Mr Studeholme is a name I remember....cant think why. Was he a manager or
He was the Parts Director and based at Essex Street. His outbursts were legendary but I've worked for far worse. His managers were the excellent John Bromley (Jaguar parts) and also excellent Melvyn Shufflebottom (Triumph parts). The front counter was overseen by Mike Collins, the best partsman I ever worked with.
I've just realised I should have put PJ's in Essex Street NOT Lower Essex Street!!
Hi Vic, do you recall Steve Dutton, we used to go to a rock club in Handsworth on Sat nights (long wild hair - had a twin brother Jaime) and another Steve who was a part time bouncer, (I think) both worked in the stores at PJE Granville Street when I was there. Same time as Melvyn - who I think I now recall as Mel - same time as Carol the parts driver.
Steve Dutton sounds vaguely familiar. I think he came to Essex Street with his mate Albert Stretton and they were both put on the front counter at Essex Street when I was there. Albert Stretton was definitely at Essex Street 73/74.
Hi Vic, so glad we got there and that Steve Dutton and co did exist (just deown the road..) not just a figment of my imagination. I should have been clearer that I was talking about PJ's workshop in Essex Street. It is often the case that appreciation comes in retrospect and 'youth is wasted on the young', lol. Although I loved my youth and time at PJ's.
Hello Vic - I was certainly at P J Evans from 1970 to 1974 - firstly at Granville St then we all moved to Lower Essex St. I was an apprentice mechanic (completed in 1974) in those days as you may have seen in my earlier posts. I have long been interested in what became of the people I met and worked with then - and some of the customers too. As you suggest, and I agree, it was a time of (I certainly had) wonderful and exciting experiences (so many) with what I now recognise as powerful and impacting relationships/friendships. Perhaps it was a matter of 'time and place' - the 1970's, my youth/age and belief that anything was possible...got degrees inc DPsych much later - . I recall a number of Malcolms during that time - Malcolm 'flea pit' Fletcher, he was one of triplet boys and a really quiet and helpful person; Malcolm Bassett, lanky and long hair with a beard, had a Reliant 3 wheel car we called the 'plastic pig'. He used to give me a lift home to Moseley before I got a car, we used to pick his wife up on the way, she worked at a bank. Malcolm (I wonder if this is Palmer) who I think had ginger hair and who was about my age then, not an apprentice but learning on the job.
Malcolm Palmer had left PJ's some years before. He is shown in Kelly's Directory 1967/68 as having a garage at Thimblemill Lane Aston repairing Jaguars. He was a regular customer at the Essex Street parts department up the road from where you worked when I was there 1973-74. You must have known Steve Dutton and Albert Stretton. I worked with Albert on the front counter along with Mike Collins and Johnny Bow. I agree totally about 'time and place'. My degree came much later too as did double the wages of the motor trade. I always missed the motor trade though especially PJ's.
Any chance you came across Cecil Studeholme Parts Director at P J Evans?
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I certainly do remember Mr Studeholm. Yes Steve Dutton and I became very good friends over the years. Steve (his twin brother Jaime) me and other friends used to go to the Gate pub on a Saturday then on the Knickers night club on Soho Hill - wonderful. Steve and I went to the South of France together for two weeks - we had planned to go in my Mini Cooper but the sub frame broke and we had to use my sisters old frog eyed sprite -which we had to sleep in sometimes because no money, lol. Amazingly I had gone 'sick' from work for those two weeks and when on a road between St Tropez and Cavelier? along came a roller PJE 3 - we think it was Reginald Gore on holiday - he was also a director of PJ Evans. I think he also has something to do with the design of the TR 4a. You will recall Steve sold him band equipment and bought a motor bike a Norton Commando! Great times.
I did not know about the band equipment and I'd never heard of Reginald Gore so I've learnt something more about PJ's. Much appreciated. Did you know Albert Stretton? I sometimes wonder what has happened to all the staff at PJ's who I worked with.
Any chance you remember Carol the parts driver's surname? I cannot remember and it bothers me. The Granville Street Morris 1000 van GFD 23K she drove is still in existence as a lad at Granville Street bought it in 1978 and he has kept it in terrific condition ever since.
Hi Vic, I certainly do remember Carol and the Morris 1000 van she drove. Unfortunately not her last name. Such a shame that others from those days in the 1970's are not on this fantastic site. Guys from both Granville St and Essex St.
Yes, we could do with a lot more who worked at both places. I would really like to find out how they are and the stories they could tell about those days.
