THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — these Findon Chronicles are created by Valerie Martin and contains scenes from her home village of Findon, West Sussex, U.K.

THE MYSTERY OF THE FINDON MOTOR ENGINEERS

Copyright Valerie Martin 2010

A good man is hard to find..... here is a question of local knowledge for likely Findonians..... and I don't know the answer to this one myself so I am keen to know if anyone can help.   I am told that 84 years ago (before we had the Findon bypass), Findon was the home of motor engineers going under the name of W. Russell Goodman and K. Ian Goodman.    I have no idea whether this was a local garage or not.   Nor where they operated from.... perhaps the High Street? 

The two Goodman motor engineers of Findon (one being accompanied also by his wife, name unknown), planned a rather enterprising trip.    This was to go on the drive of a life time around the world in 1926 in their 11.9 hp Morris Cowley car.

It is said that they included in their assorted luggage their musical instruments (not sure exactly what kind).   This was so that they could give jazz concerts during their travels.    It sounds a very interesting and creative trip and worth recording for posterity if anything came of it.

Firstly, I would like to know....has anyone heard of the Goodmans?    I can find no record of them as private residents in 1926.    The only Goodman I can locate in the village is Mary Ann who married Edmund Parker on 8th February 1868 at St. John the Baptist Church and there appears to be no connection here.

Secondly, where did they live?

Thirdly...did they accomplish their ambition and complete the journey?

Lastly but not least...did they return to Findon?

What became of the Goodmans?   Any ideas forthcoming will be published?   Hopefully, there will be some follow-up on this.

Continue if you would like to read Bill Day Remembers.

THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — www.findonvillage.com is a continually growing record created by Valerie Martin exclusively for documenting life around Findon and sometimes beyond.