I am saddened to have to say that Dion Houghton(Gardner helpline) has passed 
away. He was Sales director at Gardner's for many years and took a great 
interest in the company history, he always said he allocated engines rather 
than sold them, as they could never keep up with demand.
He retired many years ago and enjoyed sailing, he suffered a stroke 2 years 
ago but did manage a visit to Jenny Jeffries open day in 2006 in a wheel 
chair.
Graham Edges book about Gardner's pulled a lot of information from Dion who 
had a great product knowledge, he will be missed by all Gardner enthusiasts.

Geoff

On Tue, 22 Jan 2008 18:07:09 -0000, "Geoff Challinor" 
wrote:

>I am saddened to have to say that Dion Houghton(Gardner helpline) has passed 
>away. He was Sales director at Gardner's for many years and took a great 
>interest in the company history, he always said he allocated engines rather 
>than sold them, as they could never keep up with demand.
>He retired many years ago and enjoyed sailing, he suffered a stroke 2 years 
>ago but did manage a visit to Jenny Jeffries open day in 2006 in a wheel 
>chair.
>Graham Edges book about Gardner's pulled a lot of information from Dion who 
>had a great product knowledge, he will be missed by all Gardner enthusiasts.
>
>Geoff 
>

Sad to say, but a lot of the older guys are gradually passing on now, and with
them will go the knowledge base that they had painstakingly accumulated over
their working lives.

We (my generation and younger) are fortunate that we now have the facilities and
knowledge to preserve so much that has in the past been lost as people passed
away.

Thanks for letting us know, Geoff.

Peter
--
Peter & Rita Forbes
Email: diesel@easynet.co.uk
http://www.oldengine.org/members/diesel
http://www.stationary-engine.co.uk