Eye chauffeur book is straight out of Downton Abbey, says granddaughter

The hunt for information on a classic car has spurred on the publication of a book on the secret life of a chauffeur.

The Car is at the Door tells the story of Alfred King, who spent 35 years driving in the early stages of motoring in both Norwich, where he worked for a bishop, and in Eye for the Tacon family, between 1923 and 1953.

The book came about after Christine Tacon started researching the car he drove for her family – a 1910 Bianchi Tourer.

“My father left the car, which is still in our family, to his three grandchildren, which included my son, so I decided to put together a binder of all the information relating to the car,” she said.

“While going through some old photos and files, I found a copy of a project that a school pupil had done about her great-grandfather, who had been a chauffer.

“Although it was about 30 years old, it had an address on it, so I chanced my arm and made contact.”

She spoke to Joyce Cooper, whose daughter, Lisa, had compiled the school project when she was younger, using a book by her uncle as a catalyst for the work.

The pair arranged to meet in Norfolk days later and both decided the book should be published.

Mrs Cooper, from Horham, was given the book by her uncle, Eric, who died in January 2022.

“He asked me to publish it when he was gone, so to be able to grant his wish and see it come to fruition is wonderful,” she said.

“The book really brings Downton Abbey to mind, as there is a lot of gossip and stories in there.”

The book, which has a small print run of 200 copies, was officially launched at Eye Town Hall to coincide with the start of this year’s Heritage Open Days.

Mrs Tacon said: “I am really excited about the book. People have already ordered it without its official launch yet.

“There are a lot of people from Brome and Oakley in the book, as well as places that people might remember.”

Proceeds will go to Brome and Oakly churches as well as the chapels in Eye cemetery.

To find out more about the book and to order a copy, go to www.thecarisatthedoor.co.uk.