Gordon Watney
Harry Gordon Watney (1876-1944)
1876 October 30th. Born at Distillery House, Wandsworth, the son of John Watney, distiller, and his wife Constance Furze (nee Vickers). Presumably John Watney was of John Watney and Co.
1899 Married (1) at St. Geo. Han. Sq. to Norah Mary Cross
1904 Birth of son Richard Gordon Watney
1914 Divorced
1915 Married (2) at Chertsey to Pia Mary Tankerville Chamberlaine
1939 Married (3) at Chichester to Gwendoline Annie King
1939 Living at Manor Road, Bognor Regis, a Distiller (Retired).[1]
1914 Bio Note.[2]
Mr. Gordon Watney, who is a well-known racing man at Brooklands and has a big reputation as a "trainer" and tuner-up of cars. started out as an enthusiastic amateur of independent means, and now, in addition to his family business in London, has established big motor works on very original lines down at Weybridge. He commenced with his own personal garage, the converted stable of his house, and I remember his rebuilding this to make more room only two or three years back, because, as a Mercedes enthusiast, he had started buying up old racing models of this make in order to convert them and bring them up to date. As his own place grew too crowded Mr. Watney found friend after friend only too willing to take them off his hands, till the demand exceeded the supply. and he found his private house becoming a regular motor mart.
So he bought eight acres of land a mile away and on part built a big factory facing the road, and now he has had to enlarge this out of all recognition to cope with the work, turning the business at the same time into a private limited liability company. As a friend I have had the pleasure and interest of watching the business grow and develop, and this week I went over the latest building. One hundred and fifty hands are employed regularly, and the factory is self-contained, so that every detail to do with cars, bodies, and so forth can he handled in the one building, and not a single item need be farmed out. Although he still specialists in Mercedes and agents for these cars, the company are no longer restricted, as any type of car and body can be converted and brought up to date: and I saw all sorts and conditions of cars in all stages this week, so much so that every corner of the new building is full.
In addition, Mr. Watney has taken on the agency for the Peugeot cars in Surrey and parts of the surrounding counties, and I saw in his private garage the "15" model which will be seen on the track at the next Brooklands meeting - a beautiful bit of work. This car has a turn of speed hardly credible considering its size. Further, there is a big possibility of utilising part of the remaining four acres by erecting a totally different factory to handle a light car, and there is even talk of building a big car "de luxe" in the future. The motto written all over the factory is "everything of the best," be it material or labour.