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W S Love 1926-2012 – past president RLS

His family were well known bodybuilders and wheelwrights based at Ledgers, Paddock Wood, Kent. When they needed a traction engine it was hired in from George Ellis (Jessie Ellis’ father) and they used a Reading Iron Works engine to drive the machinery at the works, it was still around in the late 1930s but out of use. It was replaced with a former local water board 25hp Hornsby i/c stationary engine.

The brothers also used a First World War Avery 12-25 tractor that was sadly scrapped during the first scrap drive of 1938. In fact Love Brothers produced the first motorised fire pump for Canterbury Fire Brigade based on a Model T Ford before the First World War. They also owned other businesses in the area, including a farm and the local paper shop.

Bill’s interest in steam started with the Southern Railway in the 1930s, just down the road from where he lived. The Hawkhurst branch, which started in the right-hand bay of Paddock Wood railway station, featured Stirling R class and Wainwright H class suburban 0-4-4 tank engines beside O1 and C class 0-6-0 tender locomotives as time went on.

Bill’s father helped nurture his son’s interest in engineering and on various school holidays during the early part of the Second World War he worked for Walter Arnold at Brambridges, East Peckham, Kent in the workshops. These were the famous user of road steam in the area, but at that time most of the engines were gone or laid dormant, along with the Fowler 180hp Gyrotiller in the corner of the yard.

The highlight of the summer at Paddock Wood was the annual carnival and fair. This combined a number of fairground operators under the leadership of Thomas (later Teddy) Andrews from Tunbridge Wells. However the memory of Fred Ward’s 1899 Fowler 7hp R class 8331 Electric always stood out, particularly when later on in time he found out the condition of its firebox while in steam, sadly this engine was scrapped in 1942. In the late 1950s the annual carnival would be steam led by Don Eastwood’s 1911 Burrell 3285 Scenic Showman's ‘King George VI’, which came right past Ivy House, the family home at the time, in Commercial Road, Paddock Wood.

After his military service, Bill’s father introduced his son to contractor Chris Lambert, based a short distance from Horsmonden railway station. Chris inspired so many, as he tried to collect the oldest and the youngest of the engine makers he came across. With the welcome he was given, Bill became part of the team and as time went on helped steam the engines for the annual June ‘steam up’ here, which included the parade around Horsmonden. This was very much a first in the United Kingdom at the time and took place until Lambert’s death and sale in 1955.

In those early days, and through Lambert’s yard, Bill was to meet the late Michael V Pink, another pioneer, who in 1949 bought his 1904 Fletcher designed Clayton & Shuttleworth 36336 7hp traction engine ‘Peggy’. He regularly helped Michael with the engine, which was based for some time at Horsmonden, even when Eastwood took over Lambert’s yard.

Bill was involved with the organisation of the pioneering 1950s Paddock Wood rallies with Bob Whitehead and others and was a founder and honorary member of the Weald of Kent Traction Engine Society. In February 1955 he became a member of the RLS and in 1959 became secretary of the Road Locomotive Society, the largest society of its type at the time.

He held the post for some 16 years during which he was very diligent and soothed out various problems in the background. In 1976 he became RLS president, to be followed by librarian during which time he developed and extended the collection as no other librarian had done before.

It was in the 2005 that the RLS gave him a special memento of 50-plus years' service to the preservation movement and the society, which he was delighted to receive.
Besides his vast knowledge on rail and road steam, not confined to just UK manufacturers, he had infinite knowledge of the North American and European traction engine market. He was just as well versed on internal combustion makers from stationary engines to all types of wheeled transport, including ships, jet fighters and planes.

He was an excellent black and white photographer, developed most of his pictures and provided many pictures for periodicals and some books over the years.

This shy retiring person was highly respected and will be sorely missed by all. Never one to push himself to the forefront, he could be counted on to tell you the missing fact if you asked him. If he didn’t know he would research the matter diligently and get back to you.

As Bob Cook the RLS membership secretary as said recently: “He was a proper gentleman.”

In his day he was an excellent motor technician, a great electrical ‘wizard’ and very good with a lathe. Motor wise he could sort out problems others had given up on. In the 1960s he worked on such exotica as Bugatti, Talbot-Lago, Maserati and even the Brooklands lap record holder John Cobb Napier-Railton.

He was also a great driver and drove his son’s crash gearbox 1950 Bedford (Bessie) OL 5 ton lorry with Anthony tail lift like no other. However, he had driven such Bedford vehicles during his military service, besides Guys, Leyland and AECs for London Country (London Transport).

A thanksgiving service for his life will be held at 11.30am on Friday, February 10 at St Stephen's Church, Tonbridge, Kent, all are welcome to attend.

He leaves a wife Marion, son Peter who continues his legacy on, and daughter-in-law Jayne.