63 replies to this topic

[Doug Nye]

Sadly I understand from Simon Arron and Maurice Hamilton that our extremely well-liked, admired and respected colleague and friend Alan Henry has passed away.  My most sincere condolences to all his nearest and dearest.

 

DCN

[jj2728]

Oh no. Very sad news indeed.

[Tim Murray]

Oh no, more very sad news. Sincere condolences to his family and friends. Thank you for all you gave us, AH.

[Gary Davies]

Dreadful news. Poor fellow and my sincere condolences to his family. I have been a devoted reader of his work as long as I can recall.

[PCC]

I am very sorry to hear this. When I was a teenager and my interest in the sport was at its height, my airmail subscription to Motoring News was my most prized possession and I always went straight to his race reports. His vivid accounts of those far-away battles captured my imagination. I will always be grateful to him for that.

[P.Dron]

RIP A good journalist and a good chap. He always had an amusing story to tell. 

[GMiranda]

RIP. Dreadful news, he was a great journalist, I read a lot from him, including his last book.

[Tim Murray]

Here's the obituary for him by Adam Cooper:

https://adamcooperf1...enry-1947-2016/

[Richard Jenkins]

Immensely sad news. Alan's books were predominant in my early motor racing reading and I always enjoyed reading him thereafter. My sincerest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.

[Kpy]

RIP AH

[JacnGille]

Sad news

[MCS]

Very upset to be reading this; today of all days, the anniversary of the death of his friend Tom Pryce. I can recall him saying how difficult he found it writing Tom's obituary.

 

I worked for him, briefly, many years ago – decades ago, actually – but still remember those days fondly and quite vividly.  Maybe that is because I was so young and inexperienced then and it all “set harder" in my memory.  I don't know, but I am grateful for knowing him and for the many books I have of his, especially as I have sold most of my motor racing books. That says something in itself, I suppose.

 

I had always hoped to see him again and, as so often with thoughts like this, genuinely believed I would.  Sadly I won't now.  Time is too short.

 

God bless you Alan and thank you for all those years ago.

[Richard Young]

Extremely sorry to hear this. Attended my first European race (Zolder F2 1970) in his company. A real gentleman.

[charles r]

Very sad news. Part of my youth, AH defined the best in motor racing journalism from the seventies. His close ties with the drivers from that time offered such insight and provided the "colour" that is so lacking today.

RIP AH.

[jimclark]

Siiiigghhhh... Condolences sincerest...

[DN5]

He was one of the first to help me understand the sport I love: 2 personal favorites - Motor Sport test of the Shadow DN5 and the ' Last Train from Yokkkaichi'.

 

Rest in Peace

[E1pix]

Terrible news.

RIP, and Thanks for your dedication to insight.

[AAGR]

So very sorry to hear of the death of Alan Henry, who was an author/writer/historian whose output gave me a great deal of pleasure. He was an honourable member of the 'been there, done that' brigade, whose opinions were always worth reading - not just someone who had some white space to fill. Like DCN and others of his generation, he knew and was a great fan of Jenks, and could always entertain us with his stories about the great days of MOTOR SPORT.  

[fuzzi]

Oh dear.

 

My condolences to his family.

[Allen Brown]

Really sorry to hear this.  I grew up on AH's reports for Motor Sport and Motoring News, and I had the privilege of working with him when he did some projects for ORC a few years ago.   He will be greatly missed.

 

And he was no age at all; just 68.  My condolences to his family and friends.

[Jack-the-Lad]

This is very sad news. I never met the man but I have enjoyed his writing for many years. Sincere condolences to the Henry family. Farewell.

[cpbell]

This is very sad news. I never met the man but I have enjoyed his writing for many years. Sincere condolences to the Henry family. Farewell.

 

Same here.  R.I.P Alan.

[sterling49]

Very sad news, I read nearly all of Alan's work and his race reports were the stuff to fire up any imagination. I also have quite a few of his books too, which I re read with much enjoyment. He contributed a tremendous amount to our sport.

[D-Type]

What can I say?  The "AH" by-line in Motor Sport, the number of his books I have on my shelves.  A man whose opinion could be trusted.  And so much more ...

 

My condolences to his family and friends.

[Andy35]

I cannot believe Alan has gone.  I was at Tom Pryce's grave this morning and now this.

 

He was part of me growing up with F1 like  Murray Walker.   

 

There was someone who really did forget more than I would ever know in relation to  racing.

 

Andy

Edited by Andy35, 05 March 2016 - 19:20.

[Vitesse2]

RIP AH.

[LittleChris]

Very sad news. As with many others I grew up reading his reports in MN. RIP AH

[john winfield]

Very sad.  Enjoyed your race reports AH!  RIP.

[ensign14]

Guardian obituary here. 

 

One of those weird coincidences that I bought one of his books earlier today...not knowing what had happened...RIP.

[blackmme]

Very saddened by this, I have a number of Alan's books on the shelf and always enjoy reading and re-reading them.

Thank you Alan.

Regards Mike

[David Birchall]

Very sorry to hear this-he was one of the guys who seemed to have the 'dream job'-like Jenks, Boddy, DCN and a few others.  RIP

[eldougo]

Sad news indeed he was a lovely man that always had a good word to say to you .....R.I.P.

[B Squared]

Condolences to family and friends.

[Michael Ferner]

Very sad news. My condolences to family and friends, and RIP AH.

[kayemod]

This is a good summing-up, it describes Alan very well, ending with a few bon mots from the man himself. I'm especially gratified that he rates two of my own heroes, Colin Chapman and Sir Stirling as the greatest ever in their particular fields.

 

http://www.autocar.c...47-2016-tribute

 

AH had a huge advantage over any of today's writers, in that he actually had a proper SPORT to write about.

[RogerFrench]

What a shame, I really enjoyed his work. RIP.

[Paul Hurdsfield]

Very sad news indeed.
I didn't know Mr Henry, but in the early 70s my interest in all things motorsport were boosted by his reports in MN.

[PCC]

A very warm, fond tribute by Mark Hughes here.

[RobertE]

I knew he'd been unwell, but this is most unwelcome news. What a nice chap he was.

 

RIP

[ensign14]

A very warm, fond tribute by Mark Hughes here.

 

I don't know if it is appropriate or not to add a note of pedantry, but didn't Robin Herd say that the G in 721G stood for Guinness - as in Book of Records - as it was designed, created and built in one week flat?  After all, Beuttler's team was Clarke-Mordaunt-Guthrie-Durlacher, so 721C would otherwise have been more logical...

[Vitesse2]

I don't know if it is appropriate or not to add a note of pedantry, but didn't Robin Herd say that the G in 721G stood for Guinness - as in Book of Records - as it was designed, created and built in one week flat?  After all, Beuttler's team was Clarke-Mordaunt-Guthrie-Durlacher, so 721C would otherwise have been more logical...

That was certainly the story put out at the time. Maybe AH knew better?

[Roger Clark]

I wouldn't believe any story put out by March at the time.

Edited by Roger Clark, 07 March 2016 - 10:02.

[kayemod]

I wouldn't believe any story put out by March at the time.

 

Going by Robin Herd's Motor Sport 'Lunch With' interview of a year or two ago, not just at the time either.

[AAGR]

G for what in 721G ? Who cares - really ? Let's just say that it sounded much more fun the way that AH told it ....

[TecnoRacing]

 

 

http://www.autocar.c...47-2016-tribute

 

Hmm, will have to grab a copy of 'Brabham: the Grand Prix Cars' then, since it was his favorite. The Marlboro sponsorship and straightforward presentation of these older, unassuming Autocourse releases often belie their fantastic content.

RIP Alan Henry

[Greatest]

I was stunned to read news about Alan Henry today. I never met him, but his writings and occasional interviews were familiar to me, starting from my childhood in the 1970s. My heartfelt condolences to his family and everyone close to him. Thank you for many fascinating and also funny writings, AH! Rest in peace.  

[Michael Ferner]

I don't know if it is appropriate or not to add a note of pedantry, but didn't Robin Herd say that the G in 721G stood for Guinness - as in Book of Records - as it was designed, created and built in one week flat?

That story always sounded daft to me...

[Charlieman]

What a bunch of old softies we all are. At times like these, however, softness is a positive attribute.

 

AH's reporting career (and the careers of his compatriots) covered some dreadful events. 1970s onwards motor sport was less dangerous than in earlier decades but it has taken a long time for serious or fatal accidents to become exceptional. AH lost two F1 friends but he didn't walk away from the sport; he could have found a writing job elsewhere.  

 

Farewell Mr Henry.

[John Saunders]

Very sad to hear this news.I never meet Alan, but I have read a lot of his book, and race reports over the years.

[Doug Nye]

This is so heartening, I do hope it helps 'Bruin's wife and children.  You're not wrong.  Alan was a really good bloke. I first met him in 1968 in the pits at Snetterton - where he later did well in a Jim Russell Racing Drivers' School course - and we got on like a house on fire ever after, even though we took different paths. Through his long years with 'Motoring News' I constantly urged him to take the plunge and go freelance. One day, a couple of years after he finally did so he told me "You were absolutely right, I should have tried it years before". I hope he remained as happy with his decision until his illness finally ambushed him. God bless mate.

 

DCN

Edited by Doug Nye, 07 March 2016 - 22:05.