This section of the site is dedicated to those people who were associated with both Alvis and Australia in some way.
The list of contributors and people is in no particular order.
It is anticipated this section will grow considerably as more information is collected.
List of Contributors |
The People | Written |
| Robert (Bob) Graham | Charles Percy Joseland | 2001 |
| Robert (Bob) Graham | Ron Foggo | 2001 |
| Robert (Bob) Graham | Keith Welsh | 2001 |
CHARLES PERCY JOSELAND by Robert Graham
Charles was in the British Army Expeditionary force which went to Russia in 1919 and fought alongside the White Russians against the Bolsheviks. Charles said he was very pleased when arrived homw in England.
In 1921 he took up the position of first service manager with Alvis, a position he held for 3 years. He always spoke highly of Captain Smith-Clarke and held his engineering ability in very high regard.
The Junior car club held its annual 200 mile race at Brooklands for cars up to 1500cc in 1921, Maurice Harvey being the top driver for Alvis in a specially modified 10/30. Charles was the second driver in a similar car but has dreadful trouble with the floorboards and also with leg cramps and only managed to finish 20th at an average of about 56mph. Mind you, Harvey only finished 17th. Of special note, Charles obviously had a soft spot for Alvis at that is the name of his daughter.
He eventually migrated to Australia and was service manager at Worrels Motors of Toorak, the Mercedes Benz dealer.
RON FOGGO by Robert Graham
This is another of my mini biographies of early members and I sincerely trust that it inspires a few of the older members to make their own contributions. The subject of this article is RON FOGGO, who was not a very activer participant in club affairs but was an inspiration to me as you will learn later.
Ron Foggo was a boiler maker by trade and spent a lot of time in the Hunter and Latrobe Valleys erecting those gigantic structures made by Messrs. Babcock and Wilcox.
Ron had at least 50 cars in his lifetime, one of which was an Alvis Pheonix. This car had an Alvis radiator, an engine which was possible Meadows, gearbox and transmission of unknown origin and wheelcaps in which the name Pheonix was cast. His last car was an indulgence-a Bentley Mk V1 saloon- but his favourite car was an Alvis 12/40 tourer. This was very fast and powerful enough for Ron, confortable and roomy, extremely reliable and with good handling.
Ron worked for a while for Bob du Cros of three litre overhead cam Sunbeam fame, I think Bob raced a 30/98 Vauxhall and also had a 38/250 Mercedes. While there Ron worked on the elite cars, Hispano Suiza, Rolls-Royce, Bentley and so on.
I only new Ron after he had suffered a massive stroke which paralyzed his whole left side, but this didn't affect his very dry sense of humour or his sense of Irony.
Ron Lived in Yinnar (near Churchill in south east Victoria) and one of his sons would drive him to meetings and he would struggle into the clubrooms on crutches. In his wheelchair he would tend his garden and vegie patch, and a portion of his garden was fenced off and planted solely with Australian Natives, which he named his Bev Graham garden.
He sold his stock of 12/40 parts and bought a TA14 from Norm Adams (which had a 12/70 motor fitted). He set this up in his garage and would be out there in a wheelchair doing various little jobs, all one handed. He was always cheerful and optimistic and never complained in spite of only half his body working. This was an inspiration to me.
Ron spent the last couple of years ina nursing home and passed away a few years ago.
KEITH WELSH by Robert Graham
Keith Welsh was a very good member but it must be stated at the outset that he never owned an Alvis.
I understand that Keith's brother, Harold, owned a Speed 25 at one time and he brought Keith along to our meetings. Keith and Harold (who was an electrical engineer with the SEC) wired our clubrooms to a professional standard when they were first built way back in the sixties.
Keith was an automotive electrical engineer in his own business premises in North Richmond. He was most helpful and generous with his skills and services in the black arts of magnetos and electrical devices to the Club members. Without his assistance some of our Alvises would not function as well as they do.
Keith, with his wife Meryl, attended many of our National Rallies (they were Interstate Rallies in those days) driving his V8 Monaro or his little Japanese riceburner. On one South Australian Rally, the cars were allowed onto Berri Racecourse. He immediately commandeered a large handbag. slung it around his neck, mounted the Bookies Stand and started calling the odds on the cars, just like a professional bookie.
Keith closed down his auto-electrical business about 1980 and joined (in those days) Telecom. During this time he received three awards from management for being the most helpful and efficient Telecom representative.
Keith maintained his workshop at home and was always most helpful to Club members. Nothing was to much trouble to him. Sadly Keith passed away in March 1989. We miss him still.
| Email me at dparsell@ozemail.com.au |
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