Brian James Unwin (1934 - 2007)

Born 28 May 1934 in Tempsford, Bedfordshire, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 16 Jan 2007 at age 72 in Banbury, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Paul Unwin [send private message]

Biography

Brian James UNWIN aka "Jim" was born 28th May 1934 at 18 Church Street, Tempsford, Bedfordshire, to William Harry Arthur and Mabel Unwin (nee Sherman). He had two elder brothers: Harley Spencer and Malcolm George (Mac). Harley Spencer died in infancy following influenza.

His childhood memories were dominated by his personal experiences of WW2. His neighbourhood was hit by at least one V1 bomb. and he experienced first hand the movement of camouflage at the secret airstrip at RAF Tempsford. His technical schooling was under whelming and he left aged 15.

Both Jim and Mac followed in their father's footsteps working at Luton Motors (Later Vauxhall Motors - Luton). Mac stuck it out (like his dad) and eventually became a senior manager with Vauxhall Motors parent company General Motors. Jim however was short in many ways, in stature, attention span and temperament. He moved on quickly trying his hand at a wide range of different jobs.

Jim seems never to have been averse to risk. In these early years he spent time as a steeple jack and National Hunt Jockey - even winning a race at Doncaster. He didn't like being told what to do and left one job having hit a superior whose attitude he didn't like.

His £250 winnings from his race win were gambled away within 24 hours. Whilst this loss scared him away from ever betting again, his money management skills never really developed. He made the accountants job very easy, consistently spending more than he earnt.

Between the ages of 18 and 20 he undertook National Military Service between 17 Jul 1952 and Jun 1954 serving with the Middle East Land Force (MELF) in the Canal Zone as private 22695457. On 22 Dec 1953 his vehicle was ambushed by Arab terrorists. The driver sat at his side: Don Mason was shot dead. (no record of Don Mason yet found) Later during the gun battle Jim was injured in the leg probably from shrapnel. He was promoted to Corporal soon after in Mar 1954. His Archivist role in camp, must have put in some awkward situations. He was responsible for seeking out offices with lax security, stealing papers, reporting such security lapses to his superiors.

The testimonial, given to him at the end of his military service described him "small but wiry physique and quick witted. He is always prepared to work extra hours to complete outstanding work and he has a good memory for detail . . . inclined to stick his neck out unnecessarily at times"

He had been a keen cyclist and his wiry physique will have been a distinct advantage. He completed the Tour of Egypt despite the risks posed to him by militants' razor wire and wild dogs.

After his National Service Jim returned to his family at 35 Icknield Way, Luton and tried a number of different jobs eventually falling into sales for (amongst others) Smedley's, and Kenning. Jim was a talker, so sales suited him. What didn't perhaps suit him was living out of a suitcase. He became addicted to alcohol and was warned at 30 that if he didn't give up alcohol, that he wouldn't see 35. He was able to give up his habit, and never drank again.

In the days before speed limits he would tune up cars and drive them at speed. Whilst courting Jen he owned a black Mini Cooper with twin Weber carburettors and go faster stripes. They both recall one journey on the M1 where their speed exceeded 130mph. His reputation went before him and he was asked by local mob if he wanted to be a get away driver. He politely declined.

His next car was a larger Ford Zephyr. Whilst returning to London from a business trip, he stopped to help a gentleman who was broken down on the side of the motorway. The gentleman introduced himself as John Biffen MP, and said he was due to be at the Houses of Parliament for a vote. Ever the good Samaritan, Jim offered to tow him to London. The excitement of the imminent birth of his first son must have diverted his attention, as he forgot that he had someone on tow and put his foot down. It was some time later into the journey that Jim did something that he rarely thought necessary and checked his mirrors. He was surprised to see the MP, just 12 feet behind scared witless holding onto the steering wheel of his car as though his life depended upon it. Biffen did get to his debate on time, and in a letter from him to the family shortly after Jim's death he recalled the journey as "unforgettable"

Jim met Jennifer Margaret Howe in Beckenham, London in 1967 and they went on to be married on 20th April 1968 in Wimbledon, London. They enjoyed a short honeymoon in Dorset. True to form, Jim ran out of money within 2 days. Later, during one of many cash-strapped periods, he had to sell a pair of boots used by Harry Relph, (the famous Victorian music hall comedian aka "Little Tich") in his Big Boots dance. He sold them for a much needed £50 in cash. Jim was always short of money.

Jim and Jen moved to Banbury from St Albans in 1973 and raised two sons Paul Christian (1969) and David Jason (1972)

He ran businesses during the 1970s and 80s, with mixed success with two being forced into administration. His later professional years were spent as a Supply Chain Consultant, initially for the the Business Link service division of the Department of Trade and Industry. He provided the service with its biggest ever "win" in the development of the supply chain for the Diamond Synchotron Light Source Facility at Harwell. Upon the dissolution of this service in the early 2000s he took this expertise into self employment.

Despite being barely 5ft3, he was not shy when faced with opportunities to get stuck in. In the 1960s he was commended by the Metropolitan Police for chasing after and apprehending a thief. Even in his 70s he chased thieves who stole a laptop from his Land Rover whilst he was paying in a petrol station. He was dragged 20 meters down the road by the escaping car whilst hanging onto the windscreen wipers. He was very lucky not to come to significant harm.

During his later years he became a keen amateur genealogist, collecting many records relating to the Unwin family tree. Much of the documentary evidence for the Unwin family tree results from this work.

Jim died following an aortic aneurism on 16th January 2007 aged 72.

• Fact: Birth Registration (1934) Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, England
• Fact: Residence Banbury, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom

Sources

Original Birth Certificate DA 167148 Entry #308 Biggleswade, Bedford

• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 29 March 2021, 15:56), entry for Brian James Unwin(PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:GC8D-G8B); contributed by various users.
• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 18 April 2020, 14:47), entry for Brian James Unwin(PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:LRDN-29C); contributed by various users.

• https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVQZ-83FV

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Tich

• https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/what-was-the-suez-crisis

• https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/184426940/person/362403047704/story