40 replies to this topic

[raceannouncer2003]

Thanks to a lead from Nigel Matthews, tonight I found Graham Hill's brother, Brian Hill in Burnaby, British Columbia, just east of Vancouver. Apparently Brian served in the the British Merchant Marine till about 1953 when he moved to Calgary, Alberta, and served in the Canadian Army till 1967. He then moved to Vancouver and worked for Loomis. In Graham Hill's book, "Life at the Limit", he mentions meeting his brother at Oulton Park in 1962 after not seeing him for ten years. But according to Brian, it sounds like they had lots of contact after that, and that Graham visited him in Calgary when he came to North America for races. Brian's son and daughter also live in the Vancouver area, and are in touch with their cousins, Brigitte, Damon, and Samantha. Brian said he went to the Westwood track in the early days. He also mentioned Bette Hill's book, "Over the Hill". Has that book been mentioned here? Apparently, he is not on the internet. His wife passed away in recent years, and it seems she was the one who did the computer. Brian says he is almost eighty now and doesn't get out much, but seems quite happy to share stories, etc. about Graham!

Vince H.

[Juihi]

Nice little story there

[Buford]

Interesting.

[Barry Boor]

Fine bit of detective work there, Vince; well done!

[petestenning]

Graham allways was to me at least the racing gentleman, as i well remeber a TV programme where he and Jackie Stewart were being interviewed and the patter between those two was superb . I would like to think from the way they spoke on that programme they were both very respectfull of each other in a away todays drivers do not sem to show.

I never realised he had a brother and am pleased to know that he does like to talk about Graham and is well in his later years.

Pete

[Option1]

Originally posted by Barry Boor
Fine bit of detective work there, Vince; well done!

Yep. Well done Vince.

Neil

[raceannouncer2003]

We had a Canadian Motor Sport History Group lunch today in Burnaby. Brian Hill attended. Very friendly fellow...he reminded me somewhat of Anthony Hopkins as Burt Munro in "The World's Fastest Indian"!

Here he is with Gord Swanson, left, who crewed for NGH when he drove Ian Walker's Lotus 23 at Laguna Seca and Riverside in 1963. Gord hadn't heard that Ian Walker had passed away.



Also, with Merv Therriault, who was mechanic on Team Lotus in 1958. (Where DID that sign come from?)



Vince H.

[RobertE]

Very interesting! There's not much of a resemblance, is there? I'd also heard that Jimmy Hill the soccer pundit and ex-player was a cousin of NGH's

[quintin cloud]

cool story, one time

[Paul Parker]

RobertE

"Very interesting! There's not much of a resemblance, is there? I'd also heard that Jimmy Hill the soccer pundit and ex-player was a cousin of NGH's".

Well yes but you must take into account age and also genetic factors, brothers sometimes resemble the father or mother, sometimes a grandparent or even uncle. So possibly Brian Hill did not look like Graham anyway.

One of the inevitable results of dying prematurely is that you never grow old, I wonder how different NGH would have looked by now?

As for the Jimmy Hill connection, certainly he has a very prominent chin, even more so than Graham's pugnacious jawline but is he really a cousin.

Somebody on here will know.

[roger.daltrey]

I have thought for years that Jimmy Hill was a lookey-likey of NGH

Glad someone else thinks the same

Wonder if its true tho' ???

[Mallory Dan]

I reckon Brian looks like Captain Mainwaring's ne'er do well brother, the comic novelties traveller, and black sheep of the family!

[Gabrci]

I would really dislike to disagree with RobertE, whom I respect a lot and whose Moss book I tremendously enjoyed, but I do think his face is very much like Graham's was, particularly on the first picture.

[Lola5000]

good story thankyou.

[RobertE]

Originally posted by Gabrci
I would really dislike to disagree with RobertE, whom I respect a lot and whose Moss book I tremendously enjoyed, but I do think his face is very much like Graham's was, particularly on the first picture.

Thank you for your kind remarks.

Re. the pics, I simply can't see it! The point made earlier is, of course, quite correct and we remember people differerently (and with advantage, I suppose) when they leave us early.

My own memory of NGH dates from an F2 race at Thruxton when the great man 'left the circuit' and some unfortunate punter was unwise enough to ask him for an autograph as he trudged back to the pits.

My goodness! Little blue language and extremely inventive. I think (but cannot recall) that one J. Rindt won the race...

[Rob]

Originally posted by Gabrci
I would really dislike to disagree with RobertE, whom I respect a lot and whose Moss book I tremendously enjoyed, but I do think his face is very much like Graham's was, particularly on the first picture.

I agree with you. I can see characteristics of Graham in Brian's face. Particularly the picture where he's holding the sign.

[sterling49]

Great work Vince, he looks nothing like NGH though, I wonder how Graham would have looked in older age? When we visited last year, we stayed a few days in Burnaby, the things that you find out!

[275 GTB-4]

Thanks from me too...It gave me a good feeling to think that such a hero/character (NGH) so cruelly taken from us early, is survived by a brother.

[Barry Boor]

Not wishing to cast nastirtiums (or indeed, any other flowers) on this thread but...

Graham was born in 1939, which, were he still with us, would make him 70 years old next year.

In Vince's first post he says that Graham's brother is nearly 80.

May I quote a line from 'Graham' published shortly after his death?

"My father and his brother had a wager on, as to which one would be the first to have a son." Graham and his cousin were born at identical times, apparently.

I post this with no comment.

[Adam F]

Barry,

Graham Hill was born on 15th February 1929.

[Barry Boor]

Oh! I got my info from Darren's site.....

So the brother could be a younger one, but not by much, it would seem.

[David McKinney]

If Graham was alive he'd be coming up to 80
So is his brother...

[Huw Jadvantich]

My father was an apprentice with NGH at Smith's. Since my pop is just over 79 I'd expect Graham to be something very similar in age if he were alive today.

[Geoff E]

Birth registrations from the GRO index-

Birth 1st quarter 1929
HILL Norman G (mother nee PHILP) Hampstead 1a 835
Birth 3rd quarter 1930
HILL Brian D (mother nee PHILP) Hendon 3a 730

(dates indicate when a birth was registered, not when it occurred)

[Adam F]

Originally posted by Barry Boor
Oh! I got my info from Darren's site.....

Barry,

By far the most reliable source for birth and death dates of Grand Prix (and other) drivers is TNF's own Richie Jenkins' Where are they Now pages on Allen Brown's OldRacingCars.com site.
.

[Richard Jenkins]

Originally posted by Adam F

Barry,

By far the most reliable source for birth and death dates of Grand Prix (and other) drivers is TNF's own Richie Jenkins' Where are they Now pages on Allen Brown's OldRacingCars.com site.

Cheers Adam.

Barry, think about it, that would have made NGH 19 when he made his GP Debut, and 23 when he won his first World Championship. And as he wasn't 24 until he passed his driving test, that causes a few quirks!

I don't quite understand why people are seemingly having either difficulty or almost dissatisfaction that Graham Hill had a brother. A very strange reaction indeed? Granted they aren't like the Stewart (who didn't look like each other either, it must be mentioned) or Fittipaldi brothers, but there are plenty of family members who weren't in the motor racing eye, so why should Brian Hill be any different?

Or am I missing a point or misinterpreting something??

[Barry Boor]

I think it is more a case of, for example, the brother never being mentioned in any of the books/articles that I have ever read by or about Graham; though I gather he did mention him in one book.

As to his age at Grand Prix debut etc, I simply never thought past the date I read for his birth. I thought Darren and Richie had some sort of liason when it came to information. My mistake!

[raceannouncer2003]

Originally posted by Geoff E
Birth registrations from the GRO index-

Birth 1st quarter 1929
HILL Norman G (mother nee PHILP) Hampstead 1a 835
Birth 3rd quarter 1930
HILL Brian D (mother nee PHILP) Hendon 3a 730

(dates indicate when a birth was registered, not when it occurred)

Although I thought Brian said he is 79, he did tell me he was eighteen months younger than Graham, which would fit with the info above. I'll double check on his birthdate next time I talk to him. (By the way, I asked Brian about his second name. Can't remember what he said it is, but it is NOT Damon!)

Vince H.

[David McKinney]

Devereux?

[Paul Parker]

Richie Jenkins

"I don't quite understand why people are seemingly having either difficulty or almost dissatisfaction that Graham Hill had a brother. A very strange reaction indeed? Granted they aren't like the Stewart (who didn't look like each other either, it must be mentioned) or Fittipaldi brothers, but there are plenty of family members who weren't in the motor racing eye, so why should Brian Hill be any different?

Or am I missing a point or misinterpreting something??"


Can't say I had any problem with it, I already knew anyway.

I think the sometimes interrogative nature of the replies is because this is news to many, and we, collectively speaking, forget that not everybody has the same level of knowledge.

Additionally where one member of a family becomes world famous and very successful in a given sport/profession it does tend to overshadow any siblings, especially if they are not involved in the same pursuit.

As with John Major's brother for instance.

[Barry Boor]

Fair point, Paul.

[raceannouncer2003]

I talked to Brian Hill tonight. Graham's birthday was February 15, 1929, Brian's June 24, 1930, so Brian is 78. Soccer guy Jimmy Hill is no relation...Brian's never heard of him. He said he had heard of Phil Hill, but hadn't heard that Phil had passed away. And Brian's middle name is...Devereux (David, how'd you know that?)

Brian also mentioned a documentary on Graham Hill narrated by Paul Newman. It was sent to him from England but it won't play in Canada. Anybody know how he can get it converted so he can watch it? I presume it's this one:

"GRAHAM
UK / ATV 1 x 60 me 12 Feb Tues 9:00pm 1974
Writer / Producer Tony Maylam.
Profile of twice world champion Formula One racing driver Graham Hill. Graham's son Damon also went onto become World Formula One Champion. Narrated by Paul Newman"

Brian also apparently has a scrapbook their mother kept since Graham started racing. I hope we can see that the next time we get together.

Vince H.

[David McKinney]

Devereux is one of Damon's forenames ;)

[Paul Taylor]

Originally posted by raceannouncer2003

Brian also mentioned a documentary on Graham Hill narrated by Paul Newman. It was sent to him from England but it won't play in Canada. Anybody know how he can get it converted so he can watch it?

DVD or VHS?

The video format in Canada is NTSC, so he needs to make sure his player can play PAL videos and his screen can display in PAL.

If it's a DVD (particularly a commercial DVD) then it will be locked to Region 2, which covers all of Europe. His Canadian DVD player will be locked to Region 1. You can legally unlock the DVD player to play DVDs from ALL regions by searching for how to unlock it in Google. Type in the model number of the DVD player and then the words "region unlock" (without quotes) or something similar....There's some information on that here:
http://www.moneysavi...ping/dvd-unlock

[Pils1989]

Originally posted by Rob


I agree with you. I can see characteristics of Graham in Brian's face. Particularly the picture where he's holding the sign.

I notice a similarity with the eyes.

I didn't know Graham had a brother, thanks!

[Gregor Marshall]

I posted this on the driver's burial locations thread but in case anyone isn't convinced of Graham's DOB hopefully this will clarify - it is from this Tuesday when I paid my respects:-

[Robin Fairservice]

I believe that you should be able to play the DVD on a computer, and if you have a projector you could have a big screen view.

[RogerFrench]

UNfortualtely, even computers are "regionised". You can download unlock software though. Goolgle's your friend.

[Robin Fairservice]

I use a Dell laptop, and can play a DVD on it that I recently bought at Pompeii inside a cheap guide book. I can't play it on a DVD player. In Istanbul I got smart and bought a DVD thatfwas fo North America.

[Cargo]

For Brits with Sky ch 442, docu' about Graham "Driven" tonite on ESPN Classic @ 10:35 - 1hr 10mins.

http://www.espnclass...com/tvguide.php

[Gary C]

...............directed / produced by Mark Craig at Mark Stewart productions. It's very good, you'll enjoy it. We had it on BBC4 earlier in the year.