EAW035378 ENGLAND (1951). Venner Times Switches Ltd Works off the Kingston By-Pass, West Barnes, 1951. This image has been produced from a print marked by Aerofilms Ltd for photo editing.

FIREWATCHERS POST: e72291

Meetons Motor Mecca Meetens was formed in 1908 by T.G. Meeten. An acclaimed TT and endurance rider throughout the 20s, T.G. also developed and manufactured the S.O.S range of motorcycles. This famous name soon became synonymous with T.G.'s slogans 'So Obviously Superior' and 'So Often Successful'. After WW2 the company relocated to New Malden in Surrey, where 'Meetens Motor Mecca' remained a prominent fixture until the late 60s. With Japanese bikes starting to make an impact on the market, T.G. retired and his business partner Margaret Child OBE took the helm. A shrewd business woman who knew the industry inside out, Margaret realised the writing was on the wall for British motorcycle manufacturing. It was her decision to split the company into two parts - motorbikes and industrial engines - that led to the creation of Meetens Industrial Engines Ltd and ensured the company's survival. When Meetens moved to Wimbledon in 1986, Margaret's nephew Keith Child joined the company. Keith was supported by his sons Paul and Brian, both of whom had a hands on roll in continuing T.G.'s proud tradition of product and service excellence. Following the retirement of Keith Child the company, now known as Meetens Limited, is owned and run by Paul Child. With 37 years of knowledge in the industry Paul will continue to offer his customers the same high level of service and expertise they have enjoyed up to the present day. Paul ChildToday, Meetens is based in Preston, Lancashire, and is owned and run by Paul Child (right). Meeten & Wards in Ewell. Dick Ward took over the motorcycle side of Villiers things years before and Meetens Industrial in Merton did the industrial side. It would be about 1970 . Meeten & Ward went on for years and were sending Villiers spares all around the world, plus there used to be tuning parts for karts (or is it carts) which used to do ridiculous things with the old 9E engine - hard to believe how much they tuned it, Alpha rods and big ends, squish band heads, etc. Also there were Greeves bits as the Villiers morphed into the Griffin engine. Also the engine was used in the little blue invalid carraiges complete with electric start. After There were bits going back to the Junior Deluxe (JDL for short). Dick Ward is gone, and the shop is no longer there, his son, Martin is keeping the tradition, and still does some Villiers parts now based in Rudgwick as Motoward.

Shannon Corner