Memories of George Ball

By Skegness Video on July 14th, 2010

Birthday Surprise for Dad

George jnr (56) talks about George snr (83)

WHEN did you last see an old crock like this parked outside the Seacroft garage? “Old crock” barked George Ball junior — he is junior at 56 — ” Old crock my giddy aunt. This was a real hot machine in those days. You see the toddler at the side of the car — well that’s me ! The driver is my old man.”

Mr. Ball senior was working in the next room while young George was telling the story. ” The old boy’s 83 now,” said the ‘toddler.’ But he wasn’t to know anything about the story. It was to be a birthday surprise for him. Mark you, he will not be 84 until 29th June.

“Don’t be mistaken, lad,” George pointed out. “The car wasn’t built with a hood on it —oh no. The old fellow had it specially fitted. It was a real classy job.”

” How did it go then, Mr. Ball ? ” I asked. “Oh, well, it didn’t go. It worked like a blessed parachute,” he replied.

“The wind resistance was so strong that it just would not budge. But it was awfully handy when you wanted to sit in the car without moving on a rainy day!”

The vehicle was a chain-driven 1906 job with solid tyres. It was one of the first cars in Skegness.

Certainly Mr. Ball deserves a present with a difference. His life has been very full. He founded the well-known estate agents’ company of the same name, from which he retired several years ago.

FROM OAKHAM

From Oakham, in Rutland, both he and his son went to public school there. ‘Young’ George left to become a pupil of Escritt and Barrell, of Grantham, where he studied agriculture and general auctioneering. He then went to Agricultural College and at the age of 20 to Reading University. He is now principal of the company his father founded.

Mr. Ball junior went on: ” I raced in the first meeting held on the Skegness Sands and that was before your time boy.” It was, too. He rode an A.J.S. motorcycle against George Brough’s entry, ‘Nearer My God To Thee.’

“I also opened Cadwell Park motor racing and motor-cycling track on behalf of the directors, the Wilkinson family. And do you know, boy, I was driving a two-stroke, three-and-a-half horse powered Lloyd sports car.”

I said. “Go on with you.” But I was only being conventional. By this time nothing would have surprised me. ” Yes,” said Mr. Ball, ” I went to New Zealand at the early age of 19 and worked on a sheep farm. I was 14 hours a day in the saddle for 10 bob a week and tucker. I’ve never used Fuller’s earth since those days.”

By this time I had forgotten all about Skegness, my job, taking the notes down. I was somewhere around Christchurch with my seat in the saddle.

JOLLY FISHERMAN

“Have you ever heard of the Jolly Fisherman? ” said George. I remotely recall hearing some vague, almost inaudible sound. But I distinctly recall ‘Junior’s' repetition. “Have you ever heard of the Jolly Fisherman?” ROARED George!

” Yi, yi, yes, of course, Mr. Ball,” I replied. ” Well, the old boy was the first to bring it out in the first ever Skeggy Guide,” he told me. ” The sailor in the rowboat it was called, boy.”

The design was prepared in 1913 by Mr. A. W. Porter, artist son of Mr. A. T. M. Porter, headmaster for many years of the old Skegness Church of England School. It was first used by Mr. Ball for his official guide in 1914. It was again used as the cover picture of certain guides issued after World War One.

In this case, however, detail alterations to the original design were effected by Mr. G. E. Ball (junior). But let Mr. Ball put it into his own words. “Yes. mate. I brought out a new guide called ‘ The Gem of the East Coast,’ depicting a bathing beauty.”

Referring to his father again, he said. “There’s not many wickets in Skegness that the old fellow hasn’t batted on. He played for and was honorary secretary of the Skegness Cricket Club. He was chairman of the Skegness Rugby Club and on the selection committee. Yes, son, he was a sportsman.

“He was underwater swimming champ. Bet you didn’t know that, boy. He dived off the pier when he was 18. He was a real character, you know.”

For the first time I could reply positively ” Yes, yes, I know.”

My hand went to the pen as ‘junior’ started up again. But suddenly the door opened and, Speak of the devil,’ Old George’ was with us. A sudden finger movement by ‘junior’ beckoned me to rise and ” Yes, dad. He’s just going.” I went, and the surprise was preserved . . . .

— V.H.

Source: Skegness Standard 1964