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Peter Gethin has passed away


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#51 HEROS

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Posted 06 December 2011 - 13:08

I remember well the 1971 Italian GP which I saw live on TV, it was a great moment. This dice between Peter, Cevert, Hailwood and Peterson during the final laps is remained etched in my mind.

After the race, Peter said : ''I was third in the Curva Grande and all along the straight line, it was good for me. At the braking, Peterson overtook Cevert and I followed him. I entered a second long speed which I saved specially for this last lap and I widely exceeded the allowed regime but I was able to pass in the lead and to remain first to the finishing line.''

RIP.

Edited by HEROS, 06 December 2011 - 13:40.


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#52 Mark 13

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Posted 06 December 2011 - 13:48

I don't think she did any TV work prior to the Old Grey Whistle Test in the early 80s, unless of course it was something obscure on ITV - her pre-BBC career is fairly sketchy; although by 1971 she was a BBC employee.

He was driving for McLaren at the time, maybe about the time of the Orange M19. It was fronted by Annie Nightingale.

#53 Wouter Melissen

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Posted 06 December 2011 - 14:04

Our small tribute to Peter Gethin with a look at the Monza winning BRM P160, which he drove at Goodwood just last year:

http://www.ultimatec...3/BRM-P160.html

#54 Fivestripes

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Posted 06 December 2011 - 15:56

Does anyone remember a chidren's tv programme hosted by Anne Nighingale featuring Peter? It must have been in the early 1970s because the 71 Italian GP was featured. I recall they seemed to get on well together.
Simon Thomas

My recollection is that it was a radio (probably radio 1 as I didn't listen to anything else at the time) programme earlier in 1971 when he was at McLaren- she was certainly charmed by him! RIP Peter

#55 MCS

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Posted 06 December 2011 - 16:24

My recollection is that it was a radio (probably radio 1 as I didn't listen to anything else at the time) programme earlier in 1971 when he was at McLaren- she was certainly charmed by him! RIP Peter


Definitely on TV. I can remember her accompanying him to the drivers' signing-on.


#56 Rob Ryder

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Posted 06 December 2011 - 19:15

Shattering news.. RIP Peter

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Reunited with Pedro & Seppi - the great team back together :cry:

Rob

#57 alansart

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Posted 06 December 2011 - 19:37

I think these are DSJ's words of Gethin's Monza win :)

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#58 MCS

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Posted 06 December 2011 - 20:45

Thank you for that, Alan. :up: Wonderful.

I will look for a picture I still have of Peter and Teddy Pillette and post it - sadly not the one that Autosport printed in their final 1975 F5000 season review which I took with Peter fooling around in a silly mask.

That said, if somebody wants to post a copy of that - I certainly don't have my picture anymore - they are more than welcome to.

#59 alansart

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Posted 06 December 2011 - 20:51

...which I took with Peter fooling around in a silly mask.


Was that a monkey mask?


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#60 MCS

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Posted 06 December 2011 - 20:55

Was that a monkey mask?


Yes, indeed.


#61 Pedro 917

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Posted 06 December 2011 - 21:01

A great picture of Peter, wearing my deerstalker at Brands Hatch 1974 :

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#62 Tim Murray

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Posted 06 December 2011 - 21:18

That said, if somebody wants to post a copy of that - I certainly don't have my picture anymore - they are more than welcome to.

With Mark's permission:

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RIP Peter. My abiding memory of him is in the P160, holding off Emerson Fittipaldi at the 1971 Victory Race at Brands.

#63 Doug Nye

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Posted 06 December 2011 - 22:25

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Peter at home in October 2010, showing off his 1971 Italian GP trophy with typical good humour, and justifiable pride....

DCN

Edited by Doug Nye, 06 December 2011 - 22:29.


#64 HarryStiller

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Posted 06 December 2011 - 23:19

It was with great sadness I learned of the death of one of my best friends in Motosport. Peter succumbed to a brain tumor after having been ill for quite a long time. Typical of the man, he quitely went off the scene and not many of us even knew to what extent he had been so ill. I will remember him best for the many battles he and I had in Formula three during the heady days of the mid sixties when we were both driving Brabhams, him for Rodney Bloor and me for MRS and Lucas Engineering.

Many of you will remember him dominating F5000 in the early days of the Formula and twice winning the 5000 Championship. He also proved himself very capable in the Can-am series across the pond when he teamed with Denny Hulme and actually won one or two of the series races and finished as runner-up to Hulme in that years championship. His greatest race must have been the Italian GP at Monza when he won the race in a BRM by inches and established the record for the fastest F1 race ever. I think that record may still stand though, I have not researched it as a fact for certain tonight.

He and I spent a lot of time together racing in Europe at many of the big F3 races in France, Italy, Spain and Scandinavia....it was a toss up as to who got pole or who pulled the best looking gals and who got the best results on both counts!! Whichever, we had loads of fun and success, he just beat me on all counts I think. Peter was a great talent who never really made it to the heights of F1 that we all knew he was capable of; when I think about it I'm sure it was because he enjoyed other pursuits equally as much as he enjoyed his racing which to some extent hindered his progress to the very top of the ladder in F1.

I will always remember him as a good friend and a fierce adversary on the track but, best of all....a gentleman racer with a big heart. Rest in peace old chum...this world is a poorer place without you... now the flag has dropped. To all his family and the many female admirers he accumulated (one or two from me you old devil!) I offer my sincere condolances, we will all miss him and never forget him. :wave:

Edited by HarryStiller, 06 December 2011 - 23:31.


#65 Twin Window

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Posted 07 December 2011 - 01:25

Thanks for sharing those memories, Harry. I've spent a lot of today remembering him.

That's a lovely photo Doug.

#66 john winfield

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Posted 07 December 2011 - 07:34

Very touching memories Harry, and thank you to Luc and Doug for two great photos. Like Tim, I have a vivid 1971 memory of Peter thundering around Brands in the BRM P160 with Fittipaldi's Gold Leaf Lotus 72 right up his exhausts. We knew by then that Peter was a Grand Prix winner and here he was on home soil proving it was no fluke, leading a strong field of F1 rivals. It was so sad the way that October day ended, with the death of Peter's team mate Jo Siffert.
Eighteen months later, back at Brands Hatch for the Race of Champions, and Peter has a big grin across his face having beaten the F1 circus in his F5000 Chevron. I think everyone enjoyed that!

#67 ellrosso

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Posted 07 December 2011 - 08:01

Pukekohe 1974 - great trip down under for Peter.

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#68 Giraffe

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Posted 07 December 2011 - 08:57

Here is a photo of Peter's Church Farm Racing McLaren M10A in the paddock at Oulton Park in September of 1969 when he was on the way to winning the inaugural British F5000 championship, taken by a 15 year old me.

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By giraffe138 at 2011-12-07

This is one of several items Peter very kindly signed up for me. Peter had been contributing memories and photos to my Sid Taylor project for the last couple of years, and even signed my F5000 & Chevron books only 7 weeks ago. He is the only driver who has ever written to me in longhand, with fountain pen and ink, which I treasure.


Edited by Giraffe, 07 December 2011 - 10:04.


#69 philippe7

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Posted 07 December 2011 - 10:04

Another pic taken by a 15 year old (me) , sorry it's scan of a period print complete with punched hole for the binding ring of the relevant album :blush: Just to show that I was there on "that" day, too.... Not sure if it's the penultimate or last lap, but Peter had apparently just pipped Hulme's ailing Mc Laren to take the lead...

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#70 philippe7

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Posted 07 December 2011 - 10:14

A couple more from the same day, while the album is out and the scanner turned on...

RIP Peter

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#71 Jagracer

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Posted 07 December 2011 - 10:28

What a terrible loss of a GREAT Guy always a Gentleman on or off the Track. Many times I've had the pleasure of being with Peter at a Dinner table in a Hotel somewhere & his stories would always have you laughing

On the way back to the UK from the 1971 Springbok Series in South Africa, there were a lot of teams traveling on the same plane & Peter was with us, I had met my 1st Wife out there & she was coming back with me to the UK we told a few friends of our Engagement as we took off, the next think Peter comes along with a large bottle of Champagne & glasses to toast us & wish us all the best & got the Captain to announce it over the speakers. That was Peter

RIP Peter Phil Bradford

#72 charles r

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Posted 07 December 2011 - 13:31

From what I remember of Pete back then, he "seemed to get on quite well" with many women in those days...



Very much so - he and Hailwood were quite a team as far as the ladies were concerned...

#73 kayemod

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Posted 07 December 2011 - 13:42

What a terrible loss of a GREAT Guy always a Gentleman on or off the Track.



That says it all, and not for the first time with a thread of this nature on TNF, I keep thinking "Pete would have really enjoyed reading this..."

#74 Giraffe

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Posted 07 December 2011 - 15:46

From The Times of today's date:

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By giraffe138 at 2011-12-07

#75 Jean L

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Posted 07 December 2011 - 16:40

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Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Very sad news

#76 BRM MICK2

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Posted 07 December 2011 - 17:16

Forza Peter R.I.P a very sad loss

#77 E1pix

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Posted 07 December 2011 - 20:12

Forza Peter R.I.P a very sad loss

Indeed...

Great memories and shots, everyone!

It seems the look on this kid's face says how many of us saw Peter. In awe.

Compared to some here, I was an "old man" when taking these, having just turned 16...

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Race in Peace. :(

Edited by E1pix, 07 December 2011 - 20:15.


#78 Giraffe

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Posted 08 December 2011 - 10:04

I have received a message from Reine Wisell this morning:

"Missing another good friend! Remember around 1970 when we travelled a lot together, like it was this year........."

Edited by Giraffe, 08 December 2011 - 10:05.


#79 P 4 Staff

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Posted 09 December 2011 - 02:01

I want to share this picture I took of Peter in Austria 1972.

my-images/683/pgethin1austria72.jpg/]Posted Image[/URL]



I remember Monza 1971 so well.

Good one Peter.

Edited by P 4 Staff, 09 December 2011 - 02:18.


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#80 WGD706

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Posted 09 December 2011 - 08:58

Maurice Hamilton over on Grandprix.com has a nice article on Peter............
http://www.grandprix...ter-gethin.html
"With the absence of either sophisticated photography or timing on the finishing line, Gethin knew there would be nothing in it. Working on the assumption that human nature would make the final decision, Gethin thrust his right arm in the air to help the officials make up their mind. He was declared the winner by 0.01 seconds at an average of 151.634 mph.

That would be the remarkable high point of a F1 career that lasted for one more full season. But, that night at Monza, he was The Man.

I visited Peter at his driving school at Goodwood 15 years later to recall that race. The laughter lines on his expressive face were evident as he recounted the story of what happened afterwards.

BRM was run by Louis Stanley, a pompous man with an overbearing nature. Having celebrated victory in a Milan restaurant, Stanley's chauffeur-driven limousine picked up a puncture on the journey back to Villa d'Este, the lavish hotel by Lake Como in the mountains to the north. Gethin found himself to be the only person present capable of changing a wheel. So there was the winner of the Italian Grand Prix on his hands and knees, in the gutter, in the dark, with Stanley towering over him and chortling: "Ho, ho, ho, who would have believed it....the winner at Monza...ho, ho, ho...".

Gethin received the princely sum of £800 for his day's work at the race track. Times may have changed but, by any standard, that was an insulting amount for a massive victory by a little guy with enormous spirit. "



#81 mwphoto

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Posted 09 December 2011 - 12:15

R.I.P Peter

1973 at Michigan International Speedway
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1973 at Mid-Ohio
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#82 Tony Matthews

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Posted 09 December 2011 - 13:28

I want to share this picture I took of Peter in Austria 1972.

my-images/683/pgethin1austria72.jpg/]Posted Image[/URL]





Good one Peter.

Tony Southgate on the left?

#83 Paul Parker

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Posted 09 December 2011 - 14:13

Tony Southgate on the left?


Yes

#84 Doug Nye

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Posted 09 December 2011 - 18:55

Just back from Peter's funeral in the beautiful church of St Nicholas high on the hill beside a sun-soaked Arundel Castle. Befitting this little warrior the funeral was well attended, direct...and different. Damon Hill gave a reading, and amongst those present were Richard Attwood, John Watson, Jackie Stewart, Sid Taylor, David Piper, Charles March and so many more. Peter's son Nick paid wonderful tribute to his Dad, ending with a little story which I am sure Peter would have adored, but which Mum Robbie had urged Nick not to tell. He had thought about it, and went ahead. "Just a few weeks ago Dad said to me, "Look on the bright side..." (pause, as Nick looked round at the presiding clergyman, and indicated that it might be as well if he covered his ears...before he then just reported what had followed the way it was)... "I've had a f------g marvellous life!".

It brought the house down.

Nick then invited us to show our appreciation for Peter as he set off on his last lap - and applause then raised the roof.

That wasn't just Peter Gethin's last lap. It was his well-earned lap of honour.

DCN

Edited by Doug Nye, 10 December 2011 - 09:01.


#85 E1pix

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Posted 09 December 2011 - 19:25

Thank You, Doug, that's as good as this can get.

#86 Tim Murray

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Posted 09 December 2011 - 19:35

Hear hear.

#87 BRM MICK2

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Posted 09 December 2011 - 23:01

Ditto

#88 Giraffe

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Posted 10 December 2011 - 00:36

Just back from Peter's funeral in the beautiful church of St Nicholas high on the hill beside a sun-soaked Arundel Castle. Befitting this little warrior the funeral was well attended, direct...and different. Damon Hill gave a reading, and amongst those present were Richard Attwood, John Watson, Jackie Stewart, Sid Taylor, David Piper, Charles March and so many more.

That wasn't just Peter Gethin's last lap. It was his well-earned lap of honour.

DCN



Indeed Doug, add Chris Craft, Ian Ashley, Patrick Sumner,& Kaye Griffiths from the F5000 brigade.

The Chevron Connection; pictured at the celebration of Peter's life here are Paul Owens who worked closely with Peter at Chevron, Ray Grimes of Chevron who was tested by Peter for his role as Driver Coach for Ferrari UK (a story in itself), and Sid Taylor who not only ran Peter in his semi-works McLarens, but also in his Chevron B24 with which Peter is pictured in his obituary in "The Times" yesterday.

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By giraffe138 at 2011-12-09

Another strange experience for me today was meeting Peter's widow Robbie for the first time and discovering I grew up on virtually the same block as her on Merseyside and knew her & her brother from those far-off days.....

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By giraffe138 at 2011-12-09

Edited by Giraffe, 10 December 2011 - 08:27.


#89 E1pix

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Posted 10 December 2011 - 05:31

Perhaps OT, but I think it's heartwarming how TNFers honor (honour) our international, mutual, passed Heroes... our collective past.

Thank You All.

#90 Stephen W

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Posted 10 December 2011 - 10:46

Nick then invited us to show our appreciation for Peter as he set off on his last lap - and applause then raised the roof.

That wasn't just Peter Gethin's last lap. It was his well-earned lap of honour.

DCN


So well put, it has indeed been a sad time but so comforting to see so many people appreciated Gethin's talent.

:cry:

#91 picblanc

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Posted 17 December 2011 - 22:35

Never seen this footage before apologies if you guys have, but what a finish!
http://www.youtube.c...feature=related

#92 sterling49

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Posted 18 December 2011 - 09:59

Peter's most famous win Graham, still one of the best finishes ever, if not the best ! Howden and Chris Amon the only drivers still able to tell the tale, Peter is probably discussing win with Ronnie and the rest now.

#93 charles r

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Posted 19 December 2011 - 10:47

Peter's most famous win Graham, still one of the best finishes ever, if not the best ! Howden and Chris Amon the only drivers still able to tell the tale, Peter is probably discussing win with Ronnie and the rest now.


Stunning in colour and the prize giving brought a tear, despite Big Lou muscling in..

#94 Stefan Schmidt

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Posted 12 January 2012 - 18:40

Peter Gethin vs Patrick Depailler F2 Pau 1972



#95 JacnGille

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Posted 14 January 2012 - 01:28

Peter Gethin vs Patrick Depailler F2 Pau 1972

:up:

#96 Giraffe

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Posted 17 May 2012 - 08:05


Peter Gethin Memorial Friday May 18th

There will be a memorial ceremony in honour of Peter Gethin in the BRDC Clubhouse at Silverstone on Friday 18th May commencing at 15.00 Hours. As part of the tribute, some of the cars Peter raced will be placed on show outside of the Clubhouse, amongst them is a Cooper T82, Chevron B26, and a Chevron B28. Anyone who knew closely was team mate to or who worked with Peter would be welcome to attend.

(Extracted from the HSCC website).

#97 arttidesco

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Posted 17 May 2012 - 08:20

Another pic taken by a 15 year old (me) , sorry it's scan of a period print complete with punched hole for the binding ring of the relevant album :blush: Just to show that I was there on "that" day, too.... Not sure if it's the penultimate or last lap, but Peter had apparently just pipped Hulme's ailing Mc Laren to take the lead...

Posted Image


I was a wide eyed 14 year old at my first meeting at Brands Hatch we can't have been standing more than 100 yards apart. Thanks for sharing a special moment.

RIP Peter Gethin.

Condolences to his friends and family.


#98 Giraffe

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Posted 19 May 2012 - 07:06

Peter Gethin Memorial Friday May 18th

There will be a memorial ceremony in honour of Peter Gethin in the BRDC Clubhouse at Silverstone on Friday 18th May commencing at 15.00 Hours. As part of the tribute, some of the cars Peter raced will be placed on show outside of the Clubhouse, amongst them is a Cooper T82, Chevron B26, and a Chevron B28. Anyone who knew closely was team mate to or who worked with Peter would be welcome to attend.

(Extracted from the HSCC website).


From yesterday's incredibly well attended proceedings.....

Nick Mason, Nick Gethin and Teddy Pilette with the trophy from the 1971 Italian GP

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By giraffe138 at 2012-05-18

Just some of Peter's memorabilia that was on display

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By giraffe138 at 2012-05-18

Kiwis Peter Cates and Bruce McLaren's sister, Jan (David Owen of Rubery Owen, Ron Bennett & Tony Southgate lurking in the background).

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By giraffe138 at 2012-05-18

Edited by Giraffe, 19 May 2012 - 07:11.


#99 E1pix

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Posted 19 May 2012 - 07:22

Utterly priceless, Giraffe.

Thank You. :)

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#100 kayemod

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Posted 19 May 2012 - 07:35

From yesterday's incredibly well attended proceedings.....


Did those "Two sisters from Bradford" turn up?