My grandfather was the most unusual person. I know that is something easy to say but I am now 64 years old and never in my life up to this time have I met anyone like him.
I hope I don’t bore readers with this quote but it is important to understand about him to see how W.H.Williams developed. Over the next few weeks I will describe things he did that will certainly entertain the mind.
Animal (Angie) said that she never wanted to work in an office but wanted to get her hands dirty. My grandfather did neither of these things. He wasn’t an individual who would be trapped in an office and on the other hand he certainly never intended to get his hands dirty. I don’t think in my lifetime he ever dipped the oil in his car, or opened the bonnet for that matter. That is not to be said that his car was ignored, but he got someone to do that for him. Every time his car went out it was washed and polished.
My dad on the other hand was the reverse. Always living in the shadow of his father, it had developed him into a shy person who generally took an interest into the wellbeing of his workforce and generally caring for them. Dad never worked in an office, like I described earlier. Always being found in the garage at Marmaduke Street or in the driver’s rest room at Green Lane. He, in my youth always wore a boiler suit and was very hands on and not afraid of getting covered in oil.
I will describe later many of the things my grandfather got up to but one thing I know he never gave a bribe. He was too greedy. After using many different type of cars until he had to stop driving in about 1972, he settled on Rover in 1928. and had thirty over the years. Dad always said of his father that he never could drive being dangerous at reversing and every time he got a new car he took it back to the Rover garage and had the clutch adjusted so there was hardly any bite so when he changed gear he didn’t have to push the clutch down. I went with him to Dinsdale’s at Stockton, the main Rover agents where he made himself at home walking into the workshop, not bothering about any receptions and asking the foreman, who he knew to adjust his clutch and then giving 6d tip. He did this like he was giving a fortune.
I laughed when Tyneside described about meeting with Rex Preston in his parents kitchen (an extension of the office) In my Grandfather’s home at 14 Marmaduke Street (Where he was born and lived all his life) when I was young almost every night be it MP Doctor Solicitor shop keeper or even a driver were there for tea (A meal prepared by my poor grandmother who’s cooking facilities would have suited Beamish Museum)
To him a house was where his home was and he liked where he lived. On one occasion he was offered to buy a house on Durham Road Bishop Auckland , when he was visiting with my grandmother the elderly lady who lived there and wanted to sell. (known in those days as Millionaires Road) it was a ridiculously cheap price but in those days in his defence no one realised property prices would rise. He wasn’t interested even though he had more money with him in his pocket than it would cost to buy. Had he seen it as an opportunity to rent it out at a profit he would however, but in those days no one rented such large houses.
My Grandfather went to Rosa Street School Spennymoor leaving at about 10 years old. Yet to meet him anyone would have thought he was well educated. Certainly his ability was that better than any students I have bumped into over the years. His specialist subject was money. He loved and worshiped it.
He cared for no one not giving a dam whether or not he hurt anyone’s feelings. In fact the only person I ever knew he cared for was me —He worshiped me. He one said when I die I’m leaving everything to you; your dad’s irresponsible and has no value of money. When he died however he had never left a will and my dad did inherit, but he never would have given my dad the satisfaction of knowing he cared about him.
In 1946 my grandfather had a heart attach, a serious one and a Harvey Street Specialist, Harley Evvers travelled up by train to 14 Marmaduke Streer to examine him. This chap had treated the King and prescribed tablets that our doctor said saved his life. Its funny how someone who would spend money never thought a thing when it came to his own health.
As a result of this illness he gave the business to my dad and dad was a sole trader from 1947. However in retirement my grandfather would earn himself more in a week than many would earn in a six months.
Ending this quote I will give this final glimpse into his personality. He was the youngest in a family of six and the fourth to be born was my great uncle Jack who married my Great aunt Emmy. Grandad didn’t like Emmy, that’s not to say he disliked her, but he thought she was a social climber. (A little like Mrs Bucket on the TV series ‘Keeping up appearances’). She loved my grandfather to go especially as he always had a new shinny Rover that would stand outside their home for the neighbours to see. Somehow my Grandfather found out about this. Now he liked to go to see his brother as they argued and he loved a good argument and the satisfaction of leaving in a temper. So he made sure he went with the car but not in a smart tailored suit made by Hunter Martin, his tailor from Stockton but in a dustcoat tied with string. He then would park the car and noisily get out so the neighbours knew he was there and pose in his dirty string tied dust coat.
