32 replies to this topic

[Giraffe]

Until quite recently, my sister has walked her dog on parkland behind her home in Formby, Merseyside with an elderly man who she always mentioned was the father of an "ex-racing driver".
Eventually I discovered from her that the chap said his son was Frank Williams! Apparently, he fell out with Frank when he left Frank's mother for another woman many years ago.
Can anyone out there confirm the likelyhood of this story possibly having any truth to it?

[Barry Boor]

Can't add anything definite, other than to say that Frank hailed from the North-East IIRC.

[Arjan de Roos]

Originally posted by Barry Boor
Can't add anything definite, other than to say that Frank hailed from the North-East IIRC.

Tynside

FW's father was a RAF pilot.

[ghinzani]

Could be true, bloke who sat behind me at Upton Park used to say Frank was his Dads half-brother which would tie-in to remarriage.

[Ruairidh]

Originally posted by ghinzani
Could be true, bloke who sat behind me at Upton Park used to say Frank was his Dads half-brother which would tie-in to remarriage.

Good to see another Irons fan on here.........

[Mallory Dan]

Originally posted by Ruairidh


Good to see another Irons fan on here.........

You mean Mike Irons, the early 70s Monoposto racer chaps...

[green-blood]

it could have been an away match!!!!

[alansart]

Originally posted by Ruairidh


Good to see another Irons fan on here.........

I used to be an Upton Park regular in the 70's. Unfortunately these days, on a clear day, from the top of my house I can see Old Trafford in the distance, so the northern folk have tempered my support somewhat

[ghinzani]

No more Irons discussions pelase chaps or else it will end up getting shutdown like the last one! Although that was about Kenny and his progeny.

This Frank one could end up going that way as I think there was some dispute about whether these guys were brothers too!

[uffen]

In Virginia Williams' book A Different Kind of Life, she mentions Frank's estranged father. he has seldom seen or spoken to Frank, but appeared briefly at the hospital after Frank's road accident. This could be the real thing.

[Rosemayer]

http://en.wikipedia..../Frank_Williams

[Alan Lewis]

As the wikipedia reference above says, Sir Frank was born in Jarrow, but I believe he grew up along the river in South Shields; a few years back he was invited up here to fire the starting gun at the Great North Run and was interviewed before the start, saying something to that effect. I remember it as one of my drinking buddies at work is also from Shields and was pleased to discover a famous fellow Sand Dancer.

APL

[David Beard]

Originally posted by Mallory Dan


You mean Mike Irons, the early 70s Monoposto racer chaps...

Jeez, it gets confusing in here. The only Irons I recall is Jeremy...but it's a bit soppy to go on about an actor.

And Upton, to me, only means Aubrey Upton. He was the man who kept 210N alive, with Villiers 9E look alike barrels, in my day. His son Geoff always wore a top hat in the paddock, and was rather too tall for a kart.

[Barry Boor]

If we are talking Irons fans, I believe Little Chris is a season ticket holder (or at least a BIG (little) fan).

[ghinzani]

Originally posted by Barry Boor
If we are talking Irons fans, I believe Little Chris is a season ticket holder (or at least a BIG (little) fan).

So was I until the end of last season when the arrival of baby number 1 (and the selling of Carlito) forced a choice between the trek from New Forest to UP or the quick drives to Matchams, Forest Edge and Clay...

Anyway back to Frank - I noticed he isnt travelling to as many GPs, how is his health?

[Gregor Marshall]

Originally posted by ghinzani
Anyway back to Frank - I noticed he isnt travelling to as many GPs, how is his health?

I'm not sure but (I think it's) on a thread in the Racing Comments area but apparently one of the reasons he's not travelling as much is to save the team money as it cost so much to fly him and several carers/helpers with him.

After the accident and his recovery didn't they say he'd only live for three years or so?

[KJJ]

Originally posted by Giraffe
Until quite recently, my sister has walked her dog on parkland behind her home in Formby, Merseyside with an elderly man who she always mentioned was the father of an "ex-racing driver".
Eventually I discovered from her that the chap said his son was Frank Williams! Apparently, he fell out with Frank when he left Frank's mother for another woman many years ago.
Can anyone out there confirm the likelyhood of this story possibly having any truth to it?

After checking a few publically available on-line resources but without going into any further detail, I would say that there is every likelihood that the story is correct.

[Paul Butler]

Originally posted by Gregor Marshall


I'm not sure but (I think it's) on a thread in the Racing Comments area but apparently one of the reasons he's not travelling as much is to save the team money as it cost so much to fly him and several carers/helpers with him.

After the accident and his recovery didn't they say he'd only live for three years or so?

I think it's in this months Motor Sport where Nigel Roebuck mentioned that when Williams needed a second wind tunnel Frank sold his jet to finance it which is why he's not seen at too many long haul GP's.

[Gregor Marshall]

Yeah, that's probably where I saw/read it, thank you for reminding me.

[lil'chris]

Originally posted by Barry Boor
If we are talking Irons fans, I believe Little Chris is a season ticket holder (or at least a BIG (little) fan).

To be found in the Lower Dr Martens Stand at home games and in the bar enjoying a glass of West Ham Merlot at half time

Was trying to persuade ' er indoors that we should name our new born Carlita until Mr Tevez decided to move to Manchester !!

[MCS]

Originally posted by lil'chris
...a glass of West Ham Merlot at half time...

How perfectly dreadful - and I (once) held you in such high esteem...

[Giraffe]

How the hell did my thread about Frank William's dad get around to West Ham FC???
(Incidentally, he lives about a quarter of a mile from Steven Gerard, if we're going in that direction!)

[ghinzani]

Originally posted by Giraffe
How the hell did my thread about Frank William's dad get around to West Ham FC???
(Incidentally, he lives about a quarter of a mile from Steven Gerard, if we're going in that direction!)

Please dont mention him! ruined my day at Cardiff with his unsportsmanlike goal scoring...

[Giraffe]

I've only seen Frank's dad from a distance walking his dog, and he didn't look capable of scoring a goal at Cardiff, or anywhere else to me for that matter.....

[man]

Did somebody mention the 'appy 'appy 'Ammers?

Oh the dilemma's i've faced over the years. The European GP of 1993 on the beeb while at the same time ITV were showing the division 1 clash between us and Millwall.

Incidently, is there a thread on motor racing personalities and the teams they support?

[wdm]

Originally posted by man
Incidently, is there a thread on motor racing personalities and the teams they support? [/B]

What? Like Max and Ferrari?

[lil'chris]

Originally posted by wdm


What? Like Max and Ferrari?

[Ruairidh]

Originally posted by wdm


What? Like Max and Ferrari?

Very good

The Boleyn ground is a bit far for me from me in Texas, 'bout the closest I get to UK football is sitting behind Tom Hicks at Rangers games.....but still follow the 'ammers closely.

[ghinzani]

Originally posted by man


Incidently, is there a thread on motor racing personalities and the teams they support?

I think there was - we got Noel Edmonds dont you know...

[lil'chris]

Bill Sollis, Sarf Lundun fireman and multiple title winning Mini racer follows the Irons as well


http://www.mini7.co....glia/sollis.asp

[Ruairidh]

Originally posted by lil'chris


Was trying to persuade ' er indoors that we should name our new born Carlita until Mr Tevez decided to move to Manchester !!

Somehow I can even forgive him that....... a picture of Carlitos celebrating that goal against Manure last season is one of my screensavers (along with Mario in the T79, 3 or 4 of Jimmy in green and yellow cars and Ronnie getting the T72 sideways........)

[ghinzani]

You boys know my kart is claret and blue? Some people take it too far!

[mja]

(Incidentally, he lives about a quarter of a mile from Steven Gerard, if we're going in that direction!)

Somewhere near Victoria Road then?!

I remember being told by Graham Hughes (Hon President ACC) that Frank Sytner (Scouser) used to race with Frank Willams in the late 60's early 70's and they would take turns to mechanic for each other.

Smithy may know more about this....?

On another note, Tony Jardine and Eddie Jordan competed against each other in F Ford races at Aintree in the early 70's..........