28 replies to this topic

[terry mcgrath]

Graham Whitehead (GB) b. 15 april 1922, Harrogate, Yorkshire d. 15 jan 1981, Lower Basildon, nr. Reading, Berkshire

 

I am trying to locate family of Alfred Graham Whitehead 

When his half brother  Peter Whitehead died in sept 1958 the newspaper obituaries noted that peter had left an estate of some 411.000 pounds the government grabbed some 139,000 pounds

​He left some 40,000 to his mother made bequests to various people with 40,000 going to his stepbrother graham (36) and the balance going to Graham's children who reach 21 or being daughters marry under this age.

This to me indicates the Graham did in fact have children at the time of Peters death.

Any thoughts on how to find them

terry

[Vitesse2]

I'm open to correction by someone more versed in law on this, but unless any child is specifically named I think that is simply precautionary phrasing on behalf of whoever drew up Peter's will in order not to exclude any future issue after Peter's and/or Graham's death(s). The money was most likely to be held in trust. My late mother's will included similar very complicated provisions regarding any children I might have after her death.

 

You'd need the original will rather than a press report to be certain though.

 

I can't find any record of him having married in England or Wales - which is not to say he wasn't married of course - but it does make tracing any possible children more difficult.

[Vitesse2]

Ah, found a death notice in The Times, January 20th! 'Husband of Pat, dear father of Jane, Catherine and Neil  ... grandfather of Noemi and Dominic'

 

So, we know he was married, but what we really need is Pat's maiden name ...

[Richard Jenkins]

Should be easy enough to find via marriage records. Ill have a look tonight if Vitesse doesn't beat me to it.

[terry mcgrath]

thanks for the input

certainly with a son Neil and presumably surname Whitehead it should be become easier to trace a member of the family

 

terry

[Vitesse2]

I'd tried going The Times announcements route - no joy - and eventually found them on Ancestry. Fourth quarter 1947, Marylebone: Albert G Whitehead and Patricia M Conway.

 

Presumably the Patricia M Conway born in Leeds third quarter 1922.

 

Jane F Whitehead: registered in Claro (N Yorks) third quarter 1948

 

Neil Whitehead: registered in Claro (N Yorks) second quarter 1953

 

There are quite a few Caroline Whiteheads born about the right time - but none seem to have a mother with the right maiden name.

[Vitesse2]

There are lots of Neil Whiteheads ... four of whom were married in Yorkshire alone in the 1970s and 1980s!

 

However, we may be (sort of) in luck regarding Jane. Please check your PMs, Terry (and Richard).

[ReWind]

Ah, found a death notice in The Times, January 20th! 'Husband of Pat, dear father of Jane, Catherine and Neil  ... grandfather of Noemi and Dominic'

There are quite a few Caroline Whiteheads born about the right time - but none seem to have a mother with the right maiden name.

Shouldn't you look for Catherine Whitehead?

[Vitesse2]

Shouldn't you look for Catherine Whitehead?

In my defence, I'm struggling with two different viral eye infections and have just got rid of a third bacterial one. All in the same eye!

 

Catherine A Whitehead: registered in Claro (N Yorks) fourth quarter 1950

[Richard Jenkins]

Because of it becoming too personal for that family on a public bulletin board, I won't post here but it's very easy to find Noemi's record on the birth indexes. She is the daughter of Jane.

[Vitesse2]

Found her. Although it doesn't seem to get us much further apart from a dubious Facebook page, which probably isn't her anyway.

 

Would you agree the other lead I found is worth a try?

[Richard Jenkins]

Yes, that Facebook page isn't her. Yes, the other lead is better.

 

By the way, to get it back to Graham, did the obituary specify what he died of? He died relatively young.

[Vitesse2]

The announcement in The Times just said 'suddenly at home': not an obit as such. So likely a heart attack or something of that ilk, I would think. Although as I'm sure you're aware that's sometimes code for something a bit darker - but probably unlikely in this case as the announcement included details of the cremation. Might have been something in one of the local papers, but that would need a hunt in the microfilms or the morgues. Who knows - Autosport, Motor Sport or Motoring News might even have noticed?

[terry mcgrath]

WOW thanks for the fabulous detective work,

hopefully we will come up with some addresses, tel numbers or facebook pages

thanks terry

[Tim Murray]

Who knows - Autosport, Motor Sport or Motoring News might even have noticed?

There's no information on cause of death (or surviving family) in either Autosport or MN, although DJT in the latter spoke of Whitehead curtailing a 21 year involvement with the BRDC in 1980 due to ill health. Surprisingly I can find nothing in Motor Sport.

[Eric Dunsdon]

There's no information on cause of death (or surviving family) in either Autosport or MN, although DJT in the latter spoke of Whitehead curtailing a 21 year involvement with the BRDC in 1980 due to ill health. Surprisingly I can find nothing in Motor Sport.

All very interesting. Lets not forget that Graham (A.G.. Whitehead) was a good driver at National level in ERA, Alta, Cooper-Bristol and Aston Martins. Grahams best result was his second place in the 1952 Goodwood 9 Hours co-driving Tom Coles Ferrari.

[robjohn]

His best result was probably 2nd at Le Mans in 1958 with Peter in their own DB3S.

Rob B

 

[Eric Dunsdon]

His best result was probably 2nd at Le Mans in 1958 with Peter in their own DB3S.

Rob B

Quite right Rob. I actually forgot that one!.

[Paul Parker]

The announcement in The Times just said 'suddenly at home': not an obit as such. So likely a heart attack or something of that ilk, I would think. Although as I'm sure you're aware that's sometimes code for something a bit darker - but probably unlikely in this case as the announcement included details of the cremation. Might have been something in one of the local papers, but that would need a hunt in the microfilms or the morgues. Who knows - Autosport, Motor Sport or Motoring News might even have noticed?

 

For the record and in no way a criticism, during research for the 1950s sports car book I was told that AGW had a drink problem.

[wenoopy]

The "Motor Racing" Directory and International Who's Who published in 1955 (by "Motor Racing" magazine) has the home addresses of the Whiteheads as follows : 

 

Peter - Carter's Hill Farm, Arborfield Cross, near Reading (occupation - wool merchant, farmer)

Graham - Shinfield Court, Three-mile Cross, near Reading (occupation -  farmer)

 

These two addresses would appear to be no more than a brisk half-hour's walk apart, and a few miles south of Reading, while Lower Basildon is a similar distance north up the Thames from Reading. Claro was a registry district in or near Harrogate, and possible isn't relevant to this search. 

 

The death of a local with sporting achievements might have led to a local newspaper article at the time, and there was then a  "Reading Evening Post" published daily. Now it is a weekly "Reading Post" according to its website.

 

Hope this might help,

 

Stu Buchanan

 

 

[Richard Jenkins]

Stu, obituaries in Reading are more likely to have had better coverage in the weekly Reading Chronicle

[proviz]

Does anyone have an idea whose Lola Mk1 and Mk2 Graham Whitehead raced in 1960? He competed in Helsinki's Eläintarhanajot with both finishing 3rd each time and seems to have then gone to race in some Continental events in the Mk1 at least, if not also the Mk2. There are no records of him owning either kind of car in any of the material I have managed to come across.

[proviz]

Believe at least part of the answer was found to my query above. The Mk1 was Derek Wilkinson's car usually driven by John Bekaert. Reg VBL858.

[Doug Nye]

There is mention above of Whitehead having a thirst.  Whether this contributed to his demise or not I have no idea.  However, I do recall Cyril Posthumus telling me that he and Gregor Grant of 'Autosport' were in the Steering Wheel Club in London the week following the TdF accident in which Graham's half-brother Peter had been killed, while Graham had been driving.  Graham was in the bar and showed either the most tremendous self control in behaving 'normally' by drinking, laughing, joking - or a surprising disregard for what had happened.  Cyril told me that several fellow members and patrons commented adversely upon his business-as-usual demeanour and as the evening wore on I believe he was quietly asked to leave...in respect for Peter.  This is as told to me.  I hope Cyril got it wrong.  But he very seldom did.

 

DCN

[proviz]

In Finland’s leading daily newspaper a writer noted that locals were a bit taken aback by the habit of Whitehead and – presumably – Bueb swigging a couple of Carlsbergs before taking to the track. In a conciliatory manner he assumed this could probably be explained by a more “worldly-wise culture” natural to the two Englishmen…

[Doug Nye]

I must say that sounds pretty rich considering what I have seen of motor sporting Finns...

 

DCN

[ensign14]

Ah, but Proviz was writing of the 1950s.  Finns ain't what they used to be.

[proviz]

Also, it's noteworthy how the reporter clearly wished to present the Carlsberg swigs as something socially acceptable, just not yet the norm for Finns. But it wouldn't take long.

[hatrat]

Does anyone have an idea whose Lola Mk1 and Mk2 Graham Whitehead raced in 1960? He competed in Helsinki's Eläintarhanajot with both finishing 3rd each time and seems to have then gone to race in some Continental events in the Mk1 at least, if not also the Mk2. There are no records of him owning either kind of car in any of the material I have managed to come across.

The Lola Mk2 Formula Junior that Graham Whitehead drove was a Fitzwilliam Racing Team car. He was a nominated alternative driver at Monza on 25 April 1960 but did not race, he raced at Helsenki on 15 May 1960 (3rd) and Karlskoga on 7 August 1960 (DNF). At both Helsenki and Karlskoga he drove the blue nose band car, chassis BRJ2).