I have just finished about 12hrs. worth of wiring problems on an MGB. God
Love Joseph Lucas. Then Elizabeth had me read this message. It reminded
my why we do what we do with our LBCs. Thankyou for sharing it. I hope to
be really able to thank you in person one day.
Fisher Jones
Comfort, TX
At 08:28 PM 12/9/99 -0000, jonmac wrote:
>
>Friends
>
>At the risk of a little extra bandwidth, I'd like to recount
>the following story. To be honest, it's already gone out to
>the Friends of Triumph list and I've had two requests within
>30 minutes asking me to post it to others as well. The
>background is that the FoT list have recently been
>discussing the pre-war Triumph Gloria and because of this,
>the story below is rather relevant.
>
>A gentleman celebrating his 90th birthday came to Gaydon
>today with his two sons. He'd said that this was what he
>wanted to
>do in preference to having a party - even a quiet one. We
>didn't know he was coming and it was only because one of his
>sons announced to Reception what a special day this was for
>him, that we were able to do something with zero prior
>notice.
>I think I can say we reacted with fairly commendable speed.
>Within less than ten minutes, he was in the front seat of a
>1947 Wolseley Police Car, going round the site rather faster
>than we normally drive it - and with the alarm bell ringing!
>He loved that.
>As he was a bit 'tottery on his pins' it occurred to me that
>as he was going into the Museum, it might be better all
>round if he used one of our wheelchairs. Knowing that some
>elderly visitors are very unwilling to admit they'd like to
>have the use of these - and some refuse point blank to even
>be seen near one let alone in it, I broached the subject
>with some trepidation.
>"Young man" he barked, "I'll die before I get in one of
>those - but thank you for the offer" so we set off with a
>son on either side and holding Dad vertical.
>As we were going down in the lift (elevator) I asked him if
>there were any cars he particularly wanted to see.
>"Well, I used to drive Standards at one time. Never had any
>other make of car - except for the REAL Triumphs. I had a
>Standard Flying Nine and a Triumph Gloria tourer. I don't
>expect you've heard of that one?"
>I smiled in my reply. "Just for you and in anticipation of
>your arrival, there are two old friends down here you might
>like to see. I'm sure they'll be pleased to see you."
>He was so busy looking around him (and undoubtedly a bit
>deaf) and I'm sure didn't hear my reply.
>We couldn't quite run to a Standard Flying Nine but he gave
>a little hoop of delight when I opened the driver's door of
>a 1934 Standard Airline made by SS and on which the later
>Standard Flying series were modelled. He was like a little
>child and immediately starting telling anyone who was
>interested all about his own Flying Nine.
>We moved along the row - and I opened another door.
>"Would you like to try this one on for size, Sir?"
>We helped him into the driving seat of the Gloria and he was
>utterly speechless with delight - and then, bless him, two
>tears rolled down his cheeks - followed by a few more and a
>hasty blow of his nose.
>All we heard from a husky throat was "it's just like mine
>was, just like the one in which I proposed to Helen - and
>she accepted."
>The tears were quickly gone when we moved on to Sir Malcolm
>Campbell's 40/50 Rolls Royce and he said he felt very
>distinguished behind that steering wheel. Finally, there
>were royal waves and many smiles as he sat reclined and
>thoroughly enjoying himself in the back seat of the Queen
>Mother's state limousine. He declined (fortunately!) the
>offer of a seat in the 1965 Rover BRM Le Mans gas turbine
>car and we returned to the cafeteria for a hastily arranged
>birthday tea.
>When I said goodbye to him an hour later, the gratitude he
>showed was so touching.
>"I loved it all and thank you SO MUCH for my ride in the
>police car, as well as the privilege of sitting in all the
>others."
>He paused
>"I hope you don't mind but I must apologise for my moment of
>weakness in the Gloria. It brought back too many VERY happy
>memories and I don't deserve to have been treated so kindly.
>Thank you again."
>As I watched him totter out between his two loving and
>supporting sons, I'm not ashamed to admit there was a sniff
>in my nose and a pricking behind my eyes. A lovely old man
>who had clearly had a very happy day. I think we all need to
>be reminded from time to time that what may be small
>pleasures for us - are very major ones for others.
>
>John Macartney
>
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