Jaguar: Sandows had first E-type in Derby

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Sanderson & Holmes employee George Hawkesworth admires the new E-type Jaguar in the car park on London Road

Ken Baldwin admires the first E-type Jaguar in Derby at the showroom of Sanderson & Holmes, in London Road, in 1961

THIS is the first E-type Jaguar to make its appearance in Derby, according to former Sanderson & Holmes employee Terry Sexton. The 3.8 roadster – registration E144 – visited the renowned coachbuilders and motor engineers in London Road, in 1961 for a pre-launch visit. It was a demonstration model sent by Jaguar Cars in Coventry.

George Hawkesworth, car park and petrol sales supervisor, admires the new E-type, after it was delivered to “Sandow’s” (below).

Said Terry, of Chaddesden: “George lived at Borrowash and had a 1950 Austin A40 Devon at the time.”

Driver and car valet Ken Baldwin is pictured with the same car (right). He lived at Long Eaton and had a 1955 Morris Oxford Traveller.

“When he left Sandows, he worked for Drury Lowe, at Locko Park, Spondon, as a chauffeur, driving a Mark IX Jaguar,” said Terry.

“The sliding doors of the car park are pulled back looking into the showroom with its marble floor. Through the showroom window the shops on the other side of London Road can be seen – Sidney Bradley, the outfitters, and florist Freda Britain, both customers of Sandows.

“There was a small showroom and office to the left. Major Howard (we all knew him as Dickie) worked in there. He was very smart with a handlebar moustache and owned a 1930s’ Austin 7.

“He ran a pub, the Malt Shovel, by the river at Shardlow, with his wife. He was in the Austin 7 Owners’ Club and the Jimmy Edwards Handlebar Moustache Club.

“At that time, Major Lewis was a director and in charge of sales.”

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