His family's business was Parr's Ltd., initially a bicycle manufacturer who, like many others such as Triumph, moved into the newly evolving motor vehicle market at the turn of the 20th century.
O negocio da súa familia era Parr's Ltd., inicialmente un fabricante de bicicletas que, que como moitos outros como Triumph, mudouse ao mercado de vehículos a motor a principios do século XX.