Walter Edwin Sturgess was never regarded as an adventurer, having been born into a family that had deep roots in Leicester. However, he decided to emigrate to Australia during the 1880s and planned to stay there for some considerable time, maybe even permanently. But, purely by coincidence, he met a girl from Leicester there, they married, settled and had two children. The plan for fortune did not materialise so the family left Australia and headed back to England and Leicester.
In 1897, Walter established his bicycle sales and repair shop in the west end of Leicester, moving into cars at the turn of the 20th Century, as they became more widely available.
Since that time the business, still in Sturgess family ownership, has ridden the waves of history and continued to serve the local and indeed national motorist and today, still endeavours to provide quality products and services.