Sir Raymond Dennis, K.B.E.
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"All a-long, down a-long, out a-long, lee." This fragment of a famous song will serve to indicate that the subject of the sketch printed on a separate supplement with this week's issue is connected with Glorious Devon. Our first recollection of Sir Raymond Dennis goes back to the pioneer days of motoring, when he was winning races on a Dennis motor-tricycle, mostly on grass tracks. There was a time, too, when his hobby was a speedy motor boat, and he was in great demand on the Thames as an umpire at regattas. He lived for quite a while up the river, and he has been seen spending strenuous, but yet happy, times at the Temple Golf Club, near Henley. He has a liking, too, for a turn of speed on the road.
Sir Raymond has a charming personality and, when the commercial side of him appears, he is extremely genial, but shrewd and calculating withal. He comes from a very old Devonshire family and, together with his brother John (a J.P. for the county and about whom we hope to write at seme future date). has succeeded in establishing a marvellous business,. with a reputation second to none. They are the pioneers of the overhead worm gear, and were the first successfully to apply the turbine pump to motor fire-engines. Sir Raymond Dennis is a managing director of Dennis Bros., Ltd., and a director of White and Poppe, Ltd. He is a member of the councilof the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, also of the Association of British Motor Manufacturers, and a member of the -Institute of Transport.
Sir Raymond settled down a while ago not a long way from the works at Guildford, at a beautiful place known as Piccard's Rough, and, according to one who knows him well, he "hardly ever goes to London now."
Before he married he made a momentous trip abroad. He is a great believer in overseas trade and, in order to investigate actual conditions and the possibilities of mechanical road transport, he made during 1920-21 a tour of 6,000 miles, visiting India, Burma, the Straits Settlements, Java, China, Japae, Australasia and South America. This business trip occupied nearly two years, Cad worked wonders in cementing the good relationships with the agents and connections of his company.
It is hoped that in subsequent issues we may be able to give sketches of other men prominent in our industry.