <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/alfred-herberts-hobbies.html">Mr D Bankes-Price</a>; <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/memories-of-dunley-june-gracey.html">Mr H Piper [chauffeur]; Mr EH Busby [chauffeur]</a>; Mr J Crouch [butler]; Mr G Price; Mrs A Stanley; Miss E Hoffa; the Lord Mayor of Coventry, Alderman Mrs Pearl Hyde; the Town Clerk, Mr Charles Barrett; the Deputy Mayor, Alderman HHK Winslow; and the Chief Constable, Mr EWC Pendleton. Thereafter a list of all those who attended - four columns of names.<br />
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<span style="font-style:italic;">The Coventry Standard 1957</span><br />
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Click <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/sets/72157617034178494/">here</a> for more photos of the memorial service as well as his <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/1813516094">burial</a> at Litchfield, next to his estate at <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herberts-estate-at-dunley.html">Dunley</a> in Hampshire.<br />
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Return to <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herbert-1866-1957.html">Sir Alfred Herbert Index</a>Herry Lawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649872903736528348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773187487715474893.post-34158262278636313922009-05-28T01:20:00.000-07:002010-05-29T23:59:49.209-07:00Lady Herbert's Homes and Garden, Coventry<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/ShuIt0PL_hI/AAAAAAAAUxI/yR9OuSIcCxg/s1600-h/Lady+Herbert%27s+Homes+and+Garden.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/ShuIt0PL_hI/AAAAAAAAUxI/yR9OuSIcCxg/s400/Lady+Herbert%27s+Homes+and+Garden.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340012103875690002" /></a><br /><br />For some more photos of the homes and the garden, click <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/sets/72157618289422818/">here</a>. <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/09/lady-florence-herbert.html">Lady Florence Herbert</a> is also commemorated by the lychgate at <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/lady-herberts-memorial-at-st-james-less.html">St James the Less, Litchfield</a> (next to <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herberts-estate-at-dunley.html">Dunley</a>) and the <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/07/st-barbaras-church-earlsdon.html">Lady Chapel at St Barbara's, Earlsdon</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Flowery Oasis in Central Coventry</span> <br />[The Midland Daily Telegraph, Friday May 30th 1930]<br /><br />It is a particularly happy thought that a section of Coventry's old City wall, built nearly 600 years ago in order to ensure the safety of the inhabitants in those troublous days, should now become the central feature of "A Place of Rest and Refreshment from the Growing Turmoil of the Streets". <br /><br />As Coventry has already learned through the medium of these columns, Sir Alfred Herbert has made himself responsible for a scheme whereby the most complete remaining section of the city wall, stretching between Cook Street gate and the Swanswell Gate in Hale Street will be cleared of its unsightly surroundings, the old stonework restored, and the vicinity laid out with beautiful gardens in memory of Lady Herbert, who's death took place on Sunday.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SeuW_ICsAoI/AAAAAAAAUmc/h_xrivdMnLY/s1600-h/P1090991.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 246px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SeuW_ICsAoI/AAAAAAAAUmc/h_xrivdMnLY/s400/P1090991.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326516995530424962" /></a><br />It is pathetic to contemplate that Lady Herbert passed away only one day before a legal agreement was reached between the Corporation and the owners of the whole of the remaining property which it was necessary to acquire before the success of the scheme could be realised.<br /><br />Coventry has had other reasons for appreciating the civic generosity of Sir Alfred and Lady Herbert, who were jointly interested in demonstrating their devotion to their own work people as well as to the city at large, and it is tragic to realise that Lady Herbert will be unable to see the culmination of a scheme with which she had been so closely concerned. <br /><br />Some time must obviously elapse before the reconstructed 'Rope Walk' - the site of the scheme - is named, but in response to Sir Alfred Herbert's wish, the memory of his wife will be perpetuated though the medium of this flowerly oasis in embryo, with the massive city walls and gates as a reminder of the civic grandeur associated with the spot.<br /><br />Some such scheme as this has been 'indicated' for many years and it is somewhat surprising that city Councils of the past have tolerated the growth of masses of mean sheds and the accumulation of unsightly rubbish around the city walls which Coventrians of the C15th built with such thoroughness and care, and the existence of which was alone responsible for Coventry's prominent place in the affairs of England in the Middle Ages.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Days of Civic Inertia</span><br /><br />When the writer visited the spot yesterday, he was more than ever forced to the conclusion that some extraordinary species of civic inertia must have descended upon the city's governors of the past century, who must have regarded these ancient stone walls with little more regard than would have been paid to derelict tenements.<br /><br />It is amazing to find for instance that the City Council has had to repurchase what might normally have been considered to be its own walls and gates. They must have belonged to the city for centuries, and even in the semi-destroyed state which the vengeance of Charles II caused them to be left, there were still large sections which remained in perfect condition, particularly the many handsome gateways. While it is true that modern Coventry may have found the presence of gigantic walls and narrow gateways a handicap to its development, it is by no means inconceivable that means could have been found of preserving some of the best features of these embattlements without restricting progress.<br /><br />It was in the course of the C14th when royal rivalries, intrigues and civil wars and rebellions were frequent occurrences, that Coventry's citizens became convinced of the necessity of surrounding the city with a wall for its adequate protection. In 1328, the inhabitants of Coventry, headed by the monks of the great Benedictine monastery obtained a patent from Edward III permitting them to take a toll of all vendible commodities brought here over a period of six years towards the expense of enclosing the city.<br /><br />Matters progressed rather slowly, and it was no until 1353 that the recently consituted municipal corporation commenced the job. The first stone was laid in that year by the mayor at New Gate, situated near the junction of Much Park St and Whitefriars St. Richard II appears to have supported the men of Coventry nobly in their gigantic task, for not only did he confirm the powers granted by his father, but granted liberty for the digging of a large quantity of stone from his park at Cheylesmore. This support was continued throughout his reign through the medium of generous gifts of land. <br /><br />The man of Coventry went about their task in a manner which cannot fail to arouse admiration. They built a magnificent wall, equipped with gates and towers, in which architectural beauty was exploited to the uttermost, and despite the fact that the task took 40 years to complete, the patience of the masons was even equal to the task of beautifying the gates with rich carvings. The wall was completed in about 1395. <br /><br />It had a length of three miles and in the main wall, the wall was three yards in thickness. There were 32 towers and bastions including twelve gates. The gates were by no means stereotyped in style, and it is unfortunate that the only two remaining ones, Cook St and Stanswell Gates, are among the least imposing of the twelve. Greyfriars gate, which formerly stood at a spot near the bottom of Hertford St, was a particularly fine structure, the tunnel-like aperture running for about twenty yards between two immense circular towers, backed by a solid fort-like structure of considerable depth and containing apartments for men and arms. <br /><br />For about 250 years these stupendous wall, gates and towers stood in all their completeness, and an annual tax was payable fro their efficient maintenance. Coventry prized her walls in those days with an almost fanatical devotion. In toublous times the inhabitants took their share in the task of 'watch and ward'. As years went by the solidity of those walls became a prize well worth fighting for, not only by the inhabitants who lived under their protection, but also by rival royal factions who appreciated their value as a sanctuary against powerful enemies.<br /><br />At last came a time when Coventry's walls shut out a king. in 1642, at a time when Charles I had thoroughly alienated Parliament and the country by his high-flown contentions, and after he had failed ignominiously to obtain possession of the walled town of Hull, he came to Coventry with the hope of making this strongly-fortified city the centre of his Midland operations. He had a large force with him, and demanded admission. The people of Coventry welcomed the King, but would not admit his troops. Charles attempted to enter the city by force and even burst one of the gates with cannon-shots, but the citizens manned the breach in the very mouth of the royal guns. <br /><br />The cavity was filled with carts, barrows and timber, and the King's cavaliers were repulsed with heavy musketry fire from the battlements sustaining very heavy loss. Some years later, popular opinion turned round in the direction of Charles II and Coventry gave some extravagant demonstrations of its loyalty to the new King. Nothing however could efface from his memory the affront which Coventry has offered to his father in that time of his greatest trouble. He resolved that Coventry's walls should never again form an obstacle to the entrance of a sovreign, and in 1662 he sent the Earl of Northampton to demolish the city walls. <br /><br />The first breach was made at New Gate, where the first stone was laid many years before, and which was also the point at which Charles I had been refused admission. Nearly 500 men were engaged in the work of destruction, which went on for three weeks and three days, but it is stated that the wreckers far exceeded their duties in the wholesale destruction which they carried out. <br /><br />From that time onwards, Coventry seems to have lost interest in its former proudest possession. From time to time, either sections of the wall were demolished, always at great expenditure of labour, and often with the aid of gunpowder. The stone and other materials were used for building operations, and although there are no records in existence, it is apparent that the Corporation sold remaining sections of the wall to private persons. <br /><br />The fine gates which were not destroyed by Charles's men were demolished from time to time. New Gate was taken down in 1762. Bishop Gate in 1764. Gosford Gate in 1765. Spon Gate in 1776 and the handsome Greyfriars Gate in 1781. In view of the wholesale destruction which went on for another century or two, it is surprising that even Cook St and Swanswell Gates remain. <br /><br />Col WF Wyley performed a valued public action when he purchased Cook St Gate and presented it to the city in 1907 and that generous action has now been handsomely followed by Sir Alfred Herbert's gift. Between Cook St and the Swanswell gate in Hale St a considerable section of the old wall still remains, along what has been known as 'Rope Walk', a distance of 150 yards. Most of it consists of an open passage 110 yards in length and 50 ft wide, now used as a timber yard by Messrs Newarks. At the Cook St end there is a wide block of property largely consisting of large sheds, garages etc together with some cottage property and some other buildings of a more permanent character. The Swanswell Gate has also been used as a dwelling house<br />for many years, and the roadway which once passed through it has been blocked up. There is also some cottage property adjoining.<br /><br />In its recent parliamentary Act the Corporation obtained powers for the compulsory acquisition of the whole of the property indicated in the accompanying plan, and Sir Alfred Herbert has now come to the aid of the city by offering to pay the costs incurred to the estimated extent of £10,000. <br /><br />It will be seen that the scheme will also effect and important improvement of Cook St, for it is proposed to demolish all the property surrounding the gate, and to leave it open to more advantageous inspection. The Swanswell gate will also be restored, the gateway in its centre opened, and the space thus cleared will be laid out as ornamental gardens. <br /><br />Certain section of the wall adjoining this spot are completely covered by buildings, but the foundations will, presumably, be uncovered. The City Engineers have carefully collected large quantities of original stone from the city wall which have been uncovered from time to time, and it is probable that this will be used in the restoration work. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SeuVjT7O1GI/AAAAAAAAUmM/UvH9Y6R2-4o/s1600-h/P1070477.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SeuVjT7O1GI/AAAAAAAAUmM/UvH9Y6R2-4o/s400/P1070477.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326515418172413026" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Rebuilding the Coventry Cross<br /></span><br />Sir Alfred Herbert makes a very interesting suggestion in the course of his correspondence with the City Council on the subject, when he expresses the hope that it may be possible to gather together some of the fragments of the old Coventry Cross which formerly stood in Cross Cheaping, and re-erect it in the 'Rope Walk' gardens.<br /><br />There has been more than one such cross in Cross Cheaping the purpose of them having been to designate the site of the market. The first of these erections was quite a simple affair, but a more elaborate one was erected in 1422 at a cost of £50. In 1540 this was removed and its place occupied by a gorgeous Gothic pyramid of four stories, 57 ft high, its niches containing statues of religious and historical personages, the whole being richly adorned with pinnacles, metal-work heraldic shields etc so highly illuminated with gold and colours that it is a tradition that it is almost impossible to look at it when the sun shone.<br /><br />In 1669 the cross was repaired and beautified at a cost even greater than that of its erection, but from that time onwards it was wholly neglected and in 1771 it was taken down to save the cost of repairs. A similar fate befel this valuable old relic as was met by the city walls and gates in a period of amazing absence of civic pride. For many years it was known that portions of he cross were in existence in various parts of the city and neighbourhood.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SeuWFDy0phI/AAAAAAAAUmU/iZCO9AcFugo/s1600-h/P1090989.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 190px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ozwUnFsBLBA/SeuWFDy0phI/AAAAAAAAUmU/iZCO9AcFugo/s400/P1090989.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326515997957727762" /></a><br /><br />The Midland Daily Telegraph, Friday May 30th 1930<br /><br />Return to <a href="http://alfredherbert.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-alfred-herbert-1866-1957.html">Sir Alfred Herbert Index</a>Herry Lawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649872903736528348noreply@blogger.com0