4 replies to this topic

[Ivan A]

Hello people. I'm new to this site though hope there may be someone out there who can point me in the right direction.

I'm looking for background information on Hugh Eaton and his wife Colleen. Hugh placed third driving a Talbot with B.Lewis (Lord Essenden) in the 1930 Le Mans 24 Hours. His wife Colleen was one of George Eyston's 'Dancing Daughters' in an MG for the 35 Le Mans. Both are apparantly Aussies.

Is anyone aware of source information on them. It seems they both lived to a ripe age, Colleen reportedly still driving Hugh around the UK in the mid eighties.

[KJJ]

I did look up Colleen Eaton in the Times newspaper and the Births/Deaths/Marriages indexes a few months ago. This is what I found:

Hugh Seymour Eaton died in London in July 1988, he was born 10th July 1899 - not in England as far as I can see, so possibly Australia. He married Colleen Clare Harley Hixson on October 9th 1924, Colleen was the daughter of Captain Harley Hixson of the Royal Australian Navy but infact she was born in Bromley, Kent in 1901.

Unless they got back together the lady driving Hugh Eaton around in the 1980s was not Colleen, the couple were divorced in the 1930s and she subsequently married a Richard Frederick Norman in London on May 19th 1938. I haven't found a date of death for Colleen but haven't really had time to look too hard.

Just to add that Colleen's marriage to Mr Norman didn't last that long as he remarried in 1944. He was only 21 when he got hitched to Colleen. In 1945 she was living in Cheyne Court, Chelsea.

[Ivan A]

Thanks for that.

It seems that I need to be carefull when making assumptions about the term 'wife'. I've only come across one book which may contain info on them....The Invincible Talbots. Anyone know of anything else?

[Brian Lear]

Hi Ivan

Please check your 'Private Message' folder

Brian Lear
Australia

[Ruth]

Hi Ivan, Hugh and Colleen are my husbands grandparents. Do you need any more information? Ruth