This was the first time I ever sat in a racing car. Sat in one, note, didn’t drive it. In fact at age 14 couldn’t drive anyway. Place, the paddock at Brands Hatch. The date, some time in 1952. You can’t see it clearly but I was wearing my school blazer as kids didn’t have casual gear in those days. I also travelled to Brands on a Maidstone & District bus, not at the wheel of a height-of-cool
Jaguar XK120 or still desirable
MG TC.
This photograph came to light when BBC South East Today, our regional TV station, asked for pictures that represented a turning point in life.
Sitting in this little 500cc racer, possibly a Kieft, I realised for the first time that I might one day be able to race, that it was attainable, instead of just watching other people do it. That dream took quite a long time to come true but sure enough finally I found myself on the starting grid in a single-seater ready to compete in the circuit where, for me, it all began.
The BBC South East reporter/cameraman did a brief piece based on this pic and his feature is scheduled to go out in a week or so. The fact that I’m still racing, and crashing, was for him a bonus…
From: Chris Howells to Frank Barnard
Ian Edwards warned us on the RAF site that he was commenting on your mistakes in what he describes as ‘excellently researched novels.’ My late father had a brief tour on Sunderlands in the 1950s at Pembroke Dock. He also had a tour on Operations and Luqa in Malta 1946-67 so I have a good knowledge of the island from my school days. The people of that island are wonderful and after all they suffered in World War Two more than deserved the George Cross and British citizenship.
I love your books so more power to your elbow, typing fingers and, hopefully, your Apple Mac.
