| There were 13 original members of MIPAA – or as it was first known, Spoke ‘n’ Wheel (later Motoring Public Relations Association) |
| Here we provide brief bioglets of these pioneer PRs (starting with their position at the time of MIPAA’s founding). Each was made an honorary member of MIPAA on the occasion of its 30th anniversary in 1998 and many are still practising their craft in one form or another (even if only in the time honoured fashion of enjoying a good networking lunch. This status was confirmed by the Directors of MIPAA Limited on its founding in 2006. |
| JEREMY BARRETT First “Secretary” of the Spoke |
| PR director of the Road Transport Industry Training Board. After a brief spell as director of PR for Conoco was appointed to the board of BSM (British School of Motoring) in April 1970. Nearly 10 years later in Feb 1980 he became a one-man-multi-national conglomerate when he established the first ever Robot rental company in Europe. Between 1980 and 1999 participated in 893 events (motor shows, exhibitions, presentations and conferences) all over the world.In 1982 he trained to become a Polygraph, examiner and in 1983 incorporated Polygraph Security Service to provide a lie detection service in Europe. Has since conducted hundreds of tests (lost count!) in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Still provides a lie detection service but with increased competition, he is thankful not to be as busy as he was.Site supervisor, overseer and errand boy during the building of a new house which was completed in 2006. Lives in Wimbledon with wife Daphne who still puts up with him after 40+ years. They have recently built and moved into a new house and vow never to build another one! Prefers lunches to dinners. |
| GETHIN BRADLEY FCIPR Spoke Chairman 1971 & 1976-78 |
| MIPAA secretary for 16 years. Created honorary life president in 1991 and now honorary secretary. Deputy chairman of Good Relations Limited with consulting responsibilities for Jensen Motors; Smiths Industries Radiomobile;Triplex Glass and Alan Fraser Racing. Later handled a range of automotive accounts such as Lucas Industries; Girling Brakes; Philips Car Audio; Perkins Diesel; Ogle Design; Michelin tyres ;DeLorean Motors and Honda Motor Europe amongst othersBecame a friend of the Guild of Motoring Writers (one of maximum 20) in 1996 and presented with the MIPAA Chairman’s Trophy in 2004. Currently lives in Westbere near Canterbury and continues as an international public relations consultant. |
| PATRICK FITZ-GIBBON MIPR Spoke Chairman 1974-75 and sometime Treasurer |
| Press & public relations manager, Smiths Industries. 1979 joined Unipart as manager public relations and official company spokesman. 1987 Group PR manager. 1994 group special events manager. 1998 group communications manager. Job functions covered all media relations UK and internationally, and specific internal relations programmes. Responsibility for creating special events and sponsorship programmes and using them as marketing tools i.e. FI, Polo, Power boating, Unipart Lichfield Calendar etc. Corporate hospitality, shows and exhibitions, UK and internationally. Trade evening programmes and community relations activity. Part of 8 man team responsible for driving the privatisation of Unipart. 2001 joined BEN (Motor Trade Benevolent Fund) as head of events. Responsibility for expanding, maximising and optimising events as a major revenue stream for the Fund. Drove the Fund’s initial planning in celebrating its 100th Anniversary.2006 took partial early retirement and set up Fitz-Gibbon Associates with occasional contracts with DTI, Oxford Orchestra Da Camera and local OxfordCurrently retired and living in Steeple Aston, Oxfordshire. The odd bit of consultancy through Fitz-Gibbon Associates, but really enjoying retirement and spending the kids’ inheritance on loads of holidays. |
| KEVIN GOVER |
| 1968 was a regular visitor to the Steering Wheel Club, partner in the consultancy Nicholas Mendes & Associates and a chairman of the fledgling IPR Midlands Group. Career: 1944-48, service in RN. 1949-53, district reporter local newspapers. 1953-56 technical journalist, Iliffe Press, London. 1956 -66, press & PR officer, Austin Motor Co./BMC (where – jointly with the late Tony Dawson of Morris Motors fame – he ran the international press launch of the Mini in Longbridge and NW Scotland). 1966-72, NMA with consulting responsibilities for Volvo Concessionaires, Glas Cars and the launch of the Carter Electric Car, which caused a great stir at the time but later disappeared without trace! 1972-91 head of PR & public affairs at Volvo Concessionaires Ltd. 1991 – retired but retained as a consultant to the company for some years. Now living in Hermitage, Berkshire. |
| TREVOR HOSKINS MPRA (MIPAA) First Chairman |
| Group press officer for Lucas. Public relations officer then promoted to public relations manager – Goodyear Tyre & Rubber Company Sept 1970 –March 1975Transferred to the United States to Goodyear International as public relations manager – March 1975-Oc 1977, and director public relations Oct 1977-July 1986. Director special activities, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. July 1986- Dec 1988. Director public relations, Bridgestone Tire & Rubber Co. Jan 1989-April 1990. At Bridgestone/Firestone, director public relations, April-June 1990, executive director public relations, June 1990- April 1991 vice president public affairs, April 1991-January 1997. Ultimately became senior vice president public affairs, Bridgestone/Firestone from Jan 1997– Oct 1998, remained a consultant to company on retiring. Now lives in Blaine in Washington State USA |
| DENNIS MILLER-WILLIAMS |
| Publicity manager Rolls-Royce car division. Joined Rolls-Royce Limited in 1955, became publicity manager car division in 1960, and in 1971 PR manager Rolls-Royce Motors London 1984-2000 was Managing Director Motor Cavalcades Ltd. Friend of the Guild of Motoring Writers. Dennis is now retired and lives Halesworth Suffolk |
| NORMAN J MILNE |
| Group PR manager Automotive Products Group Leamington Spa Group HQ. 1954-66 Austin Morris Company and BMC; apprentice to press officer commercial vehicles, tractors & gas turbines. 1966-71 group public relations officer/manager Automotive Products Group. 1971-77 publicity manager Tube Investments Ltd.1977-97 moved to Scotland and into consultancy; Hall PR ;Milne & Nicol PR consultancy handling national/governmental/industrial/consumer accounts as managing director and senior partner1986-2000 became owner of Safari Scotland ”discover the difference” tour operator off road touring and specialist holidaysNorman is retired in Kinghorn, Fife but is involved in many Austin & BMC historic activities concerning some six owners clubs and membership of the Federation of Austin Clubs, registers & associations |
| KEN MOYES |
| Press and public relations officer SMMT. Reporter/feature writer North Kent Newspaper Group 1943-54;press and PR officer SMMT 1954-68;planning and organising an overseas PR campaign for British motor manufacturers in Europe and Africa .Inaugurating British car test days overseas (Vienna & Rome). British motor industry press conferences at European motor shows (Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt, Geneva, Paris). PR manager, General Motors Ltd 1968-80;introducing Opel cars (now badged Vauxhall); the first new import since the war and promoting the image of GM Corporation and its US division and worldwide subsidiaries together with the five GM component plants in the UK. Vauxhall PR manager 1980-89. Freelance PR work 1990-96 mainly for GM’s US divisions and the Detroit sSymphony Orchestra’s European tours.Ken has retired and still lives in St Albans |
| SIMON PEARSON MCIPR Original committee member and early honorary treasurer |
| PA to director of PR, Leyland Motor Corporation. Appointed PR executive, Standard Triumph in 1969; BL London PR manager 1974; motor sport manager 1974-77Toyota GB PR manager 1977-79; Fiat Auto PR manager 1979-81 ; Freelance PR with clients including BMW, Renault, Toyota, Nissan, Weber Concessionaires; 1985 bought by KBH Communications appointed equity-holding director with clients including Maranello, London Motor Show, TRACKER, Porsche; KBH acquired by Bell Pottinger (Chime Plc) in 1996, appointed director of Good Relations with clients including Volkswagen, Alfa Romeo and still LMS; 2004 return to freelance work with clients including GKN Driveline, Ford and most recently, the Racing Steps Foundation.Lives in Putney, South West London, working both from home and Bell Pottinger offices in Holborn, WC2. |
| ALAN POWELL Past chairman 1973-4 |
| Company secretary/director, Good Relations, Ltd. 1948-50 reporter, Beckenham & Penge Advertiser, part of Croydon Advertiser Group; 1950-60 reporter and specialist writer The Times, including Parliamentary staff ; 1960-63 press officer, English Electric Co., and group press officer, Atomic Power Group ; 1963-66 press officer, Rootes Group, in charge of press fleet ; 1966-70, company secretary, director, Good Relations ; 1970-74 press officer, Michelin Tyre Co (member SMMT Public Affairs committee) ; 1974-2007 freelance journalist/PR consultant – clients included Volvo, Saab, Toyota, Mazda, Kia, Vauxhall, Daihatsu ; TWR Racing ; Retainacar, Trico, Guild of Experienced Motorists and National Tyre Distributors’ Assocn. Associate member of Guild of Motoring Writers.Semi-retired. Lives in the former workhouse at Brockenhurst, in the New Forest. |
| LAURENCE SULTAN Second MPRA chairman 1969-1971 |
| Publicity Manager Castrol Ltd. Deceased 25 August 2005 aged 87 |
| ALAN TREWEEKE First Honorary Treasurer |
| Chief executive advertising & public relations Lombard Banking & Lombank Ltd. Responsible for sponsorship of RAC rally of Gt Britain; circuit of Ireland and Scottish rallies. PR for group and world wide advertising Lombard Group 1958-70; marketing manager BMW GB Ltd 1970-74. Alan Treweeke Enterprises Ltd – accounts included BMW Aramis Toiletries; Int Motor Show (outside Events). Produced motorshow show 1977 for Lucas Industries, at first Birmingham Motor Show. Handled boat show Earls Court; Royal Tournament PR director; Mazda car launches; British show team for P&O.Presented with GOMW chairman’s cup in 2002. Alan now lives in Dorset;(Broadwindsor) and gets consulted occasionally |
| KEITH WEBB Dip CAM, CMIPR |
| In 1968 was Trevor Hoskins’ assistant in the Lucas Group press office. His primary contribution at that time, at the age of 21, being Trevors’ chauffeur and enthusiastic supporter of his early efforts to form the Spoke with fond memories of one of the earliest planning meetings held at the Playboy Club in Park Lane!Promoted in 1970 to Chief press officer, Lucas Industries, and then deputy group public relations manager in 1971. Joined Edson Evers & Associates as consultant on the first day of the three day week in 1972. Became associate partner in 1974 and Partner in 1976. Clients at that time included Lucas sales & service, Girling, Rockwell International Automotive Operations (Europe) Inc, Irmscher UK.Edson Evers is arguably the oldest, independent, business to business consultancy in the UK. As a member of International Public Relations Network (IPRN), the consultancy has a worldwide capability, primarily in the construction, building and home interest sectors.Keith retains some links with the automotive industry via Autocom Associates of Detroit, USA, and carries out projects on their behalf in both the UK and Germany. Now senior partner in every sense of the word, Keith (as a born and bred Brummie) still lives near Birmingham. |
