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The Rushden Echo and Argus, 21st September, 1934
Rushden Brothers Killed in Appalling Road Accident
Head-on Crash into Car at Knotting Fox Bend
Two Motor-Cycles Involved: Seven Other People Hurt
London Motorist Exonerated After Inquest Revelations
Two Rushden brothers were killed and seven other persons injured as the result of an appalling accident which occurred on Sunday morning at Knotting Fox, on the main road between Rushden and Bedford.
Those who lost their lives were Mr. Frank Leslie Quennell (28), who was riding his motor-cycle in the direction of Bedford, and Mr. Cecil Bernard Quennell (25), who was riding on the pillion. They had set out from Rushden to gather blackberries, and were to have returned in time for dinner, but at Knotting Fox, where the road bends gently in the form of an S, their machine crashed with terrific force into the front of a saloon car travelling in the opposite direction.
Injured terribly about the head, chest and right leg, Frank was killed outright. His brother was still alive when rescuers lifted him from the bottom of a hedge, but died shortly afterwards while being transported to Bedford County Hospital in the Rushden motor ambulance.
The car driver was Mr. Robert Leftwich, of Parkside Way, North Harrow, and the car, an Essex Super-Six saloon, contained three other adults and four children, five of the passengers receiving some injury. A second motor-cycle, following the Quennell’s machine, ran through the wreckage but was not upset. It carried Mr. Ronald Tew, of Wellingborough-road, Rushden, and Mr. Urbain Thompson, of West-street, Rushden, who were slightly injured.
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Sunday morning was bright and dry, and many people from Rushden went out to the spinneys and hedgerows in search of blackberries.
Mr. Frank Quennell, who lived at Leamington, had ridden to Rushden on Saturday, and was spending the weekend with his brother Cecil and a sister, Mrs. Abbott, at 26, Highfield-road. On Sunday morning, the two young men promised their sister that they would gather some blackberries for her, and left on the motor-cycle at 11 o’clock, Frank driving and Cecil riding pillion. They took baskets with them and said they would be home for dinner.
About 20 minutes later the brothers passed Mr. Tew’s motor-cycle at Knotting Fox, swung out to the crown of the road, and were unable to regain the near side in time to avoid Mr. Leftwich’s car.
“An Awful Noise”
A graphic story of the smash and the scenes which followed is told by Mr. Thompson, the pillion rider on Mr. Tew’s motor-cycle.
“We were going out of Rushden along the main road towards Bedford,” he said. “I know the Quennell boys well, and we passed them sometime after 11 o’clock on the Northants-Bedfordshire boundary. I saw that one of them had a basket.
“We went on as far as Knotting Fox, and near the kennels there we were just down the slope when they passed us.
“They got in front, and shortly afterwards I heard a crash. I could not see what happened, but it was an awful noise, and I am told it was heard in the fields a mile away. We were then from 15 to 20 yards behind the Quennells.
“My friend had to decide in a moment what to do – whether to keep straight on, go round the car on the off-side, or pull up. He apparently thought it best to keep straight on, on the near side.
“As we went through, the motor-cycle, which I believe had been thrown up in the air, was wobbling on the road, and some part of it struck our near side exhaust pipe, which we afterwards found was bent.
“Mr. Tew pulled up and found his left foot was bruised. I could not stand, so I crawled along and sat against a telegraph post.
“Where Is The Other?”
“People began to arrive, and about seven minutes after the crash some of them came to me and said “He’s dead.”
“I said, ‘Yes, but how about the other?’ That was the first they knew about the pillion rider on the Quennells’ machine, and they were very surprised.
“They went back to look and about 20 yards away they found Cecil Quennell in the bottom of the hedge.
“The police who came along attended to the more serious cases, and sometime afterwards a police inspector put me on a ‘bus for Rushden. Mr. Tew was able to ride home on his machine.”
In the front of the car with the driver were Mr. John Elsden, also of Parkside-way, North Harrow, and his three-years-old son. In the back were Mrs. Leftwich and her two daughters, aged 3 and 5 years, and Mrs. Elsden and her other child, a four-months-old girl.
The little boy in the front was most seriously injured. His scalp was severely lacerated, and the back of his neck was cut. The driver’s right ear was cut, and he was seriously shocked. Mr. Elsden received a long cut across the forehead. The other occupants of the car were suffering from shock, and one of the ladies was cut about the leg by broken glass. The baby’s head was bruised.
Rescue Work
Four Doctors and Nurse Attend The Injured
The telephone at the garage at the Souldrop turn – the nearest one to the scene of the disaster – had been put out of action by Saturday’s thunderstorm, but a lady car driver from Luton gave the alarm at Sharnbrook. Then Mr. Kennedy, garage proprietor, got his ‘phone working, and in a few minutes Dr. Muriset, Dr. Topping, Dr. McCabe and Nurse Goosey arrived from Rushden. Dr. R. Stuart, of Sharnbrook, also assisted. Supt. Robinson (Bedford) and other police from Wymington, Rushden, Podington and Sharnbrook joined in the rescue work.
Mr. Cecil Quennell was dispatched to Bedford in the Rushden motor ambulance, and Nurse Goosey and other helpers took the occupants of the car into a cottage near the Kennels, where their injuries were attended to. Mr. Leftwich, Mrs. Elsden, and her baby were taken to Nurse Goosey’s house in Carnegie-street, Rushden, and the others followed in the car of a doctor. In Carnegie-street they were able to rest and recover as far as possible from the severe shock before going on. Cars were hired to take them to Stanwick, to which village they had been driving.
They stayed over Sunday night with Mr. C. Neal, of Low-road, Stanwick, who is a cousin of Mrs. Elsden, and returned to Harrow on Monday afternoon.
Shattered Machine
The motor-cycle was smashed and crumpled, and parts of it were scattered about the road. The windscreen of the car was broken, the radiator dented and the off-side wing torn off.
The dead brothers were very well-known in Rushden, especially among the young people. Frank left Rushden about 12 months ago and had obtained a situation as an hotel porter at Leamington, where his father, formerly steward of the Rushden West End Club, also resides. Cecil was employed at the Rushden C.W.S. boot factory, and lived with his sister at 26, Highfield-road. He used to play football for Rushden Town Reserves. He had this season joined Messrs. H. G. Bayes’s (Irthlingborough) football eleven, and was also known as a cricketer. Mrs. Quennell, the bereaved mother, had been staying on holiday with another of her sons in Wentworth-road, Rushden. Sympathy is also felt for Mr. Cecil Quennell’s fiancée, Miss Brenda Coleman, of Fletcher-road, Rushden.
The Inquest
Disastrous Swerve on Knotting Bend
The body of Cecil Quennell was removed from Bedford on Monday and placed with that of Frank at the Bedford Arms, Souldrop, where the Bedford County Coroner, Mr. G. J. M. Whyley, conducted a double inquest on Tuesday afternoon.
A jury of eight was empanelled, with Mr. J. T. Brookes as foreman. Police Supt. Robinson attended, and the car driver was represented by Mr. A. F. Englebach, a London barrister.
Dr. Richard Stuart, of Sharnbrook, said he received an urgent message and went at once to the main road. On arrival he saw that one of the men was quite dead. That one (Frank Leslie Quennell) was lying on the grass at the side of the road. His skull was smashed and there was a severe wound of the chest, several ribs having been broken. The right leg was doubled under him, and the bones of the leg were fractured in several places. Death was due to these multiple injuries and would have been instantaneous.
Still Alive
Witness also examined the other man (Cecil Bernard Quennell) who was lying on the side of the road, nearer the ditch. He was still alive, and had a severe wound on his skull, just behind the right ear, and a broken thigh bone on the right side. He was deeply unconscious, and witness, after attending to his injuries, advised his removal to the County Hospital. Witness was present when the man was taken to hospital in the Rushden ambulance. The injuries were very severe, and he considered Quennell was dying before he left.
Ronald Dawson Quennell, fish merchant, of 19, Woburn-place, Rushden, said he had seen the two bodies and had identified them as those of his brothers. Frank was 28, Cecil was 25, and both were single.
He last saw Frank three weeks last Sunday, when he was in his usual health, and his eyesight and hearing were good.
Witness last saw Cecil alive on Friday, when he, too, was in good health. Cecil also had good eyesight and hearing.
Died in Ambulance
Police Constable F. T. Clark, of Sharnbrook, said he went to the scene and found Dr. Stuart and P.C. Brunt attending Cecil Quennell. He assisted them, and the doctor advised that the man be taken to the Bedford Hospital. Witness went with Quennell in the Rushden ambulance. Quennell was quite unconscious all the time, and on their arrival the House Surgeon informed him that life was extinct.
Among various articles discovered in the clothing was a registered envelope containing three rings, which was addressed to C. B. Quennell, 26, Highfield-road, Rushden.
Ronald William Tew, of 118, Wellingborough-road, Rushden, said he was motor-cycling along the road from Rushden towards Bedford, and Mr. Urbain Thompson was riding pillion. He recollected another motor-cycle, on which were the Quennell brothers, overtaking him where there was a dip in the road.
The Coroner: At that time can you tell me approximately what speed you were driving at? – Witness: I should say 30-35 miles per hour.
And this other machine passed you, so it would be travelling much faster? - Yes, I should think he was doing 40 or 45.
A little further in front there was a bend in the road? - Yes.
Did you notice how he took the bend? - He took it wide.
Did you notice a car coming in the opposite direction, towards Rushden? - Yes.
Car’s Reasonable Speed
“He was on his correct side,” said witness, “and travelling at quite a reasonable speed. The two vehicles met on the bend, and Quennell struck the car, as near as I could possibly see, on the off-side wing. I was 15 to 20 yards behind. I shut off and braked immediately – I didn’t know whether to go round the off side of the car, as I might have met oncoming traffic.
“We were struck by some of the wreckage, and my foot was bruised. I stopped and took my mate off the back, and put him on the grass, as he thought he had broken his leg, and I went on to the garage a few yards ahead and asked Mr. Kennedy to come along.”
In answer to the Coroner Tew added that neither he nor his passenger was thrown off. The morning was bright and fine, and the road dry.
The Coroner: What is your own opinion as to how this happened? Do you consider that it was the fact of the motor-cyclist taking the bend too wise?
Witness: Yes, he could not get round, and as far as I can judge he seemed to lose control of the machine altogether. He didn’t attempt to lean it over to get round.
Mr. Englebach: The bend that this motor-cycle was going round, and you were coming to, was a left-hand bend to you? - Witness: Yes.
Is it right that if you are going at a high speed there is a tendency to swing out? - Yes, you lean over in the direction of the bend to correct it.
The faster you are going, the more difficult it is to hug your near side? - Yes.
Car Driver’s Story - “Motor-Cycle Appeared at Terrific Rate”
Robert Leftwich, of Parkside Way, North Harrow, said he was motoring from Harrow Hill to Stanwick. Just before the collision he saw a motor-cycle approaching, and he himself was on the correct side of the road. The motor-cycle was four to five feet from its near side.
“Suddenly,” said witness, “another motor-cycle appeared at a terrific rate and swerved outwards to pass the first one. This was just on the corner. Judging from the speed at which he was travelling I immediately saw there was not a considerable amount of space between him and me. I applied my brakes and turned inwards to give him as much space as possible.
The Coroner: Did he seem to be taking this corner rather wide? - Witness: He had to pass the other motor-cycle. I thought he would easily clear me, but he didn’t, and he crashed into my off-side wing. My car was slued round to the right. I pulled up in a few feet.
Witness added that in the car were four grown-ups and four young children. He at once got out to see what had happened. His speed at the maximum was 30 m.p.h. He was in no hurry at all. He had had 2½ years’ experience with a car and since 1919 as a motor-cyclist.
“He Lost Control”
The Foreman: Did the second motor-cycle have to go between the first motor-cycle and your car? - Witness: He had to go wide of the first cyclist.
Mr. Englebach: You say you have been driving for------
The Coroner: Are you going to ask anything about a driving licence? I take a case only on its merits.
Mr. Engleback: Just as you say. Then there is one other matter. You have told the Coroner and the jury you thought this unfortunate man might have got through with proper handling? - Witness: Yes.
Mr. Leftwich added: “It is exactly my view that he lost control.”
Charles Kennedy, garage proprietor, Souldrop, said a young man on a motor-cycle called on him and asked him to go to an accident a little way along the road. Almost at the same time a lady in a car stopped and said a child had been injured. His telephone was out of order on account of the lightning on Saturday night, so he directed the lady on to Sharnbrook. He managed to get his ‘phone in order – it was a fuse – and ‘phoned the police and Dr. Stuart.
Witness went to the scene of the accident and then went on to meet P.C. Brunt. He brought the constable back with him and gave what assistance he could by regulating the traffic. The car and the motor-cycle were still at his garage.
The Coroner: The road was quite dry at the time, and conditions for motoring were good? - Witness: Yes, quite good.
Police Evidence
Police Constable F. A. G. Brunt, Wymington, said he saw Frank Quennell on the grass verge, and realised he was dead. The other man, Cecil Quennell, was about 12 feet further on, nearer the ditch, and was still alive. Dr. Stuart arrived, and Cecil Quennell was taken in the Rushden ambulance to Bedford Hospital.
There was a motor-car facing Rushden. It was an Essex Super-Six and was 4ft. 8in. from the off-side verge. The front of the chassis was bent, and the head and side lamps on the off-side were broken. The motor-cycle, a Royal Enfield developing 350 cc., was lying on the grass verge on the east side of the road. The front of the machine was a complete wreck.
In company with P.C. Halls he took measurements. The width of the road was 22ft., the width of the car 5ft. 4in., and the length of the car 14ft. There was a brake mark 40ft. in length. Witness conveyed the body to the Bedford Arms, Souldrop. The pockets contained a driving licence which had expired on September 14, a certificate of insurance, etc.
P.C. Halls, of Podington, produced photographs he had taken and a sketch plan he had prepared. The Coroner observed that these were very useful.
Coroner’s Summary - “Any Blame Belongs to These Unfortunate Men”
Addressing the jury, the Coroner said he had other witnesses present. There was the pillion rider who was with Tew, and also a passenger who was with Mr. Leftwich. If necessary he could call them to give evidence, but he thought the case was so absolutely clear that it was quite unnecessary to take any further time up.
He did not think they could have any doubt in their minds as to how this unfortunate accident happened. They had heard that on approaching this bend the brothers overtook and passed another motor-cycle driven by Mr. Tew, who also had a passenger on the pillion. They would have to swerve to a certain extent, and on arrival at the bend the overtaking motor-cycle must have been travelling considerably faster than that of Tew, who had said that his own speed was from 30 to 35 miles per hour.
The tendency on taking a left-hand bend like that would be to throw a motor-cycle into the centre of the road.
They had heard from the car driver and independent witnesses that he was on his correct side of the road, but the motor-cyclist, having swerved out, was unable to avoid him. The machine struck the off-side of the car, and where certain remains were picked up was practically in the centre of the road, so that it showed that the cycle must have been on the crown of the road, if not over the crown on the wrong side.
“Overtaking on Bend”
“Quennell,” said the Coroner, “had just overtaken another motor-cycle actually on the bend, which was a most senseless thing to do, and the impetus would take him on to the crown of the road, if not on to his off-side.
“So far as the driver of the car was concerned, I do not think you can have the smallest doubt that he was driving in a perfectly reasonable manner on the correct side of the road, and that no blame attached to him. The only blame, if there is any, belongs to these two unfortunate men, but, of course, they are both dead, and one can simply return a verdict of accidental death.”
When the Coroner had completed his summary Mr. Tew was given permission to speak again.
“There is one thing I should like to say,” he told the Coroner. “The motor-bike did not actually overtake me on the bend. It overtook me 100 yards down the road.”
The Coroner: Very well.
Mr. Whyley suggested that in this case the jury might exonerate the car driver, although, as he pointed out, if they returned a verdict of Accidental Death it automatically exonerated him.
The jury promptly returned a verdict of Accidental Death and added that no blame attached to Mr. Leftwich.
Mr. Englebach: May I be allowed to say on behalf of Mr. Leftwich that he would desire me to express his great sorrow that he was involved in an accident of this kind, and to express his great sympathy with the relatives.
Funeral Scenes - Brothers Buried Together
Several hundred sympathisers gathered at the Rushden Cemetery on Wednesday afternoon, when the victims were laid to rest side by side.
The funeral took place from 26, Highfield-road, Rushden, and a service was conducted there by the Rev. C. J. Keeler, minister of the Independent Wesleyan Church.
Many people stood in bare-headed groups as the two hearses passed on their way to the Cemetery, and during the committal service sympathy with the family in their tragic and irreparable loss brought tears to almost every eye.
The mourners included Mr. and Mrs. J. Quennell (father and mother), Mrs. E. Abbott and Mr. E. Quennell, Mr. R. Quennell and Mrs. G. Clark, Mr. G. Quennell and Miss K. Quennell (brothers and sisters), Mr. Abbott (brother-in-law) and Miss B. Coleman (fiancée of Cecil), Mr. G. Quennell and Mrs. F. Quennell (uncle and sister-in-law), Mrs. R. Quennell and Mr. W. Clark (sister-in-law and brother-in-law).
Mr. B. V. Page represented the C.W.S. factory and the C.W.S. Football Club, Mr. F. C. Bird and Mr. A. C. Haddon the Windmill Club and Institute, and there were a host of personal friends.
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28th September, 1934
Sad Sequel to Rushden Road Tragedy
Victims’ Father Dead
A tragic aftermath of the recent double fatality near Rushden, when Messrs. Frank and Cecil Quennell were killed, occurred on Thursday, when their father, Mr. Joseph Quennell, passed away at Leamington.
He had not enjoyed the best of health for some time, and it is believed that the shock of his sons’ deaths hastened his end.
Mr. Quennell was about 65 years of age, and formerly resided in Rushden, where he was steward of the West End Club. He was called to Rushden a week last Sunday after the accident to his sons, and attended the funeral on the following Wednesday. The late Mr. Frank Quennell also lived at Leamington.
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