Ginetta House - Witham

[Warren6m]

Hi Shane, I know you put this up 4 years ago and might not pick it up, but did you ever get any prints etc of the West end Garage? We are just looking back up the family tree and came across this.

Charles was my great Grandad, he had 2 sons Douglas and Charles (wing commander).

Douglas was my grandad. Me and my dad are both really into our cars and motorsport doing this sort of history is great for us.

We also might have some photos we can send.

Thanks
Matt

WarrenResearch said:

Hi dandarez

Many thanks for your info uploaded to the forum - and to others contributing, too - all very interesting!

Charles Warren of West End Garage is my great-great-uncle. He was born in Ipswich in 1878. I have a photo of him which I think is from the turn of the 20th century which appears to show him in a chauffeur's uniform, ie., with hat and driving gloves. On the back of the photo it says "Poplar Hall, Witham", which I think was his address in the 1920s/30s.

It looks like he fell on hard times in the '30's, with the business failing and also his marriage and I don't know what happened to him after that, though it looks like a son of his (also Charles, born at Witham 1918) was a Spitfire and bomber pilot in WWII, receiving the DFC.

Would you have any spare prints of the West End Garage photos from the '20's? I'd be very interested in buying one, if so, and I'm imagining Charles senior might well be one of the people out the front of the garage in the photo you uploaded.

Regards
Shane Hines
Ipswich