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Musings - The Great Scot Blog

Hey's Bentley & it's Journey to Scotland

THE BENTLEY MARK VI FEATURED IN OUR IMAGES HAS AN INTRIGUING HISTORY

Built in 1949, the car was first owned by Wilson H Hey, a Surgeon who led a fascinating and controversial life.

Hey spent the First World War as a battlefield doctor with the Royal Army Medical Corps, in which he rose to the rank of Major. He was made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour for his treatment of French casualties. However, his experiences there set him on a path which resulted in tabloid scandal and a criminal record.

 

After the Great War, Hey returned to his post of consultant at the Manchester Royal Infirmary, where he was a pioneer in using radium for the treatment of cancer. Time off was spent in the mountains, climbing regularly in Britain and the Alps. By 1939, Hey’s passion for the outdoors motivated him to campaign for the establishment of organised Mountain Rescue teams, and in particular the need for effective pain-relief for injuries sustained in the mountains. He could see a way to not only ease suffering but also to considerably boost the chances of the casualties' survival in extreme and remote conditions.

Frustrated by bureaucracy and red-tape, he decided to personally fund and supply the effective pain-killer, morphine to Mountain Rescue posts across the country. The problem however was that in the eyes of the law, this was highly illegal. The law strictly limited the use of this drug to hospitals only, although special dispensations were given to coalmines.

Hey was convinced that in order to force the government to revise the law, it was necessary to deliberately flout the rules. He had anticipated the possible legal proceedings that would follow, and felt that a high profile court case and a spell in jail would publicise the cause effectively. 

In 1949, he was summoned before the courts. Hey arrived in his Bentley knowing there was a chance he may not be making the return trip that day. In fact, he narrowly avoided prison, but garnered a large body of support from politicians, peers and leading figures from the Royal College of Surgeons.

As a result, in 1950 the law was changed. Non-medical members of mountain rescue teams could now hold and administer morphine, helping relieve suffering and ultimately, saving lives. 

Meanwhile, the Bentley had become a distinctive part of Hey’s household. Hey employed a driver, called ‘Reanie’, a stridently independent woman who was typically clad in stylish tweed trouser-suits. Reanie negotiated the official two-week Bentley Chauffeur course with Merit; of course, she had driven field ambulances during the war.

After Wilson Hey’s death in 1956, the Bentley passed to his engineer-son Thomas. He used the car as his daily motor and continental cruiser for the next 60 years, exhaustively and meticulously cataloguing every turn of screw and tighten of nut. 

Amongst other projects, Thomas Hey worked as an engineer developing flight-critical hydraulic systems for the famed ‘Vulcan', which at the time was Britain’s game-changing strategic nuclear bomber.

In his private time, the Bentley was Thomas's pride and joy. He used his scientific approach to devise ingenious solutions and improvements, such as it’s electronic car alarm and engine immobiliser which he designed and built at a time before pocket calculators even existed. It is doubtful that another Bentley exists anywhere in the world that has such a detailed and insightful service history!

In 2013 the vehicle moved through the family once again. The Bentley now resides in the care of Wilson’s grandson and Thomas’s nephew, Nick Lewtas, who lives in the beautiful Scottish Highlands.

Nick originally moved to Scotland in the early 70s to design commercial fish farms. One of his innovations was repurposing waste warm water from Scotch Whisky Distilleries to provide optimum growing conditions for the fish.

Nowadays he owns and runs a farm on Speyside, home to some of the world’s finest whiskies!  In his spare time, Nick is engaged in the rolling restoration of his Grandfather’s Bentley - making sure that it is fit and ready for the next 60 years!

GREAT SCOT TWEED INSPIRATION: GALLOWAY

Galloway: Rugged and magnificent – it is truly Scotland's Lands End!

Galloway inspirations

In a quiet corner of South-West lowland Scotland lies Galloway. It’s rocky, sandy coastline and lush green forests are the inspiration for our newest tweed. Ospreys nest and Kites soar above the bright yellow broom bushes and rich blue Solway Firth, whilst Red Squirrels dodge bluebells to scale the verdant beech trees. In August the wild heather blossoms and the landscape is adorned with ribbons of regal purple.

We’ve chosen our classic Lieutenant Jacket style and smart Regency Waistcoat to represent this beautiful cloth and the combination is timeless.

Great Scot Lieutenant Jacket in Galloway Tweed

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Great Scot Lady's Regency Waistcoat in Galloway Tweed

All the tweeds used in Great Scot styles are tailoring quality and of a weight that is highly suited to draping beautifully, whilst effortlessly maintaining the integrity of our highly structured silhouettes.

Due to the high quality, soft yarns that they are woven from, our tweeds feel soft against the skin and never scratchy or itchy.

We are highly particular in specifying that all the cloths we use are woven in family run mills throughout Great Britain.

Click here to learn more about the Great Scot Philosophy - It's Ethical.

GREAT SCOT TWEED INSPIRATION: GLENCOE

Glencoe: The Legendary Scottish Highland Valley Glencoe Tweed Inspiration

The jewel colours of this magical, historical setting have inspired our newest tweed.


We strived to capture for you, the eruption of colour that illuminate it's steep and craggy slopes every season.


Shades reminiscent of the vast population of fox, red and roe deer fuse effortlessly with opulent yellow gorse and Scottish primrose which from May onwards, bloom ceaselessly.

 Great Scot Glencoe Tweed Collection

When paired with our most flattering designs such as the Reiver and Lady Mary waistcoats and the Lady Mary Jacket, the Glencoe tweed is in its element.

Great Scot Reiver Waistcoat in Glencoe Tweed
Drama can be added by wearing the styles with black related separates; dress, skirt, jodh's or jeans – Our jet black Victorian Blouse is shown here with the neck tie on and bowed. - dash of red lipstick and VAVOOM!

 

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Great Scot Lady Mary Jacket in Glencoe Tweed

All the tweeds used in Great Scot styles are tailoring quality and of a weight that is highly suited to draping beautifully, whilst effortlessly maintaining the integrity of our highly structured silhouettes.

Due to the high quality, soft yarns that they are woven from, our tweeds feel soft against the skin and never scratchy or itchy.

We are highly particular in specifying that all the cloths we use are woven in family run mills throughout Great Britain.

Click here to learn more about the Great Scot Philosophy - It's Ethical.

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!

BEHIND THE SCENES OF A GS PHOTOSHOOT


Great Scot Photo Studio

Glamorous? Exciting? Fun?

What is it really like behind the camera at our
photoshoots? We thought you'd rather hear from the model herself.

Read on for access all areas…


Hi I’m Elsa. I am actually an intern, visiting from France. I wanted to
share with you what happened when I had a chance to model for Great Scot. Here
are a few outtakes, and for you budding models out there, my candid experience of modelling for a day!


We are on location at our corporate showroom here at Great Scot HQ which is
nestled deep in the Scottish Highlands. Today is my first time modelling and I am
working with Heinrich, who is one of the talented Great Scot photographers. I feel it’s going
to be a learning experience for us all.

 

First we did a quick test-shoot. Here I am without make-up or help with my hair!

Great Scot Lieutenant Jacket Lorne Blue Elsa pre makeup


After hair and make-up we had a quick briefing about how we were going to approach the shoot, and what we aimed to achieve. We want our customers to
be able to see how versatile our new Bovary and Lieutenant Jackets can be.

Margo (Founder of Great Scot) asked me to be ‘still but natural and try not to pose’, but
it’s not so easy when it seems like I have my workmates peeking in and giggling!
Firstly we tried the jacket with the GS Flawless Blouse and my own jeans. It is a perfect
fit and the styling takes just a moment so we are ready to go and I’m so nervous!

 
We moved from the Studio into our corporate showroom. I found it more relaxing.

Great Scot Bovary Jacket Torridon Tweed jacket test shots

Heinrich is very patient and kind, but very exacting!

 Heinrich Great Scot Photographer

 

The team is eager to have the light reflect the depth of colours and shades in these beautiful tweeds but
the natural light in Scotland changes so frequently that we have to move around a lot to try to capture it. As the
hours pass I become less self-conscious – even a little bored!


At last, I am feeling more comfortable at this point.


It is amazing to see how simply changing from jeans to the matching skirt made me not only look
more formal but I felt confident and elegant. I love the Bovary and Lieutenant
jackets, I’m hoping I am allowed to keep one of them!

 

Here is the Lieutenant Jacket in Lorne Blue Tweed. I love this with jeans.


Immediately after the shoot, the whole team assemble and begin to review the hundreds of
shots taken. It is laborious and time consuming yet I am intrigued to see how
carefully the team work to make sure that the clothing is truthfully and beautifully
represented.

 

In the end we select just 4 photographs to use!

Great Scot image selection

 

And so, the reality of the day was not quite so glamorous or so exciting. I was
exhausted and glad to have a pizza delivery arrive! It takes many people's hard work and concentration to produce consistent results. I loved seeing the finished product though
and viewing the images in context, on our website made it all a fantastic experience for me.

 

Elsa on www.greatscotscotland.com

 Seeing myself on the Great Scot website is a thrill I might never get over. My Mum and little brother will be very proud!