FW: Other Influences; Time Line

It is interesting that you should have picked out the huge influence of Grandpa (Moses) on Frank's life and attitude. Mo was an extraordinary man, who carried on making and inventing well into his 70s. The collapse of his business you mention was one of quite a few ventures. Most of them were to do with the manufacture of motor car components, Leamington Valve and Piston Ring Company was one, Coventry Valve Company was another. Between companies, Grandpa worked at Hotchkiss in Coventry and Morris Engines at |Courthouse Green.

Both of Uncle Frank's parents were amazing, with attitudes and ideas well ahead of their time. Grandpa used to say that if people knocked your ideas, it was simply because they had not had them. They cared little about what people thought of them and as far as I could tell, were deeply in love until Grandpa died. Throughout their lives, Grandma, known as Sally by the way (Sarah Alice), supported Grandpa's sometimes crazy schemes and those of her children and grandchildren. Their humour and sense of fun was legendary in the village we all lived in. In terms of recognition for their efforts in bringing up a great innovator, they have been largely ignored, at their request. They wanted no fame or accolades, but now, decades after their passing, it is probably time to look at their contribution. Most of all, they gave Frank Whittle a loving and slightly eccentric upbringing, in which laughter played a great part. Would FW have been as successful without their input? I think not.

Thanks for that ROJ if you want to contribute a piece on your Grandparents I am happy to oblige and I will add it in as the purpose is to show the man Frank Whittle rather than the public person and what drove him. I believe this will also be a light to others.

Thanks Davah,

I will do a piece, as it is something I have been thinking about for a long time. It might take a day or two, though.