A Lievesley Story
The Engineer   

Neil Lievesley 1918-1989

Neil was born in Chesterfield (we think!) to William & Olive, he was their only child. We know little of his early years until he gained a place to Chesterfield Grammar school, which has a history back to 13c, at some time he was invited to sing in the choir of the famous Chesterfield crooked spire church St Mary & All Saints Church, although his parents were staunch Methodists, this was regarded as an honour. It is fair to say this singing talent was not bestowed on the next generation.

Neil 192?

With Olive's parents (?)  Brimacombe 1930

Neil top l/H with Olive & Will Ilfracombe 1935

Neil (we have no idea where Will & Olive fitted into this decision) decided not to take any school qualifications but to become an apprentice mechanic at a small garage in Hawksley Avenue within close walking distance of where they lived on Newbold Road. Aparently it was still custom in the early 1930's for you, or your parents to pay the employer for the first year of your mechanical training. The next year was 'free' only on the third did you get a very small wage.

As soon as he was old enough Neil wanted to drive, which was required for his job if nothing else. Driving tests had just arrived, but switched on members of the public, that were old enough applied for their licence before the test came in. So Neil learnt to drive with Olive sitting beside him as the competent driver with licence. The mere fact Olive had never driven a car in her life didn't seem to get in the way of this operation.

Sometime before the war Neil bought a one man garage in Upper Newbold (an area known as Four Lane Ends) on the very edge of Chesterfield. During the war while Neil was in the army, Will & Olive managed to keep the petrol pumps operational, how this was achieved we don't know, but Olive talked about the years she served petrol.

Neil's Garage in Upper Newbold

At the very outbreak to WW 2 Neil & his school friend Ian Bradshaw joined upon the same day. Ian Bradshaw who was a baker went into the Catering corps. Neil was sent to a TA Heavy Artillery unit as the sole vehicle mechanic of the unit he was posted to. So far his career had mostly been model T Fords & the like, now he was faced with big Scammell Towing units. Fortunately he was given a mate, who by trade was a professional thief. Because Neil was his pal his 'stuff' was totally safe, but Neil said he was never short of tools or supplies after his new friend  joined him.

WW2 Scammell Tractor Unit

His unit was sent with the British Expeditionary Force to France & undertook the harrowing retreat to Dunkirk where in 1940, with German forces approaching, nearly 200,000 British soldiers were evacuated from the beaches by hundreds of naval and civilian vessels. He also had a 'special' 22  birthday present that year. While sitting on the beach with the remaining stragglers waiting to be taken off a message came over the radio that Churchill had announced all the Forces had been taken off. When he eventually arrived at Dover he was ushered to the railway station where a group from the catering corps were handing out sandwiches, amongst the group was his school friend Ian Bradshaw.

This was the last action that Neil saw during the war, but he progressed to Sergeant & was eventually commissioned   into the Kings Shropshire Light Infantry.

<<<<< Neil & a very new Mrs Minette Lievesley (nee Thomson) 25 April 1945 Reading

Sometime shortly after he was commissioned he met Junior Commander Minette Thomson & were married on 25th April Sadly there are no surviving photographs of Neil in uniform. Except on his wedding day , which took place against a background of a planned posting to Burma. This was cancelled & his military career terminated by the dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan

Footnote...Neil decided early on to a standardised response to all formal questions about his occupation, it was usually  'Engineer' throughout his life even if he was a garage manager, company director, retired or transport cafe owner.

Click on the link for Neil & Minette's lives together

Neil Lievesley late 70's >>>