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Stratford-upon-Avon care home invites community to car show
A Stratford-upon-Avon care home resident is inviting local people to join him for a cruise down memory lane.
Growing up with cars, John’s father was in the motor trade industry, managing a group of showrooms in North Wales, which sold Hillmans. John’s first car was a half share in an Austin 7, before later getting his first “proper car”, a 22 Bentley Gurney Nutting. During World War Two, he loved driving his Rolls-Royce into Europe and spent a lot of time in Brittany, France.
John said: “When I used to pull up at hotels in my Rolls-Royce, people assumed that I was an English Lord and the staff used to bow as I went towards the hotel entrance.”
John’s career began at Ford as part of the team that brought out the original Transit van. He then went on to become Product Planning Director for Austin Morris in the ‘small car’ division at British Leyland, which eventually became Rover Group. John was responsible for bringing the MGB GT V8 into production and he designed the radiator grill, the Wolseley 2200, and the Austin-Morris Princess. 1979 saw John part of the Rover Group and Honda collaboration, which resulted in the Triumph Acclaim and the Rover 200, 400, 600, and 8000.
He shared an anecdote of “chucking” Jeremy Clarkson off his trade stand at the Geneva car show, while trying to get information relating to a Honda collaboration which was a “trade secret”.
The event is part of the home’s Wishing Tree initiative, which encourages residents to put wishes forward, allowing them to reconnect with a past hobby or try something completely new. From flying a plane to enjoying a fish and chip supper, no wish is too big or small.
Charlotte Levin, Home Manager at Ambleside, said: “Everyone here at Ambleside knows how much John loves classic cars and when the team learned that he wanted to get behind the wheel once again, they were determined to help him.
Growing up with cars, John’s father was in the motor trade industry, managing a group of showrooms in North Wales, which sold Hillmans. John’s first car was a half share in an Austin 7, before later getting his first “proper car”, a 22 Bentley Gurney Nutting. During World War Two, he loved driving his Rolls-Royce into Europe and spent a lot of time in Brittany, France.
John said: “When I used to pull up at hotels in my Rolls-Royce, people assumed that I was an English Lord and the staff used to bow as I went towards the hotel entrance.”
John’s career began at Ford as part of the team that brought out the original Transit van. He then went on to become Product Planning Director for Austin Morris in the ‘small car’ division at British Leyland, which eventually became Rover Group. John was responsible for bringing the MGB GT V8 into production and he designed the radiator grill, the Wolseley 2200, and the Austin-Morris Princess. 1979 saw John part of the Rover Group and Honda collaboration, which resulted in the Triumph Acclaim and the Rover 200, 400, 600, and 8000.
He shared an anecdote of “chucking” Jeremy Clarkson off his trade stand at the Geneva car show, while trying to get information relating to a Honda collaboration which was a “trade secret”.
The event is part of the home’s Wishing Tree initiative, which encourages residents to put wishes forward, allowing them to reconnect with a past hobby or try something completely new. From flying a plane to enjoying a fish and chip supper, no wish is too big or small.
Charlotte Levin, Home Manager at Ambleside, said: “Everyone here at Ambleside knows how much John loves classic cars and when the team learned that he wanted to get behind the wheel once again, they were determined to help him.
Saturday 1 Jun 2024
Care UK’s Ambleside, on Evesham Road, Warwickshire CV37 9TG
On Saturday 1st June, from 2pm – 4pm, the team at Care UK’s Ambleside, on Evesham Road, is helping make resident John Bacchus, aged 87, wish to get behind the wheel again come true, with the help of the community. A fleet of 15 cars from 1930 to 2000 will be pulling up outside the home, provided by Arden MG Club. Guests and residents can admire the craftsmanship, as well as share stories of their own memories with the classic cars.
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