Page 26 - Thrapston Life June 2024

He worked at Smith & Grace ironfounders
on leaving school and quickly became adept at handling most of the machinery. He bought his first motorcycle at this time, a 1903 Excelsior
for £14 5 shillings which was in pieces. He took it home in two barrow-loads, which began his interest and subsequent move into repairing motorcycles. At this time he was refused a pay rise at Smith & Grace and began a cycle repair business with his best friend Bert
Guest renting 70 High Street, moving
in on 9th June 1913. The rent was 34
shillings a week. It took a few weeks
for business to get going properly with
some excess income over costs achieved.
Soon after, Bert left their partnership,
returning to full-time employment at
the foundry. A year later Wally moved
his business over the road to 75 High Street, moving in with his family (shown on the right foreground of this contemporary postcard, the old premises opposite and now demolished
– EDF Collection). These are now part of the showrooms of Auburn Fox. Three and a half months later World War 1 started! Wally created a sidecar for his motorcycle and made some income by offering a taxi service, business being very slow due to all raw materials being used for armaments. 1916 brought two major events in his life; he become engaged to Ivy, who he met, whilst repairing her family’s bicycles; and his call-up papers arrived. Having been advised by the local recruitment officer who knew of his mechanical skills, he requested to be allocated to the Army Service Corps as a motorcycle
fitter, in which he became DM2 163678. Being proficient in all matters mechanical, Wally had found his military niche where he remained for the duration of the war, mainly spent in France. Whilst serving he would have become aware
of a new invention, wireless telegraphy which eventually led to his local title the “Wireless Wizard”. He and Ivy were married at Thrapston Baptist Church in 1918, a daughter arriving in
He built the above model of a Thurston traction engine
1920 and a son the next year.
After discharge he returned to his
business where, as well as mechanical repairs, he began building radio sets. His nickname was earned by winning a national challenge to build a 2-valve radio from component parts whilst blindfolded in two hours. He used his electrical skills to give picture and
sound shows, constructed his own home cinema and became very proficient at making live recordings outdoors. He built the above model of a Thurston traction engine, of which every part was handmade down to the individual rivets, driver and miniature bucket. On 13th June 1959 he recorded the last train leaving Midland Road Station, which can be heard by searching for “last train from Midland Road Thrapston”.
He retired in 1961 and moved to the Boat House in Denford where he set up a museum of curios, amongst which were many early gramophones all of which worked and many cylindrical records; and a large variety of electrical and paraffin car lamps including one from Bridge Street Station level crossing. There
26