On February 14 Tim Houlding demonstrated the romance of Bentleys by a masterly presentation on their racing cars of the 1920s (Roaring Twenties being particularly appropriate in their case).

WO Bentley progressed from bicycles to motor cycles to cars and aero engines. He was a premium engineering apprentice in the Great Northern Railway workshops at Doncaster (as was Henry Royce).

WO founded the car company with his brother in 1919 and the first Bentley car appeared that year, exactly a century ago.

To gain publicity it was decided to enter the racing world as this would also provide a means of testing the product. Tim outlined all Bentley’s successes at Le Mans, the Isle of Man, Belfast, Brooklands etc. The depression era forced the Bentley Company into liquidation in 1931 and the takeover by Rolls Royce.

Now Bentley is owned by Volkswagen. WO Bentley died in 1971. With several car enthusiasts in our membership there were many questions, one of which related to how many Bentleys still survive of the 3000 or so built. Tim estimated about 1,400.

Tim’s encyclopaedic knowledge of his subject was much appreciated and his photographs ably portrayed a bygone era, particularly the way in which racing was conducted at the time.

We meet at The Boathouse, Evesham Rowing Club at 10am every Thursday. On February 21 we will hold the President’s party with a music quiz, followed by lunch. On 2February 28 we hold our annual meeting.

Full details can be found on our website, eveshamprobus.co.uk

Alan Smith