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= Alfred Robert Grindlay =

The Right Worshipful The Mayor of Coventry Alfred Robert Grindlay CBE, OBE, JP (01 February 1876 - 14 April 1965) was a English inventor, industrialist and official during the 19th and 20th centuries. He is renowned for co-founding Grindlay Peerless, the record breaking motorcycle engineering company and his prominent role in regional government including his mayorship of Coventry during WWII and the Coventry Blitz.

Early life
Grindlay was born in Coventry, England in 1876, the fifth child of six and second son of William Grindlay (1843-1881) an established watch artisan. Upon leaving school, Grindlay joined a local cycle firm and began learning the skills he would employ to great effect later in his career.

At the age of 20, Grindlay married Emma Chaplin in St Paul's Church, Coventry on the 7th of September 1896, starting his family in 1899 when the first of his two sons was born.

By 1901, Grindlay was working at Riley Cycle Company, one of the major firms in the Coventry. Grindlay progressed steadily within the company, until 1911, while working as a foreman at Riley Cycle Company, he applied for a patent (24,683) regarding 'improved means for carrying spare wheels' for motorcars. That same year Grindlay left Riley Cycle Company and took over the Coventry Motor & Sundries business, establishing Grindlay Sidecars, s quickly became known for its "extremely high quality" machines.

During WWI he combined forces with Thomas Edward Musson (b.1875) founding Musson & Grindlay, specialising in Sidecar production. However, parting ways with Musson in 1923, Grindlay established Grindlay Peerless.

Motorcycle industry
Formed in 1923, Grindlay Peerless operated out of Melbourne Works on Shakleton Road in Spon End, Coventry, entered into the wider motorcycle market in the early 1920s and began making high-powered machines. Like the Grindlay Sidecars before them, the motorcycles became renowned not only for their exceptional production quality and power, but were also recognised for their technological advances and innovative design features, utilising early aircraft design features.

World Record
The company won worldwide acclaim when CWG 'Bill' Lacey became the first man to exceed a 100 miles in an hour on British soil in August 1928 aboard his modified 498cc Grindlay Peerless. The bike covered 103.9 miles in the hour at Brooklands racing circuit, in Surrey to secure a Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) world record.

In 1929, Bill Lacey broke the record again on his Grindlay Peerless, by covering 105.78 miles in the hour at Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry, Montlhéry, in France.

Government
In addition to his contribution to the British motor industry, Grindlay was a prominent Coventry City Council member. Joining the council in 1923, he dedicated much of his life to improving the lives of the citizens of Coventry and wider Warwickshire.

During the WWII, in 1941, Alfred Robert Grindlay was appointed Mayor of Coventry. He presided over Coventry during the notorious period of the Coventry Blitz that saw 230 bombers attacked the city, dropping 315 tons of high explosive and 25,000 incendiaries in 1941. Grindlay much of the early work to rebuild the city following the April 1941 bombing raid, and a large portion of the city owes its design origins to his instruction. Grindlay House in Windsor Street was name so in his honour.

Public honours
In 1943, Grindlay was made an Officer of the British Empire (OBE) for his work as Chairman of the Coventry Saving Committee and Chairman of the City Redevelopment Committee.

Three years later in 1946 he was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for his service to the nation and personally commended for his efforts by King George VI. The formal investiture took place on Tuesday the 20th of May 1947 at Buckingham Palace.

Later life
Having been a Coventry City Councillor for nearly 39 years, Grindlay was award the Freedom of the City on 15th of November 1962. His award is described by Coventry City Council as being "In recognition of his eminent and devoted service to the city during a period of unprecedented municipal development and as a token of public esteem".

Alfred died in Coventry in 1965 aged 89 years.

Grindlay family
Reputed to be descended from William de Grenlay (1275), most recently the English branch of the Grindlay family were prominent British bankers (see Grindlays Bank), officials, industrialists and Freemasons during the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.

Other branches of the wider Grindlay family exist in Scotland, including the Edinburgh based leather magnates and landowners of the 18th and 19th centuries, and in the United States (see James G Grindlay).