Readers’ Letters

The wrong barrel

I am Cyril James, now semi-retired, but still employed by Cross Manufacturing Company (1938) Ltd at the head office and works in Bath.

I joined the company on August 26, 1957, as a trainee production engineer and retired from full-time employment, as head of production, in 2006.

In 1959, as a teenager and a keen motorcyclist, I was invited to fill a vacant position as the company motorcycle road tester on a part-time basis.

The vacancy occurred due to my colleague Des Cormack leaving Roland Cross to take up an offer of employment with enhanced financial return. Des had joined the company in 1940 and was the company motorcycle and motor car technician and apart from Roland Cross himself, he knew more about the special Cross engine developments (Cross Rotary Valves, Aluminium Liner-less cylinders, special pistons and rings etc) than anyone else.

Roland Cross understood entirely the reasons for Des leaving and they remained close friends until Roland passed away in 1970. The close friendship continued with the directors, me and my colleagues until Des died a couple of years ago, aged 93. Des was outstandingly generous and instrumental in providing me with a wealth of historical information regarding the various and many Cross engines. I miss him enormously and so