12 replies to this topic

[Paul Rochdale]

Those of us of a certain age will well remember Dr Steven Ward, the London osteopath involved in the Profumo Scandal of 1963. I've come across an item elsewhere which mentions that he and Bernie Ecclestone were best mates. Ward was the son of the Canon of Rochester Cathedral. The item also went on to say that Ward had been a car racer in his youth and that Stirling Moss had breathed a sigh of relief when SW retired as he felt he was too old. His racing career had been interupted by the war, when he worked with burned RAF aircrew at East Grinstead. Ward apparently was a brilliant racer, and frightened Moss. "You would never have heard of me if Steven had been five years younger" he said.

[petefenelon]

Originally posted by Paul Rochdale
Those of us of a certain age will well remember Dr Steven Ward, the London osteopath involved in the Profumo Scandal of 1963. I've come across an item elsewhere which mentions that he and Bernie Ecclestone were best mates. Ward was the son of the Canon of Rochester Cathedral. The item also went on to say that Ward had been a car racer in his youth and that Stirling Moss had breathed a sigh of relief when SW retired as he felt he was too old. His racing career had been interupted by the war, when he worked with burned RAF aircrew at East Grinstead. Ward apparently was a brilliant racer, and frightened Moss. "You would never have heard of me if Steven had been five years younger" he said.

As an aside, Stephen Ward (ph, not v) was involved in some way with Ruth Kelly, the last woman to be hanged in Britain - Ruth Ellis was sentenced to death for the murder of amateur racing driver David Blakely.

It's a small and tangled world.

[ensign14]

Originally posted by Paul Rochdale
Ward was the son of the Canon of Rochester Cathedral.

Did he get fired?

Doesn't sound like he was of sufficient calibre.

If he raced in the 500s with B.C. Ecclestone, maybe it's not surprising they knew each other.

[RS2000]

I seem to recall discussion somewhere about Ward having an XK150 and a black one appeared in a film ("Scandal"?) when his was white, or vice versa (sorry...).

Was the re-created Goodwood paddock scene in "Dance with a Stranger" (the film about Ruth Ellis) the inspiration for the "period" dressing up for the Goodwood Revival meeting?

[dmj]

Originally posted by RS2000
I seem to recall discussion somewhere about Ward having an XK150 and a black one appeared in a film ("Scandal"?) when his was white, or vice versa (sorry...)

Ward indeed had a white XK150, a picture was published maybe 7-8 years ago in one of classic car magazines. From memnory it could have been in Simon Taylor's feature in C&SC. I do think there was some mention of him being a car, maybe even racing enthusiast.

[David McKinney]

Originally posted by Paul Rochdale
The item also went on to say that Ward had been a car racer in his youth and that Stirling Moss had breathed a sigh of relief when SW retired as he felt he was too old. His racing career had been interupted by the war, when he worked with burned RAF aircrew at East Grinstead. Ward apparently was a brilliant racer, and frightened Moss. "You would never have heard of me if Steven had been five years younger" he said.

I think the technical term for this is "bollocks"

[Paul Rochdale]

I think you're right David. If he was that brilliant, we'd have heard more about him. Nor can I imagine Moss being scared of anyone or anything.

[scousepenguin]

Dr Stephen Ward was mentioned in the comedian Barry Cryer's book "Pigs Might Fly". Cryer and various names attended parties were..women were freely available, let's say.

What was interesting was that cryer considered Ward's comments about having contacts in MI5 as the boast of a wide boy. Later he suspected it was probably true.

I always wondered how Bernie got his money.... it can't have been selling sweets, but I guess we'll never know for sure.

[Kpy]

Originally posted by scousepenguin


I always wondered how Bernie got his money.... it can't have been selling sweets, but I guess we'll never know for sure.

If you read Bernie's Game by Terry Lovell, you'll get a fair idea.

[275 GTB-4]

Fascinating stuff....but when do we get to the part about Christine Keeler and Mandy Rice Davies....erggghh...and of course...their Motorsport involvement

[Catalina Park]

Originally posted by 275 GTB-4
Fascinating stuff....but when do we get to the part about Christine Keeler and Mandy Rice Davies....erggghh...and of course...their Motorsport involvement

I have a pic of Christine Keeler getting into a mini, will that help?

[275 GTB-4]

Originally posted by Catalina Park


I have a pic of Christine Keeler getting into a mini, will that help?

Nah...seen it...very nice set of pins...(hinge pins...I mean)...

[KJJ]

So who was the "racing driver" Paul Mann who flew Miss Keeler out to Madrid just as the Profumo scandal was about to break?