Clerk’s Notes – April 2026

Eric Morecambe: A century of laughter, leather seats and the lovely hum of a V8

I thought this month I would take a slightly different turn in the Clerk’s Notes. Those of you who kindly indulge me each month will know I do my best to make these pages more than a list of dates, deadlines and diary notes – a small moment of interest, reflection or amusement amid the business of the Company. And with the Coachmakers’ deep affection for heritage, craftsmanship and the great British motor car, it seemed only fitting to mark the anniversary of the birth of a man whose life combined all three in his own unmistakable way: Eric Morecambe.

A national treasure, a master of timing, and – as it happens – a devoted enthusiast of classic cars, including two machines that would be right at home in any Coachmaker’s conversation: the Jensen Interceptor and the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow. So, in the spirit of keeping these notes informative and enjoyable, I offer this month’s reflection as a small tribute to a century of laughter, leather seats, and the gentle hum of a well-tuned V8.

Eric Morecambe would have been 100 this month, a milestone that invites not only celebration but a kind of gentle national sigh – the fond exhalation reserved for figures who shaped the emotional landscape of a country. His comedy partnership with Ernie Wise remains one of the great cultural touchstones of post war Britain, a shared language of sketches, catchphrases, and Christmas rituals. Yet behind the stage lights and the perfect timing lay a quieter, more personal passion: cars. Not just any cars, but the kind of machines that seemed to embody the contradictions of Eric himself – elegant yet unpretentious, powerful yet warm, unmistakably British yet with a hint of American swagger. As we look back on his life, it becomes impossible not to see how these cars – the Jensen Interceptor and the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow – became part of the story, as revealing in their way as any sketch or punchline.

The Jensen Interceptor arrived in Eric’s life in 1968, a year of professional triumph and personal strain. The car itself was a marvel of Anglo-Italian collaboration: a sweeping coupé body designed by Carrozzeria Touring, wrapped around a thunderous Chrysler sourced 6.3 litre V8. The specifications alone read like a love letter to excess – a 383 cubic inch engine producing around 326 horsepower, a curb weight of 1,575kg, and a fuel tank large enough to make petrol stations nervous.

Its long bonnet, wrap-around rear window, and muscular stance made it look like something a British secret agent might drive if he wanted to be noticed rather than discreet. It was, in short, a car that made a statement, and Eric, who never took himself too seriously, enjoyed the incongruity of a comedian driving something that looked like it should come with its own theme music.

The Interceptor, with its leather seats, wood veneer, and unapologetic thirst, suited him perfectly. It was a car for someone who had worked hard, who had earned a little glamour, and who understood that life’s pleasures were to be enjoyed rather than displayed.

Yet the Interceptor would become forever linked to one of the most dramatic moments of Eric’s life. In November 1968, after a performance at the Batley Variety Club, he suffered his first heart attack. Driving through the dark Yorkshire streets, he felt the pain intensify and pulled over to ask a young man, Walter Butterworth, for directions to the nearest hospital. When the pain became unbearable, Eric handed him the keys and asked him to drive. Butterworth had never driven anything like the Interceptor before — he later said he had only ever driven a tank in the Territorial Army – but he managed to get Eric to Leeds Infirmary in time. The story has been told many times, but it never loses its poignancy or its humour. Even as he was being wheeled away, Walter asked Eric to sign a piece of paper so he could prove to his friends that he had driven a Jensen Interceptor with a national treasure in the passenger seat.

If the Jensen represented the glamorous, slightly dangerous side of Eric’s motoring life, the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow represented something deeper: Stability, maturity, and a kind of earned serenity. Delivered to him in October 1974, the car was finished in walnut brown and bore the registration EM 100, a plate that delighted him for its simplicity and its potential for mischief. The Silver Shadow was a masterpiece of British engineering, a full-size luxury car with a 6.75-litre V8 producing around 200 horsepower, self-levelling suspension, and an interior that felt like the smoking room of a gentleman’s club. It was not a car for showing off; it was a car for arriving in, quietly and with dignity.

Eric loved it. He loved the comfort, the silence, the way the world seemed to soften when viewed through its windows. But he also loved subverting its grandeur. There is a photograph of him standing beside the car, striking a mock pompous pose, as if he were auditioning for the role of a minor aristocrat. His humour was always rooted in the everyday, and the Rolls-Royce became another prop in his ongoing performance – a reminder that luxury, like fame, was something to be enjoyed lightly.

Gary Morecambe remembered that his father preferred to sit in the front passenger seat rather than the back, even when chauffeured. “He liked to chat,” Gary said. “He liked to see where he was going.” The back seat, with its deep cushions and fold down tables, was for naps, not for living. Eric was not a man who wanted to be separated from the world; he wanted to be part of it, even if he was travelling in a car that seemed designed to create distance.

The Silver Shadow stayed with him for a decade, through the height of his fame and the quieter years that followed. It carried him to studios, theatres, fishing trips, and family holidays. It was present for the triumphs and the setbacks, the laughter and the silences. When he died in 1984, the car remained with the family for another 20 years, a kind of rolling memory, before finally being sold at auction. By then it had become more than a vehicle; it was a relic, a piece of the Morecambe mythology.

Biographers have often noted that Eric’s relationship with cars reflected his relationship with success. He enjoyed the trappings of fame, but he never let them define him. He liked nice things, but he liked them best when they could be shared – a drive with a friend, a joke with a passer by, a moment of absurdity in a petrol station. His cars were extensions of his personality: stylish but approachable, powerful but never intimidating, elegant but always ready for a laugh.

One story, told by a colleague, captures this perfectly. After a fishing trip with Mike Fountain, the Silver Shadow returned home full of mud, tackle, and the unmistakable smell of damp waders. A passer-by remarked, “You shouldn’t treat a Rolls-Royce like that.” Eric, without missing a beat, replied, “Quite right. Next time I’ll take Ernie’s car.” It was a small moment, but it revealed the essence of the man – the ability to puncture pretension, to find humour in the ordinary, to remind everyone that life was not to be taken too seriously.

As we mark the anniversary of his birth, it becomes clear that Eric Morecambe’s legacy is not confined to the sketches, the catchphrases, or the Christmas specials. It lives in the stories, the memories, the way people still smile when his name is mentioned. And it lives, too, in the cars he loved – the Jensen Interceptor with its roaring V8 and dramatic silhouette, and the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow with its quiet dignity and walnut trimmed calm. These machines, with their specifications and performance figures, their quirks and their histories, tell us something about the man who drove them.

As the Coachmakers looks toward our 350th anniversary – a celebration not only of craft and engineering but of the stories and personalities that have shaped our national character – it feels fitting to pause with a little nostalgia of our own. Eric Morecambe, with his unmistakable warmth and the gentle brilliance he shared with Ernie Wise, belongs to that same cherished landscape of British life that the Company has witnessed across the centuries. Remembering him now, through the cars he loved and the laughter he gave so freely, reminds us that heritage is as much about people as it is about machines. And as we approach this remarkable milestone in the Company’s history, it is comforting to know that the spirit of joy, craftsmanship and quiet excellence – the very qualities Eric embodied – continues to guide us forward.

Coachmakers’ events

The Worshipful Company of Coachmakers’ Annual Charity Fundraising Banquet
Thursday 18th June at Armoury House, the Honourable Artillery Company, Finsbury Barracks

The Master Richard Charlesworth MVO invites you to join us for our Annual Charity Fundraising Banquet, on Thursday 18th June in the magnificent Long Room at Armoury House, the Honourable Artillery Company.

Founded in 1537, the Honourable Artillery Company is the oldest regiment in the British Army and its historic headquarters provides one of London’s most distinguished settings for ceremonial gatherings. The oak-panelled Long Room, overlooking the Artillery Garden and the skyline of the City of London, offers a fitting venue for the Company’s premier charitable event of the year.

Hosted with the generous support of our gold sponsor Bentley Motors, the evening will bring together members of the livery, leaders from the automotive, aerospace and coachmaking industries and distinguished guests. Highlights will include a spectacular display of Bentley motor cars – old and new, a Beating Retreat by the Royal British Legion Band and Corps of Drums (Romford), and an inspiring guest speaker.

Click here to buy your tickets for an exceptional evening helping the Company continue its charitable mission: “An active livery investing in young people.”

Location: Honourable Artillery Company, Finsbury Barracks, City Road, London EC1Y 2BQ
Dress: White tie, black tie optional, ladies’ equivalent.
Tickets: £195pp (£180pp for groups of 10)

Celebrate 350 years of the Coachmakers with our limited edition silk tie & scarf

To mark our 350th anniversary, we are delighted to unveil a pair of exclusive commemorative items – crafted with the same pride in British workmanship that has defined our Company since 1677.

Introducing our 350th Anniversary Tie and Scarf, each beautifully made in the UK from 100% pure silk and designed in Company colours. Both feature a specially commissioned 350th Anniversary Coat of Arms and a weft-weave carriage – subtle yet impressive – and created to honour this remarkable milestone in our history.

The Anniversary Tie – £45
A classic, elegant silk tie suitable for all formal and Livery occasions. Its refined design and anniversary crest make it a perfect keepsake for members, friends, and supporters of the Company.

The Anniversary Scarf – £50
For the ladies this light, luxurious, and beautifully finished, the silk scarf offers a stylish way to celebrate our heritage. Ideal for wearing at Company events or gifting to those who share our pride in the Coachmakers’ story.

These limited edition items are available while stocks last. Whether worn with pride or treasured as a piece of Livery history, they are a fitting tribute to 350 years of craftsmanship, mobility, and service.

Buy yours here.

Livery Committee events

• A visit to Fenix Carriages, 28th May 2026-28th May
• A tour of the Nyetimber Estate – 4th June
• A tour of Bruges, Ypres, Arras and the WWI battlefields – 12th June
• Hampton Court Concours of Elegance 2026 – 5th September
• Car Club – 100 years of Brands Hatch – 26th September
• Car Club visit to Haynes Motor Museum – 1st October

City events

Women in the City – Wednesday 6th May 2026, Ironmongers’ Hall

The Ironmongers’ Company is hosting an evening of talks and a drinks reception, introduced by the Lady Mayor, Dame Susan Langley DBE, with Kate Hughes, Dawn Wright and Deborah Oliver TD. They’ll demystify what livery company membership and participation in civic life mean for women in the City of London today. All are welcome.
Flyer and link to tickets here: Women in the City Flyer

2026

Friday 15th May: Inter-Livery Padel Competition
15th-17th May: Inter-Livery Regatta
Friday 29th May: Inter-Livery Rifle Shooting, Bisley
Mon 1st June: Livery Charity Chairs Group Seminar, Drapers’ Hall
5th-7th June: Masters’ Weekend, Dorset
Thursday 11th June: The Lady Mayor’s Ride Out
Tuesday 23rd June: Book launch of “Weavers’ Tale”
Wednesday 24th June: Common Hall, Election of Sheriffs
Thursday 2nd July: City Beerfest, Guildhall Yard
Sat 4th July: Coopers’ Cask Race, Guildhall Yard
Monday 6th July: Marketors’ Inter-Livery Golf Day
Thursday 30th July: Distillers’ Inter-Livery Petanque Competition, Vauxhall
Sunday 27th September: Woolmen’s Sheep Drive
Monday 28th September: Admission of Sheriffs
Tuesday 29th September: Common Hall – election of the Lord Mayor
Wednesday 7th October 2026 – Musicians’ Company Evensong at St Paul’s Cathedral at 5pm
Monday 2nd November: Garden of Remembrance St Paul’s
Friday 13th November: Silent Ceremony, Admission of the Lord Mayor
Saturday 14th November: Lord Mayor’s Show
Wednesday 18th November: Festival of St Cecilia, Westminster Cathedral

2027

Monday 1st February: Junior Wardens’ Card Game Evening, Drapers’ Hall
Monday 1st March: Inter-Livery Bridge Tournament, Drapers’ Hall
Monday 15th March: Fellowship AGM Saddlers’ Hall
Thursday 11th March (likely): Meet the Masters Dinner, Mansion House
Friday 12th March: United Guilds’ Service, St Pauls
Thursday 24th June (likely): Common Hall Election of Sheriffs
Wednesday 29th September (likely) Common Hall Election of the Lord Mayor
Monday 8th November (likely): Garden of Remembrance Service at St Paul’s
Friday 12th November: Silent Ceremony, Admission of the Lord Mayor
Saturday 13th November: Lord Mayor’s Show