8 replies to this topic

[Peter Horsman]

A short note to inform members that Peter Ross passed away peacefully yesterday. Sometime author, worker at the Lotus factory, editor of the excellent Historic Lotus Register magazine and poster on this site, his enthusiasm for Colin Chapman and early Lotuses remained a passion until the end. And also, a really nice guy.

[Tim Murray]

That is very sad news. I greatly enjoyed his posts here about early Lotus history and, especially, the history and restoration of the Clairmonte Special.

Sincere condolences to his family and friends.

[bradbury west]

What sad news. As you say Peter, he was also such a good bloke, always happy to talk and share memories. He was very helpful to me with some early Lotus history, facts rather than the more common myths and rose-tinted stuff. Another of the early Lotus people gone, like the other early staff, some of whom are still with us, whose significance in those early days is invariably either glossed over or unknown by the modern Lotus enthusiasts, journos and historians.
Roger Lund

[Mistron]

Oh, that is sad news. I only exchanged correspondance with Peter for a short while a couple of years ago- he was planning the build of a replica of the single seater Clairemont at the time and I offered to help him with some scale modeling design work. He came across as such a nice man, and one who was lucky enough to realise later in life what (to us anyway) significant days he was involved with with Lotus.

To anyone who hasn't yet done so, buy a copy of Peter's book, a fascinating first hand account of the early days (and late nights) of Lotus. The HLR has lost a wonderfull man

condolences to his family.

[RTH]

Oh no.

This is such a shock and such awful news.
I have been talking to Peter on a regular basis on the 'phone (Peter lived in Cornwall) and dozens of times by email over the last 4 years about the magazine articles.
I had a long talk with Peter only 3 or 4 weeks ago. He was diagnosed with a rare but low level form of cancer many years ago was monitored but it appeared to have such a low and slow onset he really had no symptoms for years. However this year it suddenly flared up and he had to undergo a course of chemotherapy treatment that made him very unwell for quite a time, and he sounded really awful in the Autumn.
However as the chemo effects wore off and passed he became much better far more like his old self and much more optimistic about the future.
Throughout all this he maintained editorship of "Historic Lotus" the magazine of the Historic Lotus Register a job he had done quite brilliantly for the last 6 years, making it one of the very best and most professional motor club magazines I have ever seen.
Peter had drive ,determination and organising skill and the ability to get things done on time despite being in his early 80s and apparently not as well as we thought or he had revealed.
Working in the aircraft design office at DeHavillands in Hatfield he worked with Mike Costin and hence met Colin Chapman.
Peter became one of those band of unpaid volunteers who worked all day at their jobs in Hatfield then travelled to the stables fledgling Lotus factory in Hornsey and worked most of the night as well in 1954.
Peter worked on the prototype P3 which became the Lotus MK V111 sportscar SAR 5 this period is described in fascinating detail in Peter's brilliant book "Lotus the Early Years "
My goodness Peter's current contribution to the Lotus story will be greatly missed.
A highly intelligent ,capable , enthusiastic and nice man.
I will much miss him .
A very sad unexpected and unwelcome piece of news today.Bad news indeed.Poor Peter there was still a lot he wanted to do, a sad loss.

Peter's book

http://www.amazon.co...s/dp/1902351142

Peter's aircraft career

http://www.bookergli...uk/history.html

Edited by RTH, 24 December 2012 - 12:38.

[llmaurice]

It speaks volumes for Peters determination to get his final copy of HLR out as he had. He even apologised about parts of it but for no reason as far as I'm concerned because the quality was just as good as usual . R.I.P.

[Doug Nye]

Very shaken to hear this. A great, great loss to the Lotus world and of course to his family and many friends...I never knew him well but he always struck me in our few dealings as, indeed, one of the really good guys...

DCN

[David Beard]

It was quite remarkable how Peter toiled to ensure that recent issues of the HLR mgazine were completed, even when he was so unwell. His last editorial was very poignant...I now feel guilty that I asked him to be sure that the last article I sent was proof read, because I had done it in a hurry.

Peter was also well known in specialist circles as a designer of recumbent bicycles. Google throws up quite a bit on this: here is a sample...
http://www.hembrow.e.../speedross.html

Edited by David Beard, 01 January 2013 - 19:45.

[David Birchall]

Very saddened to hear this-I corresponded with him only a couple of times but he seemed like such a good man. Condolences to his family.