Grundon Waste Management are proud to be supporting events across the south of England arranged to commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War.
Last Sunday (20 July) Grundon’s marked cart and 1916 Pierce Arrow Model R Lorry attended the Harmondsworth Remembers event in the village of Harmondsworth, near Hillingdon. The event served as a fitting tribute to all who served during The Great War and particularly to the 94 people from the village who died in service.
Grundon’s marked cart has also attended the regions commemorative events
The Pierce Arrow was one of 16,500 of this type built in Buffalo, New York, between 1911 and 1919. It was new to the French Government in 1916 and was retained until the late 1920s when it was sold for a quieter life in the South of France. It was brought back to the UK in 1991 and has been fully restored. The Pierce Arrow was named ‘Best in Class’, in the Special Class for vehicles from the Great War era, at the 53rd London to Brighton Historic Commercial Vehicle Society Run in May this year.
Stephen Grundon used this type of vehicle when he started the company in 1929. At that time, with the Great War only recently ended, there was no shortage of repatriated vehicles on the market. But Stephen wasn’t looking for just any vehicle, he was looking for something very special – a Pierce Arrow. Having paid the considerable sum of £150, Stephen drove the lorry back to Paddington, were he instantly started on fitting out the truck with hydraulic tipping gear. As soon as that was complete it went straight to work with Stephen at the wheel.
The first task in this newly formed enterprise was moving excavated material to build Battersea Power Station. Fuelled by the success of this beginning, the Grundon went on to help build the Marylebone Road and undertake many other waste removal jobs in London.
Grundon’s Pierce Arrow Model R Lorry was fully restored in 1991 and has been
a popular attraction this year at events marking the start of the First World War
The Pierce Arrow will be making further appearances at commemorative events throughout the summer. Its next appearance will be at the Heroes at Highclere, event taking place on Sunday 3 August at Highclere Castle, Hampshire. In addition to the commemoration the event will raise funds to support a variety of armed forces charities as well as humanitarian causes, including Combat Stress, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, The Royal British Legion and Oxfam. Highclere Castle is famed for being the country seat of the Earl and Lady Carnarvon and being the main filming location for the television period drama Downton Abbey.
Later this summer, the Pierce Arrow will form part of the First World War commemorative display at the Great Dorset Steam Fair. Widely recognised as the leading steam and vintage vehicle and machinery heritage event in the world, the Great Dorset Steam Fair takes place between Wednesday 27 August and Sunday 31 August. It is held on a 600 acre showground at Blandford Forum in Dorset and attracts over 200,000 visitors each year.
Speaking about supporting the events to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War, Grundon chairman Norman Grundon said: “We are delighted to be donating our 1916 Pierce Arrow Model R Lorry to a number of events across the region. It is very poignant that this year marks the centenary of the start of the First World War, and we are honoured that we can play a small part in paying tribute to those who lost their lives during the conflict.”
For further information on the Heroes at Highclere event please click here.
For further information on the Great Dorset Steam Fair please click here.
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