From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Letter detailing the immediate aftermath and investigation following a fatal road accident involving a cyclist.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 5a\3\ 03-page218 | |
| Date | 10th May 1933 | |
| X1840. Hotel de France. Chateauroux. Indre. 10.5.33. To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} From G.W.H. ls. G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} IV. We have received your telegram: HAVE HEARD REPORT OF ACCIDENT PLEASE CONFIRM. We sent you the following reply: PATTINSON HIT CYCLIST WITH FATAL RESULT STOP YOU SHOULD RECEIVE FULL REPORT WEDNESDAY. I did not send you a telegram informing you firstly, because I had not got the full information until 9 o'clock P.M., secondly I did not wish to give you any more anxiety than I could help. I did all that could be possibly be done under the circumstances. To-day we have had a visit from our Paris Lawyer's assistant Mr. D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} Desplanches and Mr. Parson's assistant Mr. J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} Renout representing (Caledonian Assurance) These two representatives have visited the scene of the accident, made discreet enquiries in the village of Vatan and seen the representative of the President of the Republic here at Chateauroux, who will investigate the case. It appears that the cyclist has left a widow and three sons the youngest being 22 years old. Two of them are gendarmes. Mr. Desplanches is of the opinion that no case will be made against Pattinson. We have not at present received any further news, and in Mr. Desplanches opinion it will be at least two weeks before doing so, meantime we have got permission to replace the windscreen. This is now in hand and promised for to night, so we should be able to resume our mileage in the morning. WHHancock G.W.H. | ||