Respected Wirral businessman Frank Bather Jnr. passes away

Frank Bather Jnr. - the third generation of Frank to run Birkenhead's Frank Bather Tyres - was diagnosed with duodenum cancer in January this year and fell asleep on February 26, just weeks short of his 65th birthday, with his wife and children by his side.

The renowned tyre business has been plying it's trade in Wirral for over 100 years.

Frank's wife Liz said: "Although Frank was a frugal man with himself he was the most generous man to others.

Frank Bather Jnr. Photo courtesy of Liz Bather

"The overwhelming tributes have been “top boss, top bloke, the kindest most generous man, a true gentleman”.

"He really was well loved and respected. Almost everyone in the area knew Frank Bather, generations of families had all gone to Bather's and he remembered everyone’s name and family connection.

"A rare thing in today’s business world and something that will probably never to be repeated.

"After nearly 10 decades of the Bather dynasty on the Wirral it is a very sad time, Frank has gone but the memories of him and Frank Bather's tyres will be remembered and will carry on."

The original Bather's Tyre shop on New Chester Road. Photo courtesy of Liz Bather

Due to Covid restrictions, there will be small private ceremony for Frank's funeral starting with a final drive of the funeral cortège past the Bather's building on March 24 at approximately 12.30pm.

When restrictions are lifted a ceremony will be planned at St. Andrews Church, Bebington, officiated by the Rector David Vestergaard, to enable his friends, family and loyal customers to pay their respects to Frank.

Details will be published in the Globe when finalised.

To help mark his passing. Liz provided the Globe with a timeline of the business that stretches back over the last century.

A history of Frank Bather's Tyres

Frank’s Grandfather, Frank Snr. started selling tyres in New Ferry Merseyside in the early 1920’s. It was rare to have independent tyre sellers, apparently, most customers at that time purchased tyres from the place they purchased their vehicle.

He had some opposition at the time but was able to source a supply for his customers by whatever means!

Frank Bather Snr. and his wife

In 1924 Frank Snr. moved to an old cake shop on a corner of New Chester Road Birkenhead and sold tyres within a 100 mile radius of Birkenhead 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The shop was surrounded by terraced cottages, which Frank Snr. and his wife Elsie quickly purchased as they became vacant enabling him to secure a large plot for his future plans, aiming to be the largest independent tyre business at that time.

In 1927 he established the business on a formal basis and registered as a company in 1929 along with his wife Elsie, who was instrumental in the business, an unusual situation in the 1920/30's especially a woman in the motor trade.

Birkenhead was heavily bombed in the second world war and they were proud to say that they remained open at all times. Sometimes with just the two of them running the business.

Eventually Frank Snr. purchased all of the cottages. They were demolished and he had great plans to expand and build a state of the art building, which they did in the 1960’s having previously joined the National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA) in 1955. Becoming incorporated as a Ltd., company in 1958.

Today it is quite an iconic building on New Chester Road, typical 1960’s architecture amongst all the new buildings in the area.

Frank Snr.’s son Frank Hamilton was working in the business from a very early age, becoming an expert in the tyre field. Frank Hamilton remained prominent in the business well into his late 70’s.

An original article on the company from The Goodyear News in 1956

Frank Jnr. had also been in the business from an early age, although his Grandparents made sure he had a good education, he would work weekends, school holidays and sometimes when he really should have been at school!

Taking over the business at a relatively young age and benefitting from his Father and Grandfather’s skills in the tyre trade, Frank Jnr. also had a great business acumen which certainly helped during recessions, pandemics and the like.

Frank Jnr. worked hard for most of his career and was passionate about the continuing reputation of Bather's, managing it single handedly since his Father passed away.

Frank was keen not to change the 1960's 'look' of Bather's, modernisation wasn't top of his priorities as long as he had new machines and good staff he was happy.

He has a strong and loyal staff currently over 100 years service between them who continue to provide an excellent service.

Frank Bather Jnr. was the third generation of 'Frank' in the well-known family

Frank was contemplating retirement, and an easier life. Frank has three children, Thomas, Amy and Laurence who took a different route in their careers

He was pleased for them. The tyre business can be a tough job especially in the winter. Frank also has a sister El who moved to New Zealand with her family in the 1990's.

Frank and his wife Liz, who had previously retired from Unilever as a Finance Manager - who had also been the third generation of her family to work for Unilever and Lever Brothers it's predecessor - were planning their future spending time abroad.

Frank loved being away, but was always keen to get back to the business. Frank wasn’t a golfer or had any passionate hobbies, the tyre business was his life and his hobby.

He loved nothing more than searching every supplier at home or abroad to secure that obscure rare tyre for a recently refurbished vintage car. He always seemed to manage it, resulting in rave reviews for Bathers.

His life was changing and he was planning that when he turned 65 he would slow down and spend more time with Liz, friends and family, sipping a nice glass of cold wine watching the world go by in a warm climate.

Sadly it wasn’t to be, in January 2021 he became unwell and was diagnosed with the later stages of duodenum cancer. Frank passed away on February 26 just weeks short of his 65th birthday with his wife Liz and children by his side.

Frank has gone but the memories of him and Frank Bather's tyres will be remembered and will carry on.