First Driving Licence
John and Nora returned to England and took up residence at 87 Culver Road, St Albans.
Return to England — Lord Gladstone
After returning from Egypt, Davies’s life took another turn. By 1926 he was associated with Viscount Gladstone, for whom he would work at Dane End in Hertfordshire.
This British School of Motoring certificate, dated 11 June 1926, records Davies’s address as “c/o Rt. Hon. Viscount Gladstone, 9 Cleveland Square, St James’s Palace”, and confirms that he had completed a course of instruction in motor-car driving.
Dane End
Davies subsequently joined the household of Viscount Gladstone at Dane End House, near Ware, Hertfordshire.
The Cyclist
John Davies in 1926, looking overdressed for a casual bike ride in the countryside. I suspect that this photograph was taken when visiting Dane End.
Visit to see uncle Leonard
On return from Egypt one of their first ports of call in their motorbike and sidecar was to go and see uncle Leonard and aunt Rose . I do not know the location but in June 1921 Leonard and Rose were living at Southill Barracks, which was a military installation located off Maidstone Road in Chatham, Kent, historically associated with the Army Service Corps. However, this is post 1925.
Lord Gladstone Bequest
Davies spent a considerable amount of time driving Viscount Gladstone and was on friendly terms with him. Within the household he was known simply as “Jack”. Gladstone died on 6 March 1930, bringing Davies’s years at Dane End to an end. In his Will, Gladstone remembered “Jack” with a bequest of £300.