When Wilmotts garage became landmark family business in town

As we look around Bognor today, we can see a distinct lack of family businesses, which were prevalent during the last century, therefore, I thought I would take a look at one of these businesses and one of which I was reminded in last week's article on garages.

How many people can remember Wilmott's Garages which were around the town, in a variety of locations?

Norman James Wilmott was interested in the new motor cars that were being produced in Coventry where he had been an engineering apprentice.

Norman's interest in cars was established when he was involved in the production of the first Rover cars.

He eventually left the company and searched along the south coast for a suitable site to start his own business.

He arrived in Bognor in 1902 where he set up two garages in the town.

His first premises were in Waterloo Square where he started The Pier Motor Cycle Works.

At this time, he derived his income principally from the hire and repair of cycles, trailers and bath chairs. Trailers were a type of wicker chair on wheels, which were attached to a cycle by a long iron bar.

Norman was also involved with the developing and marketing of mechanically propelled vehicles, to which they were sometimes referred.

He set up possibly the earliest Rover car dealership on the south coast of England in 1904.

Norman claimed that he taught one of the first ladies to drive a car, but unfortunately her name is unknown.

As business improved, he bought one of the new eight-seater buses '“ then also available for hire, complete with a chauffeur if you wished '“ to make short trips around the district.

What excitement this must have caused both for residents and for holidaymakers, who were lucky enough to afford to hire a vehicle and chauffeur.

In 1903, Norman built the family home above the business in Waterloo Square which included such modern conveniences for the time as a bathroom, toilet and hot water provided by a gas geyser.

Motoring then was very different to the way it is today.

Memories from one of the Wilmott family recall how people at that time went on the road without driving lessons '“ or maybe just a couple to set them on their way.

Driving tests had not been introduced, so most people did not have a licence, as we know it today.

Cars would frequently break down or run out of petrol '“ often, I suspect, in the countryside.

Telephones in those days would have been few and far between so if this occurred it would entail a walk or a knock on the door of a house to ask if you could use their phone.

The driver would then have to wait by the car until assistance arrived, sometimes hours later.