3 replies to this topic

[ChrisD]

I am interested to find out some information relating to Ernest and E C (Betty) Stapleton, who raced an Aston Martin  during the 1930s, 40s and 50s, including competing in the Mille Miglia in 1950, 1951 and 1952 in their Aston Martin Spa Special (and finishing 111th in 1951).

 

I have found a few references to their names in race records, but found nothing about who they were, where they came from, and so on.

 

Can anyone provide any biographical detail on Ernest and Betty Stapleton, please -  I assume they were husband and wife, but I guess they could have been brother and sister.

 

Thanks

 

Chris

[Tim Murray]

There's a little bit of info in the 'Obscure English driver (for the continental people)' thread:

 

 http://forums.autosp...inental-people/

 

humphries, on 10 Jul 2006 - 10:38, said:

 

KJJ

I'm no Aston Martin expert but Ernest Charles William Stapleton was born at Higham's Place in 1915. He was an engineer and a company director, living at Ameriecourt, Pershore , Worcestershire in the Fifties.

John

 

 

[geoffd]

Have you asked the Aston Martin Heritage Trust?

 

Geoff

[Vitesse2]

The London Gazette has a 1964 bankruptcy record (discharged 1965, annulled 1969) for him. At the time he was living at Barn Cottage, Waterside, Evesham. Described as a motor engineer, lately living at and carrying on business as Stapleton Motors at Amerie Garage, Pershore.

 

Issues dated February 4th 1964, page 1098 and June 29th 1965 page 6266 refer.

 

(Amerie Garage still exists, BTW - at 3 Three Springs Rd, Pershore, Worcestershire WR10 1HH)

 

Served in the army during WW2, commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant 1942 and remained in the list of reserve officers until at least the mid-50s.

 

I think that birthplace should perhaps be Highams Park? The 1915 birth of an Ernest CW Stapleton is registered in West Ham.

 

Betty appears to have been born Mary E Grant in 1911, also registered West Ham - they married in Epping in 1939.

 

I can't trace a death for either of them though. Maybe they moved abroad after the bankruptcy?