On Tuesday 21st January 1908 Gilbert Ireland Blackburne (1887-1973) was involved in a car accident a few days after his father had given him the vehicle for his 21st birthday. In August 2017 I received a photograph, and an envelope containing a copy of the news cutting, mounted on card, reporting the accident.
The incident was also reported in eight other papers including The Bolton Evening News – Wednesday 22 January 1908:
FROST CAUSES MOTOR CAR SKID
SERIOUS ACCIDENT IN WIRRAL PENINSULA
The glassy state of the road, due to frost, was responsible for an alarming motor smash near to Helsby on Tuesday afternoon, and subsequent serious injuries to Mr Gilbert Ireland Blackburne, son and heir of Colonel Robert Ireland Blackburne, C.B., Lord of the Manor of Hale. Mr Ireland Blackburne, who was accompanied by Captain Hulme and Mrs Hulme, and Miss Fluke, was returning to Hale Hall from a motor trip, and when on the Chester main road, about half a mile from Helsby, the car skidded, and running up the bank overturned. The point where the accident occurred was on a decline near to a place called Iron Dish. The axle wheel of the car came off, and when the vehicle overturned, all the members of the party were flung into the road way. The accident happened at a quarter to four, and being, fortunately, still broad day light, assistance was speedily forthcoming. The most seriously injured was Mr Gilbert Ireland Blackburne, to whom the car belonged. He sustained a bad fracture to thigh bone and a scalp wound, as well as a severe shaking. Captain and Mrs Hulme and Miss Fluke managed to escape with a severe shaking, but the chauffeur was not quite so fortunate. The latter was seated near to Mr Ireland Blackburne, who was driving at the time, and in being thrown out he received cuts about the face.
