Jensen Motors Drawing Office Employees A-Z

Integral to any car company is a competent drawing office, where a range of draughtsmen, illustrators, body and chassis specialists, along with estimators, work on new car models. Jensen Motors gave a huge amount of autonomy over to the men of the drawing office, unlike many other car companies, which had ‘checkers’.

It was the job of the ‘checker’ to double-check the drawings, before they were released to production. Former Jensen Motors draughtsman, Nick Maltby, confirms that drawings would initially go the Development Department, where the item was made up in prototype form. Any errors or improvements needed, would come to light there, and could be corrected before the drawings were issued to production.

During late 1975, Alan Vincent and Ray Allsopp entered into discussions with the newly appointed Receiver, concerning buying the entire Development Department and Drawing Office. The Receiver agreed in principle, and this led to the Development Department and Drawing Office, becoming Jensen Special Products immediately after closure of Jensen Motors. Over 90% of all ‘DD’ and ‘DO’ employees joined Jensen Special Products.

CARTER’S GREEN DRAWING OFFICES

There were two separate Drawing Offices at Carters Green, a Body Drawing Office and a Chassis Drawing Office. These were situated on opposite sides of the factory. The Jensen Motors Drawing Office Staff A-Z is broken down to ‘Chassis’ and ‘Body’ staff. The Carter’s Green factory closed at the beginning of the 1960s, when everything was moved over to the new and much larger Kelvin Way factory.

CHASSIS OFFICE

Kevin Beattie – Deputy Chief Engineer (Later Chief Engineer)

Born in South Africa during 1927, Beattie was educated in England. He found employment with the Rootes Group, joining their design team. During 1959, Beattie heard about a vacancy with the firm of Jensen Motors Ltd, as a Deputy Chief Engineer. He applied for the position and was given the appointment of Deputy Chief Engineer on 1st January 1960, working under Chief Engineer Eric Neale. By 1965, Beattie was appointed to the Board and was committed to the idea of a CV8 replacement being styled in Italy, Brian Owen agreed. Although the Jensen brothers and Neale were against the idea, John Boex agreed with Beattie and Owen. Shortly afterwards Beattie was obtaining design ideas from various Italian design houses. Unhappy about his position within the company, Neale retired in late Spring 1966, Beattie took over his title of Chief Engineer with a salary of £2,950. After Alfred Vickers resigned as Managing Director in July 1973, Beattie took on this appointment. It was to be short lived, as he had to relinquish his post in late 1974 through illness. Beattie died in 1975 aged 48.

Roderick ‘Rod’ Bradley – Engineering Draughtsman

Bradley joined Jensen Motors at the beginning of 1961, after serving an apprenticeship at Boulton Paul Aircraft. He only stayed at Jensen Motors until December 1961, at which time he left to join the RAF.

George Coleman – Senior Draughtsman | Chassis Designer

Born 1st July 1934. Joined Jensen Motors on 16th March 1959 as a Draughtsman. Coleman came to Jensen Motors from Joseph Lucas Electrical, Birmingham. Coleman remained at Jensen Motors until their closure in 1976. Nick Maltby (see Nick Maltby) recollects that Coleman was a quiet and unassuming man, but very talented. Apparently Kevin Beattie relied on him a great deal.

Stan Cutler – Draughtsman

Draughtsman about 32 years of age in 1960. Must have left Jensen in early to middle 1960s because he was working at Ford, Birmingham in mid-1960s. Nick Maltby states Cutler wasn’t at Kelvin Way, when he rejoined in 1964.

Edward ‘Ted’ Gould – Draughtsman

Start / finish dates not known. Was at Carter’s Green late 1950s.

Johnny Jones – Senior Draughtsman – Later Chief Draughtsman

Working in the Carter’s Green Drawing Office, Jones took over from Colin Reicke as Chief Draughtsman in 1947. He remained in that position until the beginning of the 1960s to work for Alvis. George Coleman took over as Chief Draughtsman after Jones left.

David Nash – Senior Draughtsman

Senior Draughtsman. Nick Maltby recollects that Nash’s father ran the Fibre Glass moulding department. Nash was approximately mid-twenties in 1960. Start and finishing dates not known. According to Nick Maltby, Nash wasn’t at Kelvin Way when he re-joined Jensen Motors in 1964. George Coleman remembers that Nash was also an accomplished photographer, that would on occasion be asked to take photographs for Jensen Motors. Nash left Jensen Motors and set himself up as a professional photographer in London.

H. Madeley – Draughtsman

First name not known. Start / finish dates not known. Working in Drawing Office 1954.

Michael John Nicholas Manning – Chassis Design Draughtsman

Born 13th June 1949. Joined Jensen Motors on 5th August 1974. Made redundant 2nd May 1975.

Colin Riekie – Chief Draughtsman

Riekie joined Jensen Motors in 1946. In the following year (1947), Riekie became Chief Draughtsman. His speciality was as chassis engineer, and during his time at Jensen Motors, he worked on the Jen-Tug project, and was particularly involved in chassis design work for the Jensen 541. Riekie was responsible directly to the Jensen brothers for all matters relating to chassis design. Riekie left Jensen Motors in October 1957, moving to Rover, and later to Aston Martin.

BODY OFFICE

John Attrill – Draughtsman | Illustrator | Stylist

Draughtsman, but also stylist / illustrator. Believed to have started at Jensen Motors in the 1950s. He left Jensen in the early 60s but there exists a cut-a-way drawing of the Jensen Healey drawn in 1972. Either he had rejoined Jensen around that time or he was working for an agency. Attrill was approximately 30 in 1960.

Derek Bell – Senior Body Engineer

Senior body engineer. Joined Jensen in 1960 from Singer Motor Company at the age of c 26. Left in 1961 to go to Ford Motor Company, Essex.

Harry Bird – Senior Draughtsman

Senior Draughtsman and Office Supervisor. He was at Jensen between mid-1950s and early 60s. Nick Maltby recollects that Bird had a somewhat naughty sense of humour, and liked to play practical jokes. Bird was approximately 35 in 1960.

Ron Burgess – Estimating Clerk /

Ronald William Burgess was born on 15th February 1921, and joined Jensen Motors on 10th March 1940. He left to join the army in 1942, remaining in the army for five years. During March 1947, Burgess rejoined Jensen Motors. He was made redundant on 21st November 1975.

John D’Maine – Senior Body Design Draughtsman

Senior Body Design Draughtsman with a confident air, did not suffer fools gladly. Respected by Eric Neale the Chief Body Engineer. Started early 1950s. Left in 1961 to go to Ford Motor Company. Eventually ended up working for Ford Germany. He and Eric kept in touch. Peter Neale, Eric’s son, met John and his German wife in the 2000s. John D’Maine, was the son of Jim D’Maine, Head of Trim Department.

Bob Hales – Junior Draughtsman

Junior Draughtsman. Nick Maltby remembers Hales as a pleasant guy, always willing to help anyone. Hales was approximately middle twenties in 1960.

Gordon Holt – Senior Body Draughtsman

Senior Body Draughtsman. Joined Jensen in 1960, together with Derek Bell, from Singer Motor Company age c 30. Left in 1961 but returned to Jensen in c 1967 as Purchasing Manager. Holt died in 2010.

Bill Hubbard – Drawing Office Manager

Drawing Office Manager. Joined 1960 left around 1963 age c 36. Peter Swain took over as Drawing Office Manager, once the Company had moved to Kelvin Way.

Barry Jackson – Draughtsman

Joined Jensen Motors from the RAF in 1961. Finish date not known. At a later point worked at Chrysler-Peugeot

D.Jeavons – Draughtsman

First name not known. Draughtsman from early to later 1950s. Start and finishing dates at Jensen Motors not known.

Nick Maltby – Trainee Draughtsman

Trainee Draughtsman. Maltby was18 in 1960. Malby left Jensen Motors briefly, returning as a draughtsman after Jensen Motors had moved to Kelvin Way. Cycled to West Bromwhich from Aston, Birmingham, until he bought an Austin Mini van.

Eric Neale – Chief Engineer | Body Stylist

Neale was born in 1910 in Halesowen, Worcestershire. He started work with Mulliners in Birmingham in 1927 as an apprentice designer. He left Mulliners in 1929, joining Holbrook Bodies Ltd, and by 1931 had changed position again joining the Singer Motor Company as a body designer. After a couple more career moves, the war started and Neale joined the Royal Air Force. After demobilisation in 1945, Neale returned to the Wolseley Motor Company. He received something of a cold welcome on his return to Wolseley, but a meeting with Richard Jensen led Neale to leave Wolseley and join Jensen Motors Ltd in 1946. He remained with Jensen Motors for twenty years and had an excellent relationship with the two Jensen brothers’. Beattie and Owen were keen to have the CV8 replacement car styled in Italy. Neale and the Jensen brothers’ were opposed to the idea of using an Italian firm for body styling. Neale was unhappy, when he and the Jensen brothers’ were out manoeuvred by Beattie and Owen and this directly led to Neale retiring from the company in late Spring 1966.

Simon O’Donnell – Estimating Clerk

Estimating Clerk. Aged c.35 in 1960. Joined 1950s left early 1960s.

Simon C.Ostler – Draughtsman

Start / finish dates not known. Was at Carter’s Green late 1950s. Believed to have been in the Body D.O, as opposed to the Chassis D.O. George Coleman states Oster’s father was a stylist for Rover. Apparently Simon Ostler was only in his early twenties when Coleman joined Jensen Motors in 1960. Ostler left in the early 1960s, and started a gardening design company.

Valerie Slim – Secretary | PA to Kevin Beattie

Slim joined Jensen Motors around 1960, and worked in the drawing office as secretary / PA to Kevin Beattie. According to George Coleman, Slim was an excellent shorthand typist, and would often join in meetings to take notes. She was also involved in typing up specifications. Coleman states Slim left Jensen Motors during the transition of the Company from carter’s Green to Kelvin Way. She died from a brain tumor shortly afterwards aged 34.

A.Stokes – Draughtsman

First name not known. Draughtsman at Jensen Motors during the 1950s. Start / finishing dates not known.

(?) Weaver – Draughtsman

First name not known. However, George Coleman believes his first name was either Geoff, Jeff. Start / finish dates not known. Working in Drawing Office around 1961/62.

A.R.Wilkes – Draughtsman

First name not known. Draughtsman from early 1950s. Competent stylist as well as draughtsman. No other information available.

Geoff Wyle – Draughtsman

Start / finish dates not known. Working in Drawing Office 1960 as a trainee draughtsman (his age at that time approximately 17)

KELVIN WAY DRAWING OFFICE

The Drawing Offices were transferred to Kelvin Way when the Carter’s Green factory was closed for road works development c 1962. As a result of the transfer, the Chassis and Body offices were combined. However, draughtsmen still retained their own specialities and did not interchange. The Kelvin Way Jensen Motors Drawing Office Staff A-Z is broken down to ‘Chassis and ‘Body’ staff. The Kelvin Way factory was completed by the beginning of the 1960s, at which time everything was moved over from Carter’s Green.

Kelvin Way Drawing Office Staff photograph 1970/71 a. 1-Pete Dawson, 2-Barbara Winterbourne, 3-Gordon Holt, 4-Peter Swain, 5-Alan Scholes, 6-Stan Dawes, 7-John Ludford, 8-Linda Norton (later Parry), 9-Bill White, 10-Norman Groves, 11-Jean Waterhouse, 12-John Attrill (with beard), 13-Melvin Kent, 14-Fred Smith.

Kelvin Way Drawing Office Staff photograph 1970/71 a. 1-Bill White, 2- ? , 3-Stan Dawes, 4-Linda Norton (later Parry), 5-Fred Smith, 6-Melvin Kent, 7 upper – Alan Scholes, 7 lower -Jean Whitehouse, 8-John Attrill (without beard), 9-Dennis Teanor, 10-Ken Vaughn, 11-Vic Morris, 12-Norman Groves, 13-Nick Barker, 14-Ron Jeffreys, 15-Barry Bilbie.

CHASSIS DRAWING OFFICE STAFF

Kevin Beattie – Deputy Chief Engineer (Later Chief Engineer)

Nigel Bevan – Trainee Draughtsman

Trainee draughtsman age c 19 in 1964. Joined in 1964 left in 1968. Local West Bromwich lad

Barrie Bilbie – Chassis Engineer

Bilbie joined Jensen Motors in the late 1960s / early 1970s, moving from the Donald Healey organisation. Bilbie apparently had been instrumental in completing most of the chassis design work for Healey, including the Austin-Healey 100, 100-6, 3000, and Sprite.. Bilbie worked on all chassis related components for Jensen, including steering, suspension, brakes and chassis frame. A much respected design engineer, Bilbie worked on the Jensen F Type, and G Type, and also designed the underframe for the Jensen Healey. Bilbie remained at Jensen Motors until the closure in 1976, and then was employed by Jensen Special Products.

Barrie Bilbie working in the Drawing Office. Photograph probably taken middle 1970s.

George Coleman – Senior Draughtsman | Chassis Designer

Coleman was one of the few draughtsman that moved across from Carters Green to Kelvin Way. Joined Jensen Motors 1960, remained at Jensen Motors until 1976.

Charles Dale – Trainee Draughtsman

Trainee draughtsman on the Chassis Section. Approximately 20 in 1964. Start date around 1964. Finishing date not known. Local West Bromwich lad

Stan Dawes – Detail Draughtsman

Joined Jensen Motors during the 1960s. Finish date not known. Dawes was the union representative for the Drawing Office, which had their own union, DATA (Draughtsman & Allied Trade Association). Dawes persuaded the young Bill White to take over as the union representative.

Jeff Hicklin – Detail Draughtsman

George Coleman remembers that amongst many other projects, Hicklin was involved with all the drawings for the ‘F’ Type rear suspension. Start and finish dates not known.

Michael (Mike) Jones – Chief Designer | Chief Engineer

Jones came to work at Jensen Motors from Rootes in February 1964, initially working in the Drawing Office as Chassis Project Engineer. Within the drawing office, Jones was working mainly on the Sunbeam Tiger. Later he became Assistant Chief Engineer under Beattie, and was involved in development work on the Jensen Interceptor and FF, before leaving in December 1967 to join Ford. Jones only spent three months with Ford, then going back to Rootes until 1972.

In October 1972, Jones re-joined Jensen Motors as Chief Designer, and after four months was given the position of Chief Engineer, when Beattie became Managing Director. Beattie relinquished his position as Managing Director in late 1974, to become Director of Engineering. Jones retained his position as Chief Engineer until he left Jensen Motors in June 1975.

Nick Maltby – Draughtsman

Returned to Jensen Motors in 1964 as a draughtsman, and remained in the Kelvin Way Drawing Office until 1967, at which time he left to work at Austin’s Longbridge factory.

Howard Panton – Deputy Chief Engineer

Panton joined Jensen Motors in 1967 as Deputy Chief Engineer, working directly under Beattie. Shortly after Mike Jones re-joined Jensen Motors in October 1972, Panton left the Company. Mike Jones believes he took a position at GKN. George Coleman confirmed Panton left Jensen to work at GKN.

Alan Scholes – Chassis Draughtsman – Engineer

Came from Jaguar. Start & finish dates not known.

BODY DRAWING OFFICE STAFF

Nick Barker – Legislation Engineer

Legislation Engineer on Jensen Interceptor. Start and finish dates not known. Australian by birth.

David Colbourne – Position not known

Start & finish dates not known. His name on the list of 49 former Jensen staff attending the funeral of Gilbert Hughes in 2003.

Peter Dawson – Body Draughtsman

Contract draughtsman. Contract dates not known, but was at Jensen Motors during period of Jensen Healey. Had been at Rootes before coming to Jensen Motors.

Brenda Deeming – Secretary | PA

After Jensen Motors made the transition to Kelvin Way, Kevin Beattie employed Brenda Deeming as a secretary | PA, she left and another young girl took over the job for a short time. Deeming returned to Jensen, and when she left the second time (possibly around 1968), Barbara Winterbourne came in as secretary | PA.

Norman Groves – Body Draughtsman

Joined 1960s. Finished 1976 at closure of Jensen Motors. Moved to Longbridge as a styling draughtsman.

Ron Jeffrey – Technical Clerk

Involved in the drawing up of handbooks and manuals. Start date not known. Believed to have remained at Jensen Motors until 1976, and then joined Longbridge.

Melvin Kent – Body Draughtsman

Joined 1960s, finished around 1975/76.

Cedric (Eddie) Knowles – Senior Draughtsman

Senior draughtsman, joined c 1964 aged c 30 left in 1967 to go to Standard Triumph

John Lindley – Legislation Engineer

Legislation Engineer on Jensen Healey. Start and finish dates not known.

John Ludford – Body Draughtsman

Came from Yale Fork Lift Trucks. Start and finish dates not known.

Ken Meeson – Illustrator | Stylist

Illustrator / stylist. Start and finishing dates not known. Age c 23 in 1964.

Vic Morris – Body Draughtsman

Believed to have started around 1970 and left Jensen Motors 1975 / 76.

Eric Neale – Chief Engineer | Body Stylist

Linda Norton (from September 1972 Linda Parry) – Office Clerk / Clerk Typist

Joined Jensen Motors on 27th April 1970. Linda Norton married and became Linda Parry in September 1972. She was made redundant on 2nd May 1975. Her name on the list of 49 former Jensen staff attending the funeral of Gilbert Hughes in 2003.

John Packwood – Body Project Engineer

Senior Body Draughtsman | Body Project Engineer. Joined 1965/66, coming to Jensen Motors from Ford’s Birmingham Office. Age c 30s at that time. Left Jensen Motors c 1975 (?).

Fred Smith – Technical Clerk

Involved in the drawing up of parts lists etc. Start & finish dates not known.

Peter Swain – Drawing Office Manager

Drawing Office Manager and wiring diagram expert. Joined early 1960s and still at Jensen Motors when the company closed in 1975. Age c 40 in 1964. Chief Designer, later Chief Engineer, Mike Jones, mentions the following about Swain,

“For anything electrical, Peter was the man to go to. During my second stint at Jensen Motors, he dealt with the design and development all of the electrical components and systems in Jensen and Jensen Healey cars, not just the wiring designs. To say he was a ‘wiring diagram expert’ degrades what he actually did. The wiring diagrams were a relatively small, but essential part of his work.”

In addition to being Drawing Office Manager, Swain was the Chief Electrical Engineer.

Arthur Dennis Treanor – Body Draughtsman

Generally called Dennis, Treanor joined Jensen Motors on 5th July 1971. He left on 16th February 1973.

Jean Waterhouse – Secretary / Clerk

Start and finish dates not known. Bill White believes she worked under Howard Panton (see main Jensen Employees A-Z) for a while.

Barbara Winterbourne – Secretary | PA

After Jensen Motors made the transition to Kelvin Way, Kevin Beattie employed Brenda Deeming as a secretary | PA, she left and another young girl took over the job for a short time. Deeming returned to Jensen, and when she left the second time, Barbara Winterbourne came in as secretary | PA (possible start date around 1968). Later she became the secretary to Alan Vincent, after he became Technical Director of the Development Department.

Robert Westwood – Senior Draughtsman

Senior Body Draughtsman age c 32 in 1965 when he joined Jensen. Left in 1967 to go to Austin, and soon afterwards joined Standard Triumph in Coventry. Local West Bromwich man. William White believes his name maybe Robert Westbury.

William ‘Bill’ White – Body Design Draughtsman

Joined Jensen Motors as Body design Draughtsman in September 1969 (in his twenties). Remained at Jensen Motors until October 1973. White was responsible for the design drawings of various Interceptor MK. II / III details, such as front grille, side grilles and top panel heater grille. He came up with the idea of a single casting for the side grilles, rather than the complex, and time consuming multi-piece grilles fitted to MK.I cars. Stan Dawes, the DATA union (Draughtsman & Allied Trade Association representative for Jensen Motors asked White if he would like to take over from him, which he did. White left Jensen Motors in 1973 after a dispute with Kevin Beattie.

Nigel John Young – Electrical Draughtsman

Joined Jensen Motors 17th June 1974. Made redundant 31st March 1975.

Ken Vaughan – Body Draughtsman

Joined 1st march 1973 as a Design Draughtsman. He was made redundant on 30th May 1975.

Jensen Motors Drawing Office Employees A-Z

REQUEST: The Museum would be very interested to hear from any former employees attached to the Jensen Motors drawing offices

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: Nick Maltby – Former Draughtsman | Mike Jones – Former Chief Engineer | William White – Former Draughtsman

COPYRIGHTS: The Jensen Museum | Nick Maltby | William White

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: If you have any additional information, please contact us at archive@jensenmuseum.org or telephone on: +1694-781354

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