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| Ancestor Gateway Forum - STAMFORD MEMORIES GATEWAY (Lincolnshire England) used as PRIDE and PREJUDICE FILM SET | New Topic | Search |
| Dan Entwisle |
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Does anyone remember my uncle Frank Roffe? I was having dinner with my cousin - his son David - the other night and we got chatting about this site. Frank was born in Wittering and worked in varous garages around Stamford in the 1950s and 1960s following his RAF war service. David recalled to me the time - sometime in the early to mid 1960s when he featured in a Pathe News item. Frank Sawyer - a name I remember from my days in the town - started up a car repair garage where owners did the work themselves. Customers paid to use the equipment in the garage and my uncle - Frank Roffe - was the resident expert on hand to give advice to the DIY motorists. David went to see the Pathe newsreel in Peterbrough. The main feature was a film called something like The Vikings ,which could help in dating the film. After working in garages, Frank moved on to work in Essendine and Allis Chalmers which became Fiat Allis. When I was a kid he told me Fiat stood for Fix It Again Tomorrow! When the plant shut, he went to work at the Stamford Brewery museum - a job he truly loved. Frank died in 1991. Any memories of the above or of Frank would be greatly appreciated. |
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| Roger Partridge |
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I don't know if it is the film you're thinking of, but "The Vikings" starring Tony Curtis and Kirk Douglas was released in 1958. My parents took me to see it at the Central (I was still at primary school and it was an A rated film). |
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| Keith Hansell |
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Yes I remember Frank from working at Essendine. I also remember going to the Odeon at Peterborough to see the clip of Sawyers garage, which I would estimate to have been about 1960/1. Frank Sawyer, who owned the garage, lived two doors away from us in Adelaide Street. His son David also worked at the garage. The film you went to see may have been called The Long Ships starring Kirk Douglas. |
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| Dan entwisle |
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Keith, you and Frank Roffe were neighbours too. He lived in Adelaide St. I remember Frank Sawyer as a kid when he was mayor. About 1980ish. |
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| Jenny MacLeod |
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I am a Producer at the BBC in Glasgow (though coincidentally have relatives in Stamford). I am working on a series of archive from a series made by Rank in the 60s called Look at Life. One of the films is called Do It yourself and features your uncle's Garage! I am hopefully including it in the series which will transmit on BBC Four later next year. Records of the material are held at the BUFVC and the series it is part of is called Look at Life, the year of the film was 1964. Let me know if you need any more details. Kate: How interesting Jenny. Hope you can let us know actual dates of series next year before it transmits. There will be many in Stamford wanting to have a look at this. |
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| Dan Entwisle |
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Hi, that's great. Kate could you please pass my email on. Thanks Dan. Kate: Hi Dan. I have forwarded your email address to Jenny as requested. |
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| roger birch |
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i worked with frank at allis charmers for more than 2 years very goodtimes we on tl line we allso used to play bingo on friday nights and have pint some times |
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| Peter Sawyer |
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Well...what a surprise. I was doodling on my computor and wondered what would come if if I googled my father's name! I am Peter, Frank's eldest son and have been resident in New Zealand for over 40 years now. However I usually visit UK/Stamford every year or two and have kept in touch. I note a few inaccuracies in some of the previous comments, so would like to correct them if possible. Frank was born and brought up in London and married my mother Ethel there about 1940. Ethel was a Stamford girl working in London at the time. After the war Frank settled in Stamford and founded "Frank's Taxis" in St Peter's Hill about 1949 or thereabouts. Along with taxis he added self drive hire cars and a driving school. At some point...in the late 1950's I think, he sold the taxi busines , bought an old blacksmith's shop in Water St and built Frank's Garage. He also at that time had a couple of lorries which were Frank's Haulage He did invent the do it yourself repair scheme which was shown on Pathe news..I saw it in the early sixties in a London cinema.. If I remember correctly, the young lady 'repairing' her car in the news item was an old girlfriend of mine, Jenny Kingdon. Dad never actually worked at Allis Chalmers, but he had a contract there for Frank's Haulage so would have been there a bit on the lorries. He was heavily involved in local politics and was Mayor in 1979/80. Thanks for remembering him..he was a wonderful and interesting father! Kate: Glad you found us Peter. Any photos of that era to share? Very welcome if so. |
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| peter sawyer |
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Sorry Kate, only photos I have are family stuff... Cheers Kate:Ah, pity. Hope you continue your visits to the site. |
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| Dan Entwisle |
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Hi Peter, it was my uncle - also called Frank Roffe - who worked at Allis Chalmers. He also worked for your Dad and featured in the film. I knew your Dad and liked him very much. He lived near my uncle Frank and my Aunt Alice on Adelaide Street. I must have been about 8 or 9 and I was always a chatty kid. I saw this guy washing a new Renault, so stopped to talk to him about his cars. Eventually I asked him what his job was, and he told me he was the Mayor. I was very impressed, and I remember he came to our school - or some function - a few months later. I was telling everyone that Frank was the Mayor and a personal friend of mine. Dan |
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| Clem Walden |
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Hi Peter I remember you well and your Dad Frank my family and I used his Taxi service regular. Was not his taxi office back of St Peters green St Peters Hill? I believe he lived in Empingham road just above Ermine Way. I remember him being the Mayor. Anyway Peter nice to read your posting about your parents it brought back fond memories. Kind Regards Clem. |
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| Roger Partridge |
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Clem - it was Stan Bradshaw who lived in Empingham Road. He took over Frank's Taxis from Frank Sawyer, while Frank retained Frank's Self Drive Hire, which he ran from Adelaide St. By 1969 Peter Nottingham was running Frank's Taxis, still in St Peter's Hill, and Stan had started St Peter's School of Motoring a few doors down from Frank's Taxis. |
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| Clem Walden |
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Hi Roger thanks for correcting me. Yes Stan Bradshaw Empingham Rd not Frank Sawyer my mistake "apologies" [another senior moment] Whilst I was reading Peters posting I just had visions of Franks Taxis cars parked at times on the drive of the Empingham road property. But as you correctly say Stan Bradshaw took over Franks taxi business. I remember Peter Nottingham. Was he not once married to one of my old Barnack girlfriends "Diane [Dimps] Kettley"? Or is my memory failing me once again? |
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| peter sawyer |
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Well, how nice that people remember my father. He would have been 100 years old last November, but sadly died at the age of 75, still full of energy right to the end. |
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| Mike |
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I remember Frank Sawyer, I bought my first car from him. A Ford Consul MKII Green in colour. It served me well. |
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| Roger Partridge |
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Hi Clem Re Peter Nottingham's marriage, just looked on Genes Reunited and found a Peter G Nottingham married a Miss(?) Jones in Stamford district in 1966 and another Peter G Nottingham married a Miss(?) Hansard in Spalding district in 1967. Then in 1969 Peter Nottingham married a Miss(?) Barker also in Spalding district. |
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| Roger Partridge |
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Hi Clem Further to my previous post, have looked up Diane Ketley on GR and found she married Edward C Nottingham in 1963 in Peterborough district, which no doubt included Barnack |
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| wayne armstrong |
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My father Tom Armstrong worked for Frank Sawyer from 1957 to 1961 driving Frank's lorries going all over England and Wales carting machinery for Martin Markims. As a young boy I would accompany my dad in school holidays enjoying the time with my father and seeing the sights along the way. I also remember going to Frank's garage on Saturday mornings with dad and Frank would give me a shilling for helping the drivers to wash the trucks. I have many fond memories of this time of my life Kind regards Wayne Armstrong Kate: Thanks v. much for that memory Wayne, helps to join up the gaps and for others to recall the people they knew. |
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| Clem Walden |
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Hi Roger, Diane Ketley? Diane is now married to a Mr. ? Clark and still lives in Barnack. Was the Nottingham you mention who possibly first married her a farmer? I did seem to think she first married the Peter Nottingham I mentioned "Franks Taxis" ? However looking at your research It would seem I have got that wrong. I still see her brother Chris and his son in the Golden Fleece every Saturday. So the next time I see him I will check it out and let you know. These days unfortunatley I do have a few "senior moments" such is life. |
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| Clem Walden |
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Hi Roger. Re-Diane Ketley. I spoke to her brother Chris and he told me his sister Diane married a farmer, Edward Christopher Nottingham who was the brother of Peter Nottingham re-Franks Taxis. Both these brothers were in buisness together when they took over Franks Taxis. So your marriage research was very helpfull. |
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| Roger Partridge |
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The Rank Organisation "Look at Life" film featuring Frank's DIY car servicing has just been shown on BBC4, Britain on Film, 8.30 pm, if you want to see it on BBC i-player. Kate: Thanks for that info Roger - I'm sure people will want to watch - me for one. Thanks again. |
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| Peter Sawyer |
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Thanks Roger, My wife, who is far more techno savvy than I, managed even from New Zealand, to get the link from the BBC website. It was so good to see my father Frank and 'little' brother David in the 50 year old movie. Frank's grandkids and great grandkids now have a wonderful piece of memorabilia about him. For anyone else interested the link is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1ASl7hrKB8 and it starts at about 9 mins 30 seconds in. Kate: Hi Peter. Have tried this but not getting to the film. Is the link ok? Looks like I had the link wrong. instead of of AS17 toward the end, put ASl7....an ell not a one! Cheers Kind Regards Peter Sawyer Hi Peter Yes it works now - thanks for that great. |
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| tim musgrove |
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I HAVE ONE OF THE WHITE SHELL FUEL GLOBES THAT WERE ON TOP OF THE PUMPS AT HIS GARAGE. I HAD BOTH, BUT I GAVE A FAMILY MEMBER THE OTHER ONE. NOT SURE HOW WE CAME TO HAVE THEM BUT THEY WERE UPSTAIRS AT OUR YARD IN THE EAST STATION FOR YEARS. Kate: Have received the photo Tim, Thanks very much - will be adding shortly - everyone likes a picture. 
att photo that shows the garage in water street approx 1966 67 morleys butchers shop is still there which stood in the corner next to what is now pizza express |
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| dan entwisle |
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Thanks for the link. It also features my uncle - Frank Roffe. He's the "engineer with 25 years experience." I have passed the link onto his son - who I am sure will be delighted to see this. |
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| keith hansell |
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Hi Peter, good to hear from you after all these years. Thanks for sharing the link, which I have just viewed, bringing back some memories. The Frank I mentioned working at Essendine in an earlier post was Frank Roffe, not your father. Your father and mine spent many an hour watching the POSH together. |
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