13 replies to this topic

[Allan Lupton]

I am sure that all forumists of a certain age will be saddened to learn that Charles Bulmer died last Tuesday.

I gather he was going to attend a regular Hants & Berks "Old Boys'" lunch on Tuesday - he had just been picked up to be taken there when he collapsed, so was taken to hospital instead where he died quite soon. He had earlier had heart-related trouble necessitating a triple bypass.

As one of the Fleet group that included Holly Birkett, Jenks and the Bod he was able to attend VSCC Prescott last year when Bill Boddy was being commemorated.

I mainly came across him as fellow members of the Hants & Berks MC, particularly on Mobil Economy Runs, but as a Handicapper I was a direct successor to Charles.
In the early days of the Eight Clubs, Charles was able to be both Handicapper and Competitor (not in the same race, of course!) and his successors were Denis Loveridge, Robin Birchall whom I worked with initially, later on my own and then with Jez Jones. Charles would not have recognised the way we did it, but the methods had evolved continuously from his foundations.
He (and Joe Lowrey) represented the best of technical writing in the magazines of the day and it is a matter of regret that they have no successors, so far as I know.

[Tim Murray]

He (and Joe Lowrey) represented the best of technical writing in the magazines of the day and it is a matter of regret that they have no successors, so far as I know.

Indeed. I learned a great deal about technical matters from his articles in Motor. This is very sad news. Farewell, Mr Bulmer, and thank you.

[macoran]

He (and Joe Lowrey) represented the best of technical writing in the magazines of the day and it is a matter of regret that they have no successors, so far as I know.

I remember and still have the Motor pages with his excellent writings
R.I.P.

[RogerFrench]

Oh, dear, what a shame. Charles and Heather were friends of my mother and father, and of course he won the very first 750 formula race. A very nice man, and a clever and articulate one, too. I am very saddened.
RIP, Charles.

[john aston]

My word - had assumed he was long since departed. I retire next month and remember reading him as a teenager in my friend's Motor. (I got Autocar and we'd swap).I seem to recall a piece where CB did a long term test of a Lotus Elan and declared it the most reliable car he'd owned. Bet Colin Chapman was even more shocked than some Lotus drivers to read that ...

[Tim Murray]

I seem to recall a piece where CB did a long term test of a Lotus Elan and declared it the most reliable car he'd owned. Bet Colin Chapman was even more shocked than some Lotus drivers to read that ...

Memory may be failing here, but I think this was the Elan he himself had built from a kit, so perhaps he managed to 'build out' some of the more likely faults.

[Doug Nye]

I heard this sad news last night at the British Racing Mechanics Club event at Brooklands. I never got to know Charles at all well, but he always came across as the most civilised of gentlemen. He had a brilliantly agile and analytical mind, and was both a thoughtful engineer and a fine writer. He was on the ball to the end, though I understand severely affected by the loss of his much-loved wife in recent years. And as has been mentioned already, the role which he and Joe Lowrey once performed so well within the British specialist media is now left sadly vacant...

DCN

[AAGR]

So very very sorry to hear that Charles has left us.

Not only was a he a good writer and an accomplished engineer, but he was very modest with it.

Unlike some of his contemporaries (and rivals in other magazine outlets) he never spent any time trying to impress people with obscure classical references, or name dropping ....

I wish him peace and rest.

GRAHAM R

[john aston]

'Ere - no knocking the wonderful LJKS on my watch thanks..Nowt wrong with assuming he's writing for an educated audience- which in the case of CAR in its heyday he was.

[AAGR]

'Ere - no knocking the wonderful LJKS on my watch thanks..Nowt wrong with assuming he's writing for an educated audience- which in the case of CAR in its heyday he was.

Did I mention LJKS ? No I did not. There were perfect early examples in the 1940s and 1950s. Incidentally, there's a great deal of difference between erudition and b******t. And between facts and fancies ....

[Doug Nye]

Tee-hee - I am with Graham on this, 'Pom' and those who aped him were not always quite what they wanted their audience to conclude... Charles Bulmer's discreet talent and capabilities could run them all ragged. I believe he has been as much under-rated as others through self promotion became grossly over-rated.

DCN

Edited by Doug Nye, 08 February 2012 - 13:35.

[Allan Lupton]

Charles' funeral will take place at 12 noon on Saturday, 18 February at Easthampstead Crematorium, South Road, Nine Mile Ride, Wokingham. RG40 3DW with a reception afterwards at the Berystede Hotel, Sunning Hill, Ascot. SL5 9JH.

Postcode corrected.

[Allan Lupton]

Obit on the Classic & Sportscar site and follow the link for a longer article/interview.

Edited by Allan Lupton, 10 February 2012 - 15:48.

[RogerFrench]

Obit on the Classic & Sportscar site and follow the link for a longer article/interview.

That reminds me - I happened to be at my parents' home in Gloucestershire when we saw 77RW coming down the road, with Charles driving. I knew it was a Jaguar, but as I was away at sea a lot then, didn't know what model. Lovely memory.