LENOPHOBIA?
Some said Leonard Lord was paranoid. He wasn’t, of course.
I hope I’m not either.
But I do wonder whether the ill-informed prejudice that in some quarters surrounds the great man is still alive and kicking.
Why do I think so?
Not one mainstream national newspaper nor current affairs magazine has deigned to give the first ever biography of this heroic British industrialist as much as a passing mention. Although the UK’s Guardian newspaper did wax lyrical in a major feature on a book about the design, development and production of the Nazi-inspired Volkswagen.
Reviews in the British specialist press have been fairly thin on the ground. All the high street booksellers have steadfastly refused to stock ‘Len’ while the museum shop at the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust in Gaydon, until the most helpful and much appreciated intervention of BMIHT's managing director, prevaricated endlessly about giving a book that is pivotal to the history of much of what they represent, even a small corner of shelf space. The transport museum shop in Coventry, Len's birthplace, ignored the request for exposure altogether. To their great credit, the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu has offered to trial Brick by Brick which Lord Montagu himself has described as 'excellent'. So if you're at Beaulieu or Gaydon ask about it, or better still, buy one. Brick by Brick will also be honoured with a place in Beaulieu's internationally famous library.
Meanwhile, don’t be discouraged by places you can’t get information or buy.
The book will be available at car shows, across Europe thanks to the good offices of ANDY'S MOTORBOOKS, a prestigious Swiss outlet that has had the intelligence and imagination to realize the importance of Leonard Lord to British motor industry heritage.
Please support this organization, not only by buying 'Brick by Brick' but selecting other works from its comprehensive range of quality titles.
Furthermore, you can get the book online at a good price and, in some cases, with same day and/or gift wrapped delivery.
Just click on this link and Brick by Brick will be winging its way to you.
That said it would be churlish not to say a very big thank you to all those people who have helped promote Len’s biography. In the broadcasting world Tony Gosling, a Bristol radio journalist, was talking about the work even before it appeared. Professor Carl Chinn publicized the book on BBC Birmingham and you can hear my interview with Carl on this site by clicking here. Thanks to Beaulieu, of course. And to all the clubs around the world who have heightened awareness of not only the book but Len’s amazing contribution to the motor industry. Too numerous to mention individually these organizations range from the Austin Counties Car Club, Daimler and Lanchester Owners’ Club and Veteran Car Club in Britain to specialist clubs as far afield as North America and Australia. And not forgetting John Baker who generously refers to the biography on his Austin Memories website and provides useful purchasing links. He also features my 'potted' biography of Dick Burzi, who, of course, was a close associate of Lord.
Please continue to promote the first ever detailed biography of Leonard Lord, the man who really made the Mini. If you need material to do so, simply contact Martyn via this site.
I hope I’m not either.
But I do wonder whether the ill-informed prejudice that in some quarters surrounds the great man is still alive and kicking.
Why do I think so?
Not one mainstream national newspaper nor current affairs magazine has deigned to give the first ever biography of this heroic British industrialist as much as a passing mention. Although the UK’s Guardian newspaper did wax lyrical in a major feature on a book about the design, development and production of the Nazi-inspired Volkswagen.
Reviews in the British specialist press have been fairly thin on the ground. All the high street booksellers have steadfastly refused to stock ‘Len’ while the museum shop at the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust in Gaydon, until the most helpful and much appreciated intervention of BMIHT's managing director, prevaricated endlessly about giving a book that is pivotal to the history of much of what they represent, even a small corner of shelf space. The transport museum shop in Coventry, Len's birthplace, ignored the request for exposure altogether. To their great credit, the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu has offered to trial Brick by Brick which Lord Montagu himself has described as 'excellent'. So if you're at Beaulieu or Gaydon ask about it, or better still, buy one. Brick by Brick will also be honoured with a place in Beaulieu's internationally famous library.
Meanwhile, don’t be discouraged by places you can’t get information or buy.
The book will be available at car shows, across Europe thanks to the good offices of ANDY'S MOTORBOOKS, a prestigious Swiss outlet that has had the intelligence and imagination to realize the importance of Leonard Lord to British motor industry heritage.
Please support this organization, not only by buying 'Brick by Brick' but selecting other works from its comprehensive range of quality titles.
Furthermore, you can get the book online at a good price and, in some cases, with same day and/or gift wrapped delivery.
Just click on this link and Brick by Brick will be winging its way to you.
That said it would be churlish not to say a very big thank you to all those people who have helped promote Len’s biography. In the broadcasting world Tony Gosling, a Bristol radio journalist, was talking about the work even before it appeared. Professor Carl Chinn publicized the book on BBC Birmingham and you can hear my interview with Carl on this site by clicking here. Thanks to Beaulieu, of course. And to all the clubs around the world who have heightened awareness of not only the book but Len’s amazing contribution to the motor industry. Too numerous to mention individually these organizations range from the Austin Counties Car Club, Daimler and Lanchester Owners’ Club and Veteran Car Club in Britain to specialist clubs as far afield as North America and Australia. And not forgetting John Baker who generously refers to the biography on his Austin Memories website and provides useful purchasing links. He also features my 'potted' biography of Dick Burzi, who, of course, was a close associate of Lord.
Please continue to promote the first ever detailed biography of Leonard Lord, the man who really made the Mini. If you need material to do so, simply contact Martyn via this site.
