Claude Watney
Claude Watney | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1866-11-04 London, England |
| Died | 1919-11-07 |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | Brewing industry, automobile sales |
Claude Watney (4 November 1866 – 7 November 1919) was a British businessman known for his roles in brewing and automobile sales.
Belonging to the Watney family renowned for their brewing enterprise, he held positions as director and eventually deputy chairman at Watney Combe & Reid. In 1903, Watney managed a London showroom specializing in Panhard and Mercedes automobiles. He personally owned a Belgian Pipe car, and his wife Ada shared his passion for motoring. Additionally, he was involved with the committee of the Automobile Club of Great Britain and Ireland, which later became the Royal Automobile Club.
Early life
Claude Watney was born in London on 4 November 1866 as the second son of brewer and politician James Watney junior and Blanche Maria Georgiana Burrell. His education was completed at Eton College followed by studies at New College, University of Oxford.
Career
He entered the family brewing business early on, initially working with Watney & Co., where his brother Vernon Watney served as chairman. After the merger that created Watney Combe Reid by combining Combe & Co. and Reid's Brewery Company, he continued as a director and maintained the role of deputy chairman until his death in 1919.
Motoring
A dedicated motor enthusiast, Watney was recognized in 1903 for his participation in the automotive industry alongside contemporaries such as fellow Old Etonian Charles Rolls. He operated showrooms located on Wardour Street that sold Panhard and Mercedes models. The 1904 Motoring Annual and Motorist's Year Book identified him as the owner of a Pipe motor vehicle and described him as an "all-round sportsman." He contributed to the committee of the Automobile Club of Great Britain and Ireland, predecessor to the Royal Automobile Club.
Personal life
In 1895, Watney wed Ada Annie Watney (1868–1938). Ada, who had both English and Portuguese heritage, was previously married to Sherman Martin, a banking heir who passed away in 1894. She was noted for her background as a ballet dancer and her enthusiasm for motoring.
During the late 1890s, they established their family residence at 20 Charles Street, Mayfair, London. By 1901, their household employed twelve servants. Throughout World War I, Ada transformed part of their home into a nursing facility for officers, equipped with modern surgical amenities and capable of accommodating eighteen patients.
Watney possessed High Elms Manor (later known as Garston Manor) in Garston, Hertfordshire, which appeared on the market in 1911. He also acquired Mervil Hill in Hambledon, Surrey—a property formerly owned by astronomer John Franklin-Adams—which served as a convalescent center for soldiers during the First World War. In 1929, Ada gifted this estate to the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary to establish St Dominic's School, a residential institution for boys with special health needs.
Death
Watney passed away at his residence on 7 November 1919. The funeral took place at Woking cemetery, the same resting place as his father. His estate, valued at £573,088, comprised a notable assortment of coaching prints that were eventually sold through an auction conducted by Christie's. Following his death, his widow entered into marriage with the motor enthusiast Bernard Weguelin.