Hi, Ken---
You're most welcome for whatever small help I've provided you. Wish I knew more about the Churchill shop, the years during which it operated, etc. As I say, I'm fascinated with the marque. Interesting to hear of your personal connection to the area.
Would be great to find an old London/Croydon city directory from the '40s to see if you can discern the exact George Street address and find the building which housed Churchill's shop, or what has now been put up in its place.
I recently used Google Earth and Maps and Mapquest to view a former London-area shop where the ultra-rare "Success" cycles were built. I was pleased to find the structure still standing. Also got an address for the late Rex Coley (a.k.a. "Ragged Staff"), who wrote cyclotouring articles for the British mags back in the day and published three very entertaining books on touring, "Cycling is Such Fun," "Joyous Cycling," and "Laughter on Two Wheels." I wanted to see what his house looked like, up on Hearne Hill. And there it was, still standing, online for me to see. Those kind of technological marvels are the advantage of living in this "Brave New World"....
But I'd still rather be wearing plus fours and cape, riding a Golden Sunbeam, and living in London or the Lake District in the '30s!
Cheerio,
Peter Jourdain
Whitewater, Wisconsin
> From: Ken Foster <kenf3@me.com>
Thursday, August 13, 2009, 5:48 PM
> Peter,
> Larry, and list members
>
> Thank you so much for your interest, at least I know it was
> a maker, and another addition to my growing collection of
> the previously obscure - to me anyway;-)
>
> My wife was born and raised in Croydon and we know George
> Street well, [EDIT]
> My Churchill came from New Addington which is a Croydon
> suburb so it all fits.
>
> regards
> Ken
>
>
> Ken Foster
> Eastbourne, East Sussex
> kenf3@me.com