TWO former employees of iconic Kempsey business Lacey’s Garage are organising a reunion for anyone who worked there during their 60 plus year history.
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Former service manager Bruce Thurgood and apprentice Bruce Caldwell are behind the plan. Mr Thurgood worked at the garage started by from 1946 until 1983. Mr Caldwell is a relative ‘baby’ at the business, working there for five years between to 1966-71.
The story goes that the founder of the garage, Captain Samuel Lacey, used a Ford truck to rescue wounded soldiers from a WWI battlefield.
Henry Ford was said to have been so impressed he offered Samuel Lacey the opportunity to set up a Ford dealership anywhere in Australia.
Melbourne born Mr Lacey chose Kempsey and the rest is history.
Mr Caldwell said a chance conversation got the ball rolling on the reunion idea.
“We were at a funeral actually and a few of us got talking and the stories started coming out and we thought why not have a reunion for the old employees,” Mr Caldwell said.
“I reckon we have a list of about 50 people so far and it is still growing, obviously some of them have died but the reunion will be open to relatives as well so they can still come along and share their memories.”
Mr Thurgood said the business was responsible for a lot of apprentices who went on to bigger things.
“We had 35 staff and we were training probably six apprentices at any one time, so it was a big business by any standards,” Mr Thurgood said.
The business started in Forth St in the early 1920’s before moving to a new site in Smith St a few years later.
Mr Thurgood said he visited the site of the old business recently.
“It is now another retail business and nothing like it was when it was Lacey’s,” he said.
“I was standing there staring at the wall when the lady came over and asked if I needed any assistance.
“I told her that if you could strip the paint off the wall you would find the most incredible mural painted by a local artist.
“I am sure a lot of people would remember it.”
The Lacey's Garage reunion will be held at the Kempsey-Macleay RSL Bowling Club on Saturday, March 19. Contact Bruce Caldwell via email on caldwell@tsn.cc or mobile on 0412 690 394.
