Robert Bamford

Robert Bamford (16 June 1883 – 16 April 1942) was an English engineer, who with Lionel Martin (1878–1945), founded a company in January 1913 that became Aston Martin. Before his career in the car industry he was active as a racing cyclist.

Family background
His parents married on Tuesday 18 April 1882 at St Luke's church on Bloomfield Road in South Lyncombe, Bath (on the A367). His father, who attended Trinity College, Cambridge, was the eldest son of the vicar of Poulton, Gloucestershire, who conducted the service. His mother was the second daughter of Robert Porter (Australian) of Westfield House, on Bloomfield Road, in Bath. On 20 October 1889, his maternal grandmother Sarah Porter died, aged 65, which was likely from cancer. Two weeks later, his grandfather decided to leave Bath. Robert Porter left Bath in 1890, to move to 'Denewood' on Broadlands Road in north London and died on 7 November 1905, aged 93, leaving £76,430. His grandfather's house was later lived in by Sir Cory Cory-Wright, and his wife. On 20 October 1879, at St Andrew Holborn (church) his mother's sister Florence, married Sir William Charles Eldon Serjeant (1857 - 16 March 1930), of St Benets Abbey, on the A389 road in Lanivet.

Early life
He was born on 16 June 1883 at Lamarsh Lodge, Lamarsh, in Essex to the Rev. Robert Bamford (1854–1898) and Blanch Edith Bamford (née Porter) (26 May 1856 - 5 March 1936).

The Rev. Robert Bamford served as curate of Thornbury, Gloucestershire (1880-1881), curate of St John's, Ladywood, Birmingham (1881-1882), curate of Lamarsh, Essex (1882-1885), curate of Holy Trinity, Lambeth (1885-1886), leaving Lamarsh in May 1885.

In about 1892, his father resigned his curacy due to ill health and settled in Sherborne, Dorset, living at Lynton House (now Abbot's Litten) in Long Street, Sherborne. From 1895 to 1898 he served as secretary to the Yeatman Hospital, Sherborne, and died at Sherborne on 9 November 1898, aged 44, and was buried in Sherborne Cemetery. After the Rev. Bamford's death Blanch married the Rev. Thomas Myers and lived at 89, Bloomfield Avenue, Bath, later at Milking Close, Ditchling, East Sussex, where she died and was buried.

He had two brothers, Edward Bamford DSO VC (1887-1928) and Arthur Bamford (1889-1915), and a sister Rachel Bamford (1885-1974).

Edward Bamford DSO VC (1887–1928), who was educated at Sherborne Preparatory School, and Sherborne School as a day boy 1900–1902. In 1905 he joined the Royal Marine Light Infantry and served in HMS Bulwark, HMS Magnificent, HMS Britannia, HMS Chester, HMS Royal Sovereign, and HMS Highflyer. During the First World War as Brevet Major on HMS Royal Sovereign. He was mentioned in despatches and awarded the DSO, Order of St Anne (3rd Class, Russian), the Légion d’Honneur, and the Victoria Cross 'For conspicuous gallantry at Zeebrugge. April 1918. This officer landed on the Mole from "Vindictive" with Nos. 5, 7 & 8 platoons of the Marine Storming Force in the face of great difficulties. When on the Mole under heavy fire, he displayed the greatest initiative in the command of his company, and by his total disregard of danger, showed a magnificent example to his men. He first established a strong point on the right of the disembarkation, and when that was safe, led an assault on a battery to the left with the utmost coolness and valour. Captain Bamford was selected by the officers of the R.M.A & R.M.L.I. detachments to receive the Victoria Cross under Rule 13 of the Royal Warrant, dated 26 January 1856.'. He died at Shanghai in 1928. On 17 April 2018, Haringey Council unveiled a paving stone in memory of Edward Bamford VC at 151 Park Road, London N8 8JD.

Rachel Bamford (14 August 1885 - 4 October 1974). In 1911, Rachel was a student at the Colonial Training College at Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire. During the First World War, she served in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC).

Arthur Bamford (20 June 1889 - 11 October 1915), was educated at Sherborne School as a day boy 1903–1905. He went to Australia in 1910–1912, and in 1913 was employed as a professional musician. During the First World War he served as a Private in the Grenadier Guards. He was killed near Loos on 11 October 1915 and is commemorated at St Mary's A.D.S. Cemetery, Haisnes, IX.D.13, and on the Sherborne School War Memorial

Robert Bamford attended Sherborne School as a day boy from May 1897 to April 1900. During the First World War he served for one year as private in The London Regiment, 25th (County of London) Cyclist Battalion, and then as a lieutenant with the Army Service Corps (RASC), Mechanical Transport.

Bamford, historically, is a Lancashire surname.



Aston Martin
Bamford & Martin Ltd was founded at 16 Henniker Place in West Kensington (off Fulham Road – the A308) on 15 January 1913. They produced their first Aston-Martin car, the Coal Scuttle, in March 1915. Robert Bamford was the engineer of the partnership. In 1920 he retired from Bamford & Martin; Lionel Martin left in 1926. In the mid-1920s the company would undergo many changes of ownership. It would be largely through the ownership of David Brown Ltd. of Huddersfield that Aston-Martin would become the company renowned during the 1950s, who bought Aston-Martin for £20,500 (£,000 current value) in 1947.

He was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in 2013.

Personal life
In 1911 he was living at 41 Twickenham Road in Teddington.

He contracted flu in January 1919, and subsequently married his nurse, Matilda, who was in the Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC).

He became engaged to fashion designer Muriel Matilda Etches (born 1898) in May 1918, the eldest daughter of C.T.W. Etches. They were married in 1919 in Newton Abbot in Devon. He injured his jaw cycling down Dundrum Hill 8 November 1919. His wife's father was a Captain in the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.

They had a daughter, Patricia, born in Brentford in Middlesex in 1921, and she married the illustrator Robin Jacques in 1943.

Robert and his wife divorced in 1927. On Monday 24 April 1950 she remarried at St Peter's Church, Eaton Square by Prebendary P.T.R. Kirk, and moved from 9 Buckingham Palace Gardens to Los Angeles. The reception was held at her house. Her second husband was a professor at the University of California.

His wife Matilda died on Thursday 18 April 1974 at home at 19 Abbey Road in Brighton.

By 1939, Robert had retired to South Street, Ditchling, East Sussex Sussex, where he died on 16 April 1942, aged 59, at the Royal Sussex County Hospital. He was buried at St Margaret's, Ditchling. His headstone reads: 'Motor Engineer Founder of Bamford & Martin later to become Aston Martin. Also his mother Blanche Edith Myers 26 May 1856–5 Mar 1946 [Around the edge] The clocks, folk and pubs of Ditchling will miss him.'