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Alan_tbt
Quiet_Mike
A heads up on a local Southampton Heritage group on facebook made me take a trip out to the old Rotrax shop in Shirley last week. The previous tennants had moved on, taking their cheap plastic shop sign with them, revealing an old sign underneath.
I was surprised to see there was no hint of a Rotrax sign though? And who was 'W. HARVELL.' ??
Some googling refreshed my memory. Bill Harvell was a lightweight cycle specialist from the 30’s through to the 60’s. He had a couple of shops, one in Hillsea, Portsmouth, and this one in Shirley, Southampton. After the war ended he sold this to the recently RAF demobbed Freddie Prince. (Freddie and Bill raced and time trialed together before the war)
Freddie then set up Rotrax Cycles here. (So this shop sign is from the 1930's!)
Bill carried on with his small but popular cycle shop in Hillsea.
Bill had an outstanding career as a cyclist, competing at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics and the 1934 Empire Games in Manchester, winning bronze medals in each.
For more info on Bill there are a couple of excellent online articles I recommend you read -
www.missmargueritewilson.com/blog?fbclid=IwAR1lwkHe4CJuVS...
www.classiclightweights.co.uk/harvell-watts-reminiscences...
1932 Los Angeles Olympics by Mike, on Flickr
Bill Harvell, cycle shop sign reveal by Mike, on Flickr
Bill Harvell, cycle shop sign reveal by Mike, on Flickr