Rex Cummins (1936-2013)
REX Cummins, ran several business ventures in Grantham.
He was raised in Lincoln and as a youth enjoyed motor racing, horse-riding and rugby.
His family ran an electrical business in the city and Rex took and apprenticeship as an electrical engineer at excavator builders, Ruston Bucyrus.
After marrying Eileen in 1958, they lived at Spridlington,
Two years later, they moved to Grantham and Rex worked at Bmarco for a spell before moving into cafes, running both the Elite and Talbot cafes in Market Place.
The Elite was a popular haunt for motorcyclists and Rex himself was a keen follower of the sport.
Rex was a big man in every sense, emerging himself in many sports and pastimes, while weighing in at 24 stone. Through the interest of his children, he became a junior football coach.
He dabbled in various ventures, including statues and used cars.
His last business was a secondhand shop on Springfield Road, at the foot of Victoria Street.
Rex was a keen painter, model-maker and wood-carver. He also had a passion for photography.
He died on Christmas Day after celebrating the occasion with his family. He was 77.
I was very sad to hear of his passing and heard only recently and see that its already been seven years. I spent a lot of time at Rex’s in the early 80’s tinkering with cars etc, and lazing about in the back garden with Bruce the dog! I got to know him initially through his son Richard, who I worked with at Grantham Post Office and through a car I bought from him, which turned out to be one of a long line!.
When I left the P.O. in 1984 and went to work with horses at the Belvoir Hunt, the wages were meagre to what i’d been used to at the Post Office and it was he who suggested buying and selling the odd one to supplement my wages which I did, with his help and never forgotten motto “always buy late plate continental” at Newark Car Auctions on a Thursday!
I also remember him as a keen photographer and the time he came up to the stables one day and took a series of photographs of me on horses, which I wouldnt have had were it not for him!
My condolances, though belated, are nonetheless sincere, and my thoughts go out to Eileen and Richard and family!
Kind regards, Brad.