H Flack & Son - Flacks of Amersham

H Flack & Son Ltd - White Lion Road, Amersham Common

Later to become Flacks of Amersham

Thought to be one of the earliest garages in the area. Founded by the late Herbert Flack Snr. who had traveled with his wife and family down to Amersham from London in a T model Ford, probably luxury transport for the early 1920s. He took temporary residence at Little Reeves Farm nearby whilst he considered the local area. It was then on 9 November 1921 that Herbert signed the deeds for some land in White Lion Road Amersham Common. He soon started laying the first foundations of a bungalow in which he would eventually be living and without further delay added alongside the first stage of the garage as such. This led to the build up of the business which was to be his sole source of income for many years thereafter.

Not long after he also purchased a nearby house called “Maud Villa” and its extensive garden on the other side of the road with long term expansion plans in mind for the business. The town they had come to was small – population then was about five thousand and very old fashioned by modern standards. Steam trains ran along the local railway line nearby and the stations were lit by candles and oil lamps. He adopted the name “Stanley Garage “ in the early years but it was phased out some years later in favour of the name H Flack which was suffixed later with “& Son” . All the family took part in establishing the business, first with repairing cycles, motorcycles, and it was also the place to get ones two volt acid accumulators charged for the new era of radios which were beginning to appear. At the same time he also offered engineering services to motorists and the local gentry. By 1925 petrol pumps worked by hand had been installed with several popular brands of fuel available. The petrol was also sold in two gallon cans. It was not long before car sales were to be added to the business and the Austin Motor Company awarded the business a local franchise.

The next main landmark was in 1933 when the Singer Motor Company appointed Flack's to be their agents for the local area and the success and reputation in fact spread far beyond. The result being that a Main Dealership for South Bucks was soon forthcoming and which was to last many years. In the meantime, this caused a contractual disagreement with the Austin Motor Company, who soon placed the franchise with another local family business which had also been opened nearby, namely Munn & Chapman at Little Chalfont.

Throughout the foregoing years of building up the business, Herbert Snr. had alongside him his son Herbert William (“Little Bertie” as he was known) together with his sister Ivy, both who endlessly toiled to help give the best of service that the customers would come to appreciate. Adjacent to the motors Herbert Snr’s. Wife Emily set up a “Sweetshop” and a groceries facility in the front room of what was then the family’s accommodation. The popularity of the motor car created the need for engineers to maintain them. A stable workforce was established and amongst those who gave exemplary service to keep the wheels turning were such names as George Foster, Reg Renshaw, Len Freeman, Bob Reading, Len Attridge, Bert Cook and Bill Moreton. World War II saw some of these staff conscripted to do their duty, all of whom were able to return.

During 1972 Herbert Jnr. (Bertie - as he was always known) decided that he would retire and another local well established family business Davenport Vernon & Co Ltd from High Wycombe acquired the business