Blog Post

A look back: Piecing it all together

Elliot • Oct 08, 2019

Firstly, I’m sorry. I’ve neglected the ‘look back’ half of this blog in recent months. It was all the way back in late April that I said I’d let you know how I came into the position of all these wonderful pictures.

The fact is, Bess only became part of our family in the mid 80’s (oddly, about the same time as I did.) But she’d lived a life up unto that point.

There are some moments in life that will stay with you. Where Bess is concerned, I’ll remember the phone call from her previous keeper. I’ll remember the day I walked into a strangers garden and clapped eyes on her for the first time in over a decade.

I’ll also remember the time that over 30 years worth of missing history clicked into place, spanning the mid 1950’s to the mid 1980’s.

You see, not long after I managed to get Bess home, my uncle turned up with a box of paperwork. It was full of wonderful things. The service history, workshop manuals, spare gaskets, accessory tags, fuel ration tokens... It was absolutely amazing. It felt special to reunite all of the paperwork that had stayed in the family, with the car - that had gone walkabouts many years earlier.

Tucked in that box was an exceptionally important document. Bess’ original buff logbook. These were issued when the car was new and used in much the same way as today’s logbooks. Keeping a record of owners, taxation and so on. However, unlike today’s system, no replacements were issued. Changes were merely penned onto the same document. Meaning you had a full history of the ‘who, what and how much’ since the car was new.

What makes this even more exciting, is the power of the internet. Using fairly simple tools, I started to research the names that appeared on the tatty old logbook.

Astonishingly, the second owner provided a direct hit. W. L. Oborn and Sons, listed as the owners from 1961 - 1973. A google search of the name led me straight to this web site: www.oborn.co.uk

I knew that she’d been used as a taxi in the past. My grandad recalled it being written on the paperwork. Sure enough, under taxation class, I found a red pen amendment, changing it from private use, to taxi. And it corresponded with the dates of the Oborn family owning her. I realised that she’d been used by the family’s business, a garage and workshop as a courtesy vehicle.

It didn’t take long to strike up a conversation with the descendants of W.L Oborn. David, the grandson of W.L Oborn had set up the website with the support of his son Andrew. It chronicled the inspiring RAF careers of his family, and extended to their passion for motorbikes and the family’ auto business in Beer, Devon.

The business was set up in 1924 by William Oborn, known as Len to friends and family. After surviving WW1, serving as a Lance Corporal with the army in France he returned home to Beer and started the roadside garage, covering everyting from maintanance and servicing, to sales and insurance. It was the early days of motoring, and having convenient locations dotted around the emerging road network became essential to maintaining and running the early cars of the day. Unlike the modern vehicles we’re all use to, where service intervals can extend to years, regular maintenance is required before, during and after most journeys in classic and vintage motor cars. Garages sprang up all over Britain to support the modern, intrepid motoring public.

With fuel, servicing and chauffeuring proving lucrative, the business soon built to include the sales of brand new Austin and Morris cars and used vehicles. Len’s two sons, Stanley and Gerald joined the business, forming W. L Oborn and Sons following their safe return from WW2. By now, the business had expanded into private hire, providing vehicles for weddings, funerals and other events. Four large Austin’s were used for these duties, three of which you'll see below.

It was on the 26th September 1961 that the Oborn family welcomed a new addition. A Vauxhall, registration 825 APB. The 1956 E-series Vauxhall was a considerable modernisation over the four big Austins. And with it’s large proportions, big boot and seating for six, it was a significant addition to the private hire fleet. Indeed, the car was favoured by the family for trips out and about, featuring in many of their photographs. Len passed away at the age of 84 years in 1971. The garage ran under the guidance of Stanley and Gerald until 1977 before they took retirement. It was at this point, that the Vauxhall was sold on.

During his time at the garage, Stanley had established a habit of recording and documenting the history of his various motors in meticulous detail. Sadly, he passed away in 2004 but fortunately, this wonderful history has been preserved and handed on to Stanleys son and grand son.

As I mentioned, I’ll never forget receiving that email from the Oborn family confirming that their Vauxhall was my cherished Bess. The excitement at each subsequent email, uncovering more and more of her history will also stay with me for years to come. It’s thanks to a keen interest and respect for motor cars, and a carefully maintained record of family history that I’m able to piece together the history of Bess in this way. I’m enormously grateful to Stanley, his son and grandson for this.

When she’s back on the road, one of the first places we’ll be going, is Beer in Devon.

Please do pop over to the family’s website to find out more.

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The journey: The Reveal

by Elliot • 19 Feb, 2021

Firstly, in addition to sharing the video of the reveal I said I would share details of the JustGiving page that we've set up to raise some funds for The Royal British Legion , The Alzheimer's Society and Mind in his memory. You'll find the page for donations HERE , and I've also updated the original post with the same link. Alternatively, you can click on the charity logo image below.

The Journey: Goodbye Grandad

by Elliot • 14 Feb, 2021

If you knew my grandad personally his funeral will be held on 25 March 2021 at Sandwell Crematoriu m, although it is likely that Covid-19 restrictions will limit numbers. In lieu of flowers, all we’re asking is that you do what came so naturally to him - Tell those people precious to you that you love them. If you’d like to make a donation to his memory, we will be splitting the proceeds three ways. To the Royal British Legion, the Alzheimer’s Society and of course, to Mind. You can do so by heading to our JustGiving page . For now though, there are plenty of wonderful memories for us to immerse ourselves in. How lucky we are to have them. And how lucky we were to have you; Ron, Ronaldo Longero, Corporal R.S Long, ‘Old Grumpy’... Grandad. Sleep well. We love you.