Dear Sarah,
My apologies for the familiarity, we haven't been properly introduced. Indeed, I don't even know your surname. This forum has led me to you in search of information regarding Col. Sir Stanley Bell.
I am a simple man of Utah, U.S.A. I became the owner of a 1957 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud last year; once ordered for your grandfather, delivered in June of 1957 and appears to have been associated with him while he owned Euxton Hall and was chairman of Astley Industrial Trust. The car is in poor condition now, but I am confident that I will be able to return it to its former glory over the next few years.
The information I have for Sir Stanley is limited to what I have discovered here from your posts. Web resources are limited; I was hoping that you would be able to help. I would like his biography, a photo of he and his family with the car or any other photo of the car back in the day. Would you be able to help in this regard? The history of the car is a fascinating subject, think of it like the history of the Spitfire to some. I am a bit of an anglophile and am very appreciative of our joint history and the ties we hold as a culture.
Would there be any contacts or artifacts for/from the Astley Industrial Trust that would know what happened to the car after your Grandfather passed away in 1972? I presume that the company or your family had possession, then it became available for export to the U.S.A. The history of the car between 1970 and 1990 are a loss to me. I'm unable to a photo of the car, due to the limitations of this forum. Back in your grandfather's day the car was midnight blue, rather than the silver and maroon of today. According to The Rolls-Royce Foundation records, the car was delivered to Loxham Garages, Lancs. I haven't been able to confirm.
If you are amenable, would we be able to exchange e-mail addresses? I anticipate a fruitful correspondence.
Respectfully,
Rich