56 replies to this topic

[Mistron]

Yes, that would be the purveyor of dreams to whom I was alluding. He owns the JC Elan, though it's currently for sale.

The street is arguably also the mews where the old car 'business' was born, with Dan Margulies etc in the '60s & 70's.

[Jack-the-Lad]

Not Queensgate Mews, but Queensgate Place Mews. If you go on streetview, you might just see a certain 8C, and a 356 (apparently getting an oil change in the street - good Effort, DeCad   )

 

And if you use the time travel button back a few years, you'll see a Certain Mr J Clark's Elan outside a well known purveyor of dreams just up the mews.

 

Al

Yes, 17 Queens Gate Mews looks a little too posh for a garage lockup.  Coincidentally, Fiskens must be just across the alley at #14.

[SamoanAttorney]

And as if on cue, I received this fine tribute from Gregor's organisation this morning. As it captures the spirit of AdC I am posting it, if the mods consider that this is a breach of forum rules, please delete and I apologise in advance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was poignant that we heard the news of de Cad’s passing whilst on the pit wall at Le Mans Classic. For 30 years we have had the distinct pleasure of sharing the mews with this inimitable character. Alain moved to our famous car-loving mews in the 70s and ran his eponymous race team from it with the help of the immensely talented Gordon Murray and Dick Crosthwaite. In our misspent youth, Alain came to all of the parties we had and racked up most of the miles on the odometer of his Green Daytona Spider giving all the prettiest girls joyrides. For both this and his antics on track, he was our idol - he showed us that you could work hard, go to Le Mans as an amateur, and have a good go of it but also have a hell of a lot of fun along the way. To be clear, he was never boastful, he simply wanted the rest of us to follow his example. The amazing thing is that over the years he never changed, his youthful mischievous energy, cracking sense of humour and unbridled enthusiasm never seemed to age.  

 

 

 

 

Alain created a community here in the mews. The resident mewsmen and mewswomen, as he called us, were always around to give a helping hand with each other’s cars. A few months ago the entire Mews got out and helped Alain and his son Aidan tow-start his Ferrari 275. He’d often poke his head around the door asking to borrow all sorts of tools and help and we always acquiesced, full well knowing we’d never see our things again. He was so charming about it that you never felt like an aggrieved party. Part of the induction for any great car that came into the mews was having Alain go over it, he’d amble over in one of his Alfa jumpers, usually with Leica in hand, and inspect the latest exciting offering. The most recent induction was the 8C Figoni Spider that we had with us for filming and we were honoured that despite not being well, Alain threw himself into narrating our 8C film for us. The passion in his voice is palpable and we are so privileged to have collaborated with him on one last project. Truly, to hear Alain speak about 8Cs was to experience passion in its purest form. Just before he headed out to LA he fired up his own beloved 8C, “FLC 820” and drove down the mews for what was to be the last time, a sight and sound that won’t soon be forgotten.

 

 

 

On behalf of all of us, thank you de Cad for everything you were and everything you taught us - yes, to love the cars, to appreciate their history, but also to go out and do it, use them, enjoy them, race them, and never be afraid to dream big. 

Our sincerest condolences to all the de Cadenet family.

We will never forget our greatest mewsman

Edited by SamoanAttorney, 12 July 2022 - 17:51.

[kayemod]

I'm a bit late pointing this out, but there's a comprehensive obituary for de Cad in today's Daily Telegraph. No idea who wrote the obit, but it's clearly someone who knew Alain, and it's a very pleasant read. It might be gone tomorrow, but the DT store them in their obits file for ages. You're supposed to be a subscriber to read the whole thing unfortunately, though I think there are ways around that.

[Tim Murray]

Posted on behalf of Roger Lund (bradbury west). The photo was taken at a Silverstone VSCC meeting, date unknown. Roger wondered if the child might be a young Amanda.


Photo copyright: Roger Lund

[bradbury west]

Many thanks, Tim.

RL

[West3]

I just came across this lovely interview between Alain the Cad and Justin Bell. Undoubtedly done not long before his passing due to the early references to the effects of his chemotherapy. Entertaining and informative. For anyone with an appreciation for a renaissance man who lived an incredible life, this cannot be missed.

 

https://www.youtube....h?v=scYwOChzNpE