4 replies to this topic

[Derwent Motorsport]

I've just added a few programmes to my collection and the one for 6th July, 1963 at Oulton Park contains an entry for a Sir John Townley in a BRM of 2500 cc. I've not heard of him before and what BRM was it?

A Google search brings up Towneleys - ie a different spelling but no Sir John of that era.

Any suggestions? Did he do a lot of racing as he does not appear in any other of my "northern" programmes?

 

[Tim Murray]

The car was BRM P48 chassis 486. Its ownership chain up to 2003 was listed by Doug in the BRM P48 thread:

http://forums.autosp...-2#entry1137376
 

Doug Nye, on 23 Jan 2003 - 19:02, said:

486 - strut-rear suspension, 3-brake car - Dan Gurney's late-season 1960 car - winner at Ballarat, Australia, 1961 - this is the Ray Fielding hill-climb car 1962-63, Sir John Townley, Brian Waddilove, Mike Stow, cannibalised by Stow for his original front-engined BRM Type 25 recreation programme (which pre-dated Wheatcroft's) - to Robs Lamplough UK - survives stripped, knackered - unrestored today. SURVIVES.

This seems to be the only previous mention of Sir John Townley here on TNF.

[Vitesse2]

Here's his entry in Who's Who, which doesn't reveal any particular interest in motor sport. Well - none actually. Perhaps he owned the car but the entry was for someone else? His son - also John, but with middle initials AB - was born in 1942.

 

Quote

 

TOWNLEY, Sir John (Barton)

Kt 1960

Born 14 June 1914; s of Barton Townley and Margaret Alice, d of Richard Gorst; m 1939, Gwendoline May Ann, d of Arthur Simmonds; one s three d ; died 24 June 1990

Education

Rydal Sch.; Downing Coll., Cambridge; Sorbonne. MA Cambridge, 1939; PhD Cantab; DLit Sorbonne

Career

Man. Dir and Vice-Chm., Northern Commercial Vehicles and associated cos, 1936–72. President: Preston Conservative Assoc., N and S Divisions, 1954–72 (Chairman: Preston S Conserv. Assoc., 1949–54; Preston N Cons. Assoc., 1958, first Life Pres., 1961); Preston Sea Cadet Corps, 1954–72; Preston Circle King George’s Fund for Sailors, 1949–72; Preston Charities Assoc., 1949–; Life Vice-Pres., Preston, Chorley, Leyland Conservative Clubs Council (Pres. 1949–; Cons. Clubs Council of GB Medal, 1959). Life Mem., North Western Industrial Assoc. Adv. Bd. Vice-Pres., RNLI. Chairman: Preston YMCA Special Appeals Cttee; British Police Athletic Assoc., 1949–60; Pres., Lancs Police Clubs, 1959–63; Founder, and Pres., Police Hathersall Hall Youth Camp (now Lancs Boys Club), 1949–70; Founder Mem., Nat. Playing Fields Assoc.; Chm., Spastics Appeal, 1950–53; Founder Mem. 1948, and former Pres., OAP’s Assoc. Founder many youth clubs (known as Rydal Clubs), inc. Liverpool, Manchester and Bermondsey, from 1934. Chm., Preston Arts Cttee, 1951–59. Hon. Plenipotentiary: Antigua, 1966; Barbados, 1967; Malta, 1968, 1969; Cyprus, 1972–74

Recreations

Talking about rugby, cricket, boxing, golf

Clubs

Hawks, Union, Pitt (Cambridge); Royal & Ancient Golf (St Andrews)

Address 24 Agnew Street, Lytham, Lancs

He appears to have 'downsized' to Lytham since his death notice in The Times says he was "formerly of Bilsborrow Hall" (aka Bilsborough Hall) A modest dwelling ... http://www.francisfr...-c1960-85978120

[Derwent Motorsport]

Thanks for the info. Given that bio he would be nearly 50 at the time. it could be his some but then he would not have been "Sir". The programme does give driver and entrant and interestingly he is down as entrant for John Lambert's Elva Climax but for the BRM he is entrant/driver.

It's a Formula Libre race with a very mixed entry list of mainly FJ cars plus a few GTs. In theory the BRM should have outclassed the rest subject to the quality of the driver. Sadly it's the only race with no results written in!

[Roger Clark]

There's no mention of him in the reports of Autosport and Motoring News.  Both list the first three finishers.