OLD PLYMOUTH . UK
www.oldplymouth.uk
 

©  Brian Moseley, Plymouth
Webpage created: December 25, 2021
Webpage updated: December 26, 2021

        

WHO WAS WHO IN OLD PLYMOUTH

MICHAEL ARTHUR TURNER (1925-2001)

Michael Arthur Turner was born on June 22nd 1925 to Mr Arthur Charles Turner (1888-1953), motor engineer, and his wife, the former Miss Maud Harriet Nash, who he had married on December 28th 1913 at the Anglican Church of Saint Matthias the Apostle.

It is not known exactly when he became the managing director of Messrs A C Turner Limited but he took over full control of the business following the death of his father on Friday July 24th 1953.

On October 1st 1955 Messrs A C Turner Limited incorporated the business of Messrs Car Sales (Plymouth) Limited, of Summerland Place.  They continued to be the Austin dealer for Plymouth and East Cornwall, with Mr M A Turner, son of the founder, and Mr Percy Fletcher (1899-1969), the founder of Car Sales, as joint managing directors.  Other directors were Mrs M H Turner, Mrs J C Fletcher and Mr F J W Hodgson, company secretary.

Austin House, in Tavistock Road, was retained as a showroom but the main administrative work was moved to the fine building in Summerland Place.  Turner's former workshop in Kirkby Place, North Road, was to continue to be used as a repair depot for Austin commercial vehicles.  Work was then underway to provide the ground floor of the Summerland Place building with an entrance and window facing on to the Derry's Cross roundabout.  The whole of the ground floor was to be devoted to showroom and displays.  The petrol station in Summerland Place would continue.  The first floor, previously used for parking, was to be used for stores and spares while the remaining two floors would be the workshops for Austin cars and commercial vehicles.

Following the redevelopment of the Tavistock Road site, the building in Summerland Place had taken over the title of Austin House by 1969.  Messrs A C Turner Limited continued as motor engineers while Messrs Car Sales (Plymouth) Limited were car hire contractors.  They shared the same telephone number, Plymouth 62333. 

Mr Michael Arthur Turner died in Plymouth on March 8th 2001 at the age of 75.