Park Home People - Arthur Ainsworth, A True Survivor

In this series of people profiles, we put park people under the spotlight. This month Bella Brodie catches up with 94 year old Arthur Ainsworth, from Gawthorpe Edge Park in Lancashire.

1917 was the year that Tsar Nicholas II of Russia abdicated his throne for his son and the United States of America declared war on Germany. Canadian troops won the Battle of Vimy Ridge and Woodrow Wilson began his second term as US President. There were 3 months of fierce fighting during the Battle of Passchendaele.

British troops occupied Tel Aviv and Jaffa in Palestine and the Ukraine was declared a republic.   Back in Britain David Lloyd George was the first Welshman to hold the office of Prime Minister, the two millionth Ford Model T rolled off the production line, and London experienced its first major devastating German bombing raid.

It seems another world apart now but this was the global environment Arthur Ainsworth was born into.  The world was in a period of turmoil and change, which was set to continue for decades to follow.

For Arthur, both World Wars were to touch his life.  Born in Radcliffe, Manchester as the third of three boys, his father was a mill joiner and ‘master of the house’ while his mother looked after the boys. One of his brothers followed his father into joinery, and Arthur also secured an apprenticeship as a joiner keeping up the family tradition. 

Arthur liked variety though, and his career saw him take several very varied roles, from deep-sea trawler fishing, to working on aircraft bombers, quantity surveying and repairing WWII Blitz damage.  Arthur understandably won’t be drawn on that role and I don’t want to press him.  He simply describes some of his WWII experiences as “terrible, simply terrible”.  After working on Blitz repairs he was called up into the army where he spent 5 years, starting in the south Lancashire Regiment and then on to the Royal Engineers ending up in India before returning home safely.  

Later on in his working life he feels he found his true vocation in teaching, and retired as a senior master. “That was really rewarding,” he says, becoming animated as he talks. “Just seeing the kids improve and find themselves was wonderful to watch. I loved that job.”

Arthur has owned a park home for 25 years now and originally found the park when his wife became unwell and they needed to change lifestyle and move near to family for support.  They wanted somewhere with an open countryside feel, but not too far away from others so the location provided the perfect solution.  Arthur has now been a widower for 22 years, and describes himself as fiercely independent although he likes knowing that he’s part of a community too. “It’s the sort of place where people would step in to help each other if needed and that’s perfect for me, ” he says.  He has a housekeeper and there’s a bus from the park, which takes residents into Burnley and the shops within five minutes. 

Arthur is a bit of a hobbyist and over the years he’s certainly kept really busy living every moment to the full.  He’s bred and shown Chihuahuas and also budgerigars, so is very well travelled. He brews his own Elderflower wine, which is apparently rather good.   Arthur also bought and restored 45 cars and 22 motorbikes and built over 30 miniature farm carts, all different and distinctive in style according to their destination.  He no longer drives but remarkably after 70 years on the road he didn’t pick up a single penalty.  He also remembers cars before they had starting handles too, when someone had to push them and jump on the running boards.

He’s survived several potentially fatal events too including a plane crash after the undercarriage collapsed during take-off in Karachi, two car crashes, and having ‘died’ on the operating table during what should have been a routine operation.  He’s not averse to the odd risk though and once looped the loop as a bi-plane passenger with no restraints on – apparently not as scary as it sounds as the centrifugal force kept him in his seat. 

Arthur is now enjoying the quieter life in his park home, and his family has extended to include three children, seven grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren.  When I ask him what the biggest change he’s seen is, he surprises me. He’s not bothered by the latest TV’s and technology but says the improvement in health provision has been astonishing. “Things people used to die of are often really easily treated now, there’s nothing more important than that,” he says.  He adds that there used to be more community life and people had more respect for each other.

Fortunately being with like-minded people is one of the major benefits of park life and it’s obviously suits Arthur who says he’s loved every minute of it.   He does take care to look after his home though. After the floor recently became a bit ‘springy’ underfoot, he decided to get Park Home Chassis Services in to check everything was in order. The home has now had 16 new adjustable tripod support stands fitted to ensure that it is suitably supported in the correct locations for Mr Ainsworth’s home. Different makes of park homes have different chassis’ and it really important that you employ a company with the expertise to ensure the chassis has the right support arrangement for its type, in addition to taking account of any additional refurbishment works within the home which will often affect the weight distribution on the chassis.  PHCS also tightened all the coach bolts between the chassis and wooden floor bearers, which can often help eliminate squeaky floors.

“They were a really lovely lot,” he says. “They got on with the job and didn’t even stop to drink tea. They worked really hard and the floor feels better now. Every contact I’ve had with them has been enjoyable and I’m really glad I called them in.”

In a nutshell:

• Having work done on your chassis is not disruptive or stressful. It can often be done in a day without the workmen needing to come indoors.
• If you’ve been in your home quite a while it’s really important to get your chassis checked out. A little early intervention can keep the work required to a minimum.
• Living on a residential park means you can benefit from being with like-minded people who will help if you need them.
• Re-levelling and re-supporting the chassis of the home are just examples of the services Park Home Chassis Services can provide. Surveyors can provide a written assessment on the underside of your home so you have an accurate report of its current condition, what to expect in the future and when.