Driving ambition for car study

5:47pm Monday 12th May 2008

Dear editor - The once world-famous Alvis Car and Engineering Company sprang to life in Pembroke Dock, when local townspeople invested their savings in Thomas John's venture as the First World War ended.

William Rees, who owned the Albion Square Bakery, led the investors and helped support John's fledgling company through its difficult days. T. G. John was born in 6 Church Street but the family soon moved to 35 Queen Street and later to 13 Argyle Street.

Thomas' school friend and fellow dockyard apprentice, Edgar Morse, became his foundry superintendent and after a working life at the Alvis retired to chapel house in Albion Square where he died in 1963.

Ronald Lowless, Pembroke Dock's town clerk, was another who made an important early contribution and later was made an Alvis director.

I am preparing a study of the Alvis works and its workforce from 1919 to 1940 and will be delighted to hear from anybody who remembers these important Pembroke Dock people from the past.

As I have no photographs to guide me, I am particularly interested to know about their appearance and character.

Stanley Paine 5 Playfair's Courtyard Cullen Buckie, Banffshire.