My memories of Warren Heaton

I thought I’d write a few lines about Warren; there are some who knew him better than me, but here are a few memories.

Warren and Nancy Heaton were responsible for introducing me to the Austin Motor Vehicle Club, 38 years ago in 1981. I had arrived in Brisbane that year, owning an Austin 1800. At a swap meet in Ipswich I was wearing a Wolseley Club t-shirt and was approached by these two who said “We own a Wolseley, but are in the Austin Club” whereas I retorted that I owned an Austin but was in a Wolseley Club. From there, they told me about the newly formed AMVC, so I joined the Club in September.

Warren owned a 1949 Austin A40 Tourer, called Ann, which he bought new from Keidge Motors in Ipswich. He ran it until 1980, putting 131,000 miles on it, then stripped for restoration, but still on its original Q-plates. The Heatons also owned an early ‘50s A40 Countryman called Chester as well as a 1962 Wolseley 24/80 in the rare colour of Rose Beige.

Warren submitted some charming stories for the Austin Times which we have reproduced below - the first was about the big day in February 1949 when he first picked up the Tourer, the second was a description of a Sunday Drive in 1949 to Fernvale and Dundas. The last was a re-enactment of that trip done in 1988 using Chester the Countryman.

At most of the club runs where we meet at Cameron Park in Ipswich, because he lived close by, Warren would turn up in his Hyundai Getz with Ann’s Q-plates to see us off and catch up with everyone. He was always cheerful and an absolute delight to talk to.

He will be greatly missed.

Austin Times February 1983

Austin Times February 1984

Austin Times February 1984