![ONE OF THE BEST](https://cdn.magzter.com/1658490768/1690185476/articles/7jdiSjVsd1690346842982/ONE-OF-THE-BEST.jpg)
Walter Owen Bentley – WO to those who knew him – did not start out as an automobile engineer but worked on heavier engineering. Born on 16 September 1888 at Hampstead, London he was the youngest of nine children of Alfred and Emily Bentley. WO Bentley was educated at Clifton College, Bristol from 1902 until 1905 when he left to start work as an apprentice at the Doncaster Locomotive Works of the Great Northern Railway. Here he learned his engineering skills and by 1909 was ready to experience his childhood ambition to operate a steam locomotive; this came true and he became a fireman on locomotives out of London King’s Cross.
Like many young men of the time, Bentley acquired a motorcycle, a 3hp Quadrant and used it daily in Doncaster. Becoming a proficient rider, in 1907 he entered the 400-mile London to Edinburgh Trial, staged by the Motor Cycling Club. These early motorcycles were prone to problems and Bentley had his fair share of them en route but he reached Edinburgh just before the scheduled deadline, and so qualified for a gold medal in his first sporting trial. On leaving the Great Northern Railway, WO acquired a DFP (Doriot, Flandrin & Parant) motor car; made in France it was quite a sporty machine and in 1912 WO, with his brother HM, bought the UK agency for DFP and registered Bentley and Bentley as sole agents. The marque was popular and, with WO driving, was seen in various sporting events.
This story is from the August 2023 edition of Best of British.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 2023 edition of Best of British.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
!["A Personal Stab of Shock and Horror"](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/27257/1482893/W34UXO0vq1698233453069/crp_A-PERSONAL-STAB-OF-SHOCK-AND-HORROR.jpg)
"A Personal Stab of Shock and Horror"
Chris Hallam looks back on the British reaction to President Kennedy's assassination
![A BUILDING BONANZA](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/27257/1482893/kS0pZFjco1698234652779/A-BUILDING-BONANZA.jpg)
A BUILDING BONANZA
Claire Saul samples some of the entries in a new publication from the National Trust
![ON TARGET](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/27257/1482893/05uZzMKcb1698234483661/ON-TARGET.jpg)
ON TARGET
Russell Cook browses through 50 years of a publishing phenomenon
![The Rise and Fall of Poole Pottery](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/27257/1482893/TQIJPmvyE1698233982232/THE-RISE-AND-FALL-OF-POOLE-POTTERY.jpg)
The Rise and Fall of Poole Pottery
Steve Annandale charts the history of what was, by the 1990s, Dorset's most significant tourist attraction
![DOCTOR HO-HO!](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/27257/1482893/0fYWQ1P2G1698233873338/DOCTOR-HOHO.jpg)
DOCTOR HO-HO!
Robert Ross takes a swift spin through some of the comedy stars who have stumbled into the Tardis
![The Three Ronnies](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/27257/1482893/easQiAGq01698233729883/THE-THREE-RONNIES.jpg)
The Three Ronnies
Martin Handley celebrates the talents of a trio of composers
![A RARE OLD SCRAMBLE](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/27257/1482893/RlH5Y6f0N1698233334830/A-RARE-OLD-SCRAMBLE.jpg)
A RARE OLD SCRAMBLE
Colin Allan has fond memories of tuning in to Grandstand to watch scrambling on winter afternoons in the sport's golden age of the 1960s
![THE ULTIMATE RESPONSE](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/27257/1482893/E27buZfBU1698233167983/THE-ULTIMATE-RESPONSE.jpg)
THE ULTIMATE RESPONSE
Roger Harvey nominates a sculpture in his native Newcastle as the most poignant and powerful memorial to duty and heroism
![POSTCARD FROM CHESHIRE](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/27257/1482893/VI6I8JNXW1698232928689/POSTCARD-FROM-CHESHIRE.jpg)
POSTCARD FROM CHESHIRE
Bob Barton finds out about subsidence, timber-framed buildings, boat lifts, waterways and Lewis Carroll, taking it all with a pinch of salt
![OVER HERE](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/27257/1482893/bpbWL7FXo1698232339637/OVER-HERE.jpg)
OVER HERE
Michael Foley looks back at how the people of East Anglia reacted to the American \"invasion\" during World War Two that saw the building of dozens of airfields