The Life of a Morris Minor Named Moggy: His Restoration (Resurrection) in England and Down Under on Emigration to Australia & Back

By Gerald Griffiths

This is the story of a Morris Minor 1000 Saloon. The date of its first registration was April 24, 1964, and its engine cylinder capacity is 1,098. It is now classed as a historical vehicle.

The first owner was a Mr. Ernest Griffiths or Ernie as he was called, who was my dads brother. Sadly, Ernie died on March 28, 1982, and Moggy was left in his will to his son, John Griffiths. Sadly, John Griffiths died on October 19, 2005, and his wife, Teresa Griffiths, left it in my care, giving it to me after Johns funeral. This was on a promise that I would look after it and keep it in the family.

John and his family nicknamed it Moggy, and from 1982 till 2005, John and his wife used this car constantly. Johns two girls, Ellen and Leanne, cherished this car, knowing it was their father and grandfathers car. Because of this, I really felt that I had a strong responsibility to look after it. I will say no more as Moggy wishes to tell the story of his life himself.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Jan 14, 2013
• ISBN: 9781481781275

Gerald Griffiths

The book of Moggy will be a lovely keepsake for their grandchildren. But Gerald has just importantly written his autobiography of his life so his grandchildren will have and be able to know of the wonderful qualities of his mother and father, brothers and sisters, and the love he has for them, plus those no longer with us. He misses them dreadfully. He wanted to be able to give his own son and grandchildren a keepsake they would be able to cherish for years to come and hopefully show their children and their children’s children the life of their great-great-grandparents. Please look out for this book as it is a lovely read about a wonderful family. Also, Gerald has published a book on his martial arts. See front covers of both books.

Book preview

The

Life of a

morris minor

named moggy

His

restoration

(Resurrection)

In england and down under

on emigration to australia & back

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Gerald Griffiths

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AuthorHouse™

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.authorhouse.com

Phone: [phone]

© 2013 Gerald Griffiths. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 02/08/2013

ISBN: 978-1-4817-8126-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4817-8127-5 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery wwprovided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

Chapter One The start of my life as Moggy, (Morris Minor)

Chapter Two The start of Moggy’s Technical makeover

Chapter Three The Cosmetic Surgery of Moggy

Chapter Four Photo-shoot in around Gerald’s home

Chapter Five A Sailing Ship crashing into the Bridge

Chapter Six The Rea Bridge House and the bridge, the Saron Larson and the Elmore Estate gates

Chapter Seven A visit to David and Janet Griffiths and Julie Stoke Gifford Bristol

Chapter Eight Visiting Teresa John Griffith’s wife. And back home at Rea

Chapter Nine Ellen Griffiths and Dan Millard’s wedding and back home to Rea

Chapter Ten The history and tribute to the Morris Minor and a dedication to the Charlie ware’s Centre in Bristol England

Chapter Eleven A story about a Morris Mini to Germany

Chapter Twelve Immigrating to Oz

Chapter Thirteen Andrew’s Rupert the Rover and two pictures of Aldinga

Chapter Fourteen Documents and Moggy arriving in OZ

Chapter Fifteen Moggy is home and going on trip

Chapter Sixteen Don’t Speed in Oz and trips with Mitsubishi Magna

Chapter Seventeen A visit by a rainbow Parakeet

Chapter Eighteen The Arrival of Tony and Kate to OZ and showing them around

Chapter Nineteen Going home to England and Tony and Kate’s Wedding

Chapter Twenty A loving Message and tribute to Graham, Larrisa and Brandon

Chapter Twenty One One Back in Australia, sorting out to go back to England to Stay

Chapter Twenty Two Trip to Peter and Shirley’s

Chapter Twenty Three Arriving at John Mason’s in Croydon, England and Gerald’s home

Foreword

By

Phil Knickenberg

I would like to thank Gerald, (Moggy) for allowing me to write a foreword for their book, Gerald has written this story for Moggy as he is writing it in the third party, as if Moggy is telling the story himself, Moggy being what his Pet car name is. It is a great tribute to Classic cars, especially to the Classic Morris Minor, I must say that this is a wonderful pictorial dictating it’s restoration and the complete life story of Moggy, It is a wonderful read from a family man who shows kindness and consideration to everyone he meets.

I am in partnership with a close friend, ‘Tony Conforti’ and we run a Panel beating firm for crash cars. I am very pleased to have been involved with the restoration of this Lovely Morris Minor. As you will see Gerald had to work hard on the Preparation of the car, as we were not able to find time between crash repairs to do it for him.

I agreed to allow Gerald to use the workshop, for him to do this work and showed him what to do, the photos in the book will tell you how hard he worked and how Moggy was restored.

This Moggy is one of the most travelled cars that I have ever heard of, what with it immigrating to Australia and back, ‘Moggy’s Life is a Great read’.

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I have put this sign in, to thank Phil for all he has done.

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Elmore court elmore

quedgeley gloucester england

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Photo by Gareth Hughes

Gerald Glyn Griffiths, the Writer

(Author)

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‘Moggy’ The Morris Minor the Author

(The story Teller)

The Book is Dedicated To

Ernest Griffiths, the Authors Uncle, and to Ernie’s son, John Griffiths, to John Griffiths’s Wife Teresa Griffiths and to their two Daughters, Ellen and Leanne, hopefully it will be a fantastic keepsake for their children, also to all the Griffiths’s and their families of generations to come.

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This photo is when the Author’s Mum and Dad visited the Griffiths family

On their wedding day, 5th June 1934. At Blackwood South Wales.

Granddad Thomas Bryant Griffiths front left,

At the Back left to right: My uncle Alf, Sister Ruth, Aunty May, Cousin Jean.

My Dad, and behind him is Miss Lewis, who at that time was their Servant. My Mum,

Uncle Ernest, on her right,

Then my Grandmother Elizabeth Emanuel Griffiths.

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This is the Story of a Morris Minor 1000 Saloon, the date of its first registration was 24th April 1964, and its Engine Cylinder capacity is 1098.