Michael Foot’s visit

Michael Foot’s Visit in 1961: H G Wells the cause.

From a Midhurst Society publication

‘On 12th July 1996, on the fiftieth anniversary of his death, the HGWells SocietyinLondon askedWestSussex County Council if they could place plaques on buildings that had reference to him when he lived and was a student here. Mr. Michael Foot MP, who had just written a book about HG Wells, was asked to dothe unveiling. He arrived inanancient white Rolls Royce and he

performed the ceremonies, making a short speech at each of the three locations, Midhurst Grammar School where Wells had been a pupil and teacher, Mittens the Chemist in Church Hill where he had worked, and Ye Olde Tea Shoppe in North Street where he had lodged. Accompanying the unveiling party were six Midhurst Grammar School girls, dressed in Victorian costume. Mr. Foot was heardto remark 'You wouldn't have had those girls around if H G Wells had been here, he 'fancied' young ladies!' by John Stringer. [From Midhurst in Living Memory, Sanchia Elsdon, Midhurst Society, 2010.]

Blue Plaques started as a feature of English Heritage. That scheme concentrated on buildings in London. Many organisations followed suit with similar criteria. They provide a link between notable past figures and the location of the person, organisation or event.

Apart from a blue plaque, given by The Midhurst Society and the Chichester District Council, that was erected in 2010 to commemorate the WW2 air station in Ambersham [see A Midhurst Flying Field, Tania Pons, Selham Airfield Project, 2017], there are no other such memorials placed up by local entities – that is surprising considering the many Worthies and organisations, who lived or operated in the Midhurst District.

It is here necessary to correct the report quoted above by John Stringer.

Locally published, Gilbert Hambone’s blog https://gilbert-midhurst.blogspot.com/ helps put the record a little straighter.

First, the car is old enough to be called a Veteran.

Next:

‘It is not a Rolls Royce, whose first car in 1904 bore the distinctive Palladian style radiator grill sported by every model since. But to my shame, although a lifelong motoring buff myself, I have been unable to identify this particular car.’

Can anyone tell us what make of car it is, and who owned it when Michael Foot visited the town?

This blogger specialises in collecting on his site, interesting videos of life in Midhurst ranging from the 50s until today. Well worth a look!