Alex Park R.I.P.
Discussion
I learned today the very sad news that Alex Park has died. The name may not mean much to many but Alex was chief executive of British Leyland in the fairly turbulent post Ryder years and was instrumental in establishing what is now the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust based at Gaydon. The seeds for that venture began when Alex was touring Longbridge in 1975. He noticed a door that had obviously been unopened and padlocked for some considerable time and enquired as to what was behind it. Nobody knew but the plant manager had the door opened and in the room they found a 1910 Austin 7, covered in dust and untouched for years. This made Alex wonder how many other vehicles were hidden away in the 68 facilities that BL had in the UK. The answer was about 80! In fact there was so much material, in the form of vehicles, drawings, plans, records and photographs that Alex set up a separate business called Leyland Historic Vehicles to preserve and maintain the collection. LHV eventually became the BMIHT.
Alex was a great motoring enthusiast who, together with his late wife Margaret, regularly took part in the London to Brighton run. He still had a Jensen Interceptor tucked away in his garage although his primary form of transport in his final years was a more user friendly Lexus. He was a fascinating man who had achieved a great deal in his life but remained modest and unassuming and completely down to earth. A true gentleman and someone who I was proud to call a friend.
Alex was a great motoring enthusiast who, together with his late wife Margaret, regularly took part in the London to Brighton run. He still had a Jensen Interceptor tucked away in his garage although his primary form of transport in his final years was a more user friendly Lexus. He was a fascinating man who had achieved a great deal in his life but remained modest and unassuming and completely down to earth. A true gentleman and someone who I was proud to call a friend.
I remember him - made the best of the bad job he was put into with Wilson and his cronies always pulling the rug from under him, eagerly aided and abetted by Red Robbo. Guess he also gave Harold Musgrave his big break - now there was a big beast of the motor industry Michael Edwards' hatchet man or what?
derek robinson was (will always be) a cretin. it was down to him that the british industry became such a laughing stock.
he was a trouble making fool who was given far too much leeway to do his own thing. he should have ben strung up....
if only the management at the time had had the balls to fight him...
thank you derek. for nothing.
shame about alex park though.
he was a trouble making fool who was given far too much leeway to do his own thing. he should have ben strung up....
if only the management at the time had had the balls to fight him...
thank you derek. for nothing.
shame about alex park though.
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