The Wright Way: Reminiscences of 60 Years of Coach Building in Ballymena: 3

Kernohan, Jack

ISBN 10: 1906578508 / ISBN 13: 9781906578503

Published by Colourpoint Books, 2010

About this Item

Most items will be dispatched the same or the next working day. A copy that has been read but remains in clean condition. All of the pages are intact and the cover is intact and the spine may show signs of wear. The book may have minor markings which are not specifically mentioned.

Seller Inventory # rev7755595766

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Wright Way: Reminiscences of 60 Years of Coach Building in Ballymena: 3
• Publisher: Colourpoint Books
• Publication Date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1906578508
• ISBN 13: 9781906578503
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Good
• Weight: 1310 grams

About this title

Synopsis

The author joined Wrights in 1955, just nine years after the business had been started by local man Bob Wright, and stayed there until his retirement from the post of Sales Director in 2005. This book isn't a history, it's the author's reminiscences of the development of what is today a major player in the United Kingdom bus market.

About the Author

Jack Kernohan was born in 1937 on a farm on the outskirts of Ballymena, approximately two miles from where The Wright Group is based today. He's the oldest in a family of six - four boys and two girls. He attended the Fourtowns Primary School, in the local village of Ahoghill, before completing his education at Ballymena Technical College. Jack's father was a carpenter and he wanted to follow in his father's footsteps so he began an apprenticeship with McLaughlin and Harvey, then one of the largest engineering and building contractors in Northern Ireland, in 1951. He was attracted to coachbuilding and joined Robert Wright and Son Limited, as the company was then known, in 1955 and accepted every opportunity to aid his progression through the company. Appointed Workshop Foreman in 1961, Jack became Production Manager two years later. This latter position was a challenging role in that he was entirely responsible for the operations of the company during a period when many technological changes were taking place within the industry. By 1967, the company needed to provide an after sales service support for its range of products and Jack saw this as a major opportunity. Supporting the customer in their time of need would ensure that the company sales team had a better chance of securing that customer's next order. In February 1970 Jack was appointed Sales Manager, initially for Ireland; this territory was increased to also cover all of the United Kingdom. He was promoted to Sales Director in 1988, a position he held up until his retirement on 31 August 2005. During his long service with the company, Jack made numerous friends. Many, like him, have since retired but they all still retain an interest in the latest range of products which the company now builds.