THIS IS
FINDON VILLAGE — created by Valerie Martin, contains scenes from her home village of Findon, West
Sussex, U.K.
THE LONG FURLONG CONNECTION WITH SPITFIRE SPECIAL
CAR AT NEARBY SWANDEAN
Copyright Valerie Martin 2004
The late Tony Hammond (a one time resident of Findon) set
me a puzzle in the autumn of 2004, when he asked —
|
15th September 2004
Valerie - Do you know about the Spitfire Special at
Swandean?
Tony.
Tony Hammond, East Preston, West Sussex.
|
Tony was well known for sending me cryptic
messages and I knew he would reveal all before very long. He
was a man of
many talents and way back he appeared in Joan Allen's book "Glittering
Prospects" at a period in his life when he did metal detecting. He was working full time as a free
lance in the metal detecting business which gave him many opportunities to
go treasure hunting (as it was called in those days). He was labelled
quite a professional at his new found trade but this was thought up by the
publicity men and, unfortunately, many people thought it implied that he made a
living out of unearthing treasure all day long! His hobby did,
however, get him to appear on the programme Jim'll Fix It on the television.
It was only a couple of hours before I heard from
Tony again....
| 15th September 2004
Swandean Spitfire
Valerie - Way back in the fifties on Battle of Britain
Sunday the people living in the Swandean area were treated to the sound of a
Rolls Royce Merlin going at full chat. Not in the air but from
the forecourt of the Swandean garage, for here in all its glory sat a
complete Spitfire.
The garage owner had a thing about Merlins not being
satisfied with the one in the aeroplane he put another in a car and called
it the Spitfire Special and it is said that it was tested along
Findon's Long
Furlong road.
Sorting through some old photos I took at the
Brighton Speed trials sometime in the fifties I came across this picture
which I believe is car in question. Can anybody out there confirm this.
Tony.
Tony Hammond, East Preston, West Sussex.
|
Can anyone confirm this? Yes they
can.....
| 10th February 2005
Spitfire SpeciaLat Swandeanl
In regards to a question by Tony Hammond, East Preston,
West Sussex on
the 15th of September,2004 about the Swandean Spitfire Special. That is
indeed a picture of the car in question.
I am currently helping restore it. It is now in St.
Louis, MO, USA.
It is in a private collection and is in very good hands.
Clayton R. Beeler, St. Louis, MO, U.S.A.
|
|
2nd May 2007
Some time in the 1950s I saw
(and heard!) the "Special" perform at Brighton.
A few weeks later I went to
Swandean and found the garage -- and the car. I took a photo (with my full-plate
camera) and this is a small copy if you would like it for your records.
.....................Bill Hart".
|
In November 2009 I was delighted to hear
from Phil Goddin of Findon Village. He had discovered a bit from the
pages of 1954 local history......"Hi Valerie.... Found this on
the British Pathé News....Interesting local footage of the Mike Wilcock(?)
Spitfire Specia car. This is the same vehicle as shown in your shot of the
Brighton Speed Trials.
I think the footage of him
pulling onto the road is at the bottom of Salvington Hill by Swandean Hospital.
Do you recognise the lane
used for the road test?
http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=47874
Best wishes....Phil
Continue if you would like to read about the
The Windlesham Motor Bomb.
THIS IS
FINDON VILLAGE
—
www.findonvillage.com is a continually growing
record created by Valerie Martin exclusively for documenting life in Findon.
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