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Le Mans 1959

07/01/201008/04/2015 By shendy1 Comment

As promised, here are the pictures from Le Mans in 1959. Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa (Phil Hill's car), photographed at "Pesage", which I think is scrutineering. A whole load of Ferraris (250's and a Dino), also at Scrutineering An Aston Martin DBR1 - the car that came second (just behind an identical car) The start - I still can't believe how close everyone is to the track, and not a safety fence in sight! Stirling Moss retiring from the race in the evening - another Aston Martin DBR1...

France / Belgium, 1959

06/01/201008/04/2015 By shendyNo Comments

In June 1959, my dad and his friend Bill Greenstreet went to the Continent for a holiday - not a common thing to do in those days. No nipping over on the cross-channel ferry for them. Instead they used the wonderfully named "Air Bridge" - a Bristol freighter which flew them to France. That's Bill's car being loaded. A typical French road, lined with plane trees - near Nogent-Sur-Seine if you're really interested. The Basilica in Lisieux This is Le Mans cathedral, and that should tell you a lot about why they really went to France. The first box of 50 black and white films can probably be summarised as "student days", while the second box (the one I'm on now) can probably be summed up as "petrolhead" - it looks like about half of the films are dedicated to motorsport meetings all over the place - Silverstone, Brands Hatch and most significantly of all, Le Mans. But, we'll come to that soon... After...

Christmas in London, 1958

31/12/200912/04/2020 By shendyNo Comments

I don't know if you can make it out in this copy of the picture, but there are masses of people in Trafalgar Square, just looking at the tree....

Birmingham Rag, October 1958

31/12/200912/04/2020 By shendyNo Comments

I'm not quite sure of the timeline here. I know my dad did National Service after he was at Imperial College, and I think that included a Masters degree.But, now that he's been demobbed, it looks like he's back at university. I think he said once that he started on a PhD but couldn't finish it as the grant ran out. So, I'm guessing that this is the PhD period, especially as it looks like he started a proper job in 1959....

Demob

31/12/200912/04/2020 By shendy1 Comment

Demob from REME at Arborfield, October 1958. Boy, them boots is shiny!...

London Zoo

31/12/200912/04/2020 By shendyNo Comments

October 1958, and presumably the crocodiles are huddled together to keep warm. That or it's some kind of reptilian orgy... I'd like to show this photo to the current head of Health and Safety at London Zoo, just to see how pale he turns, and how quickly....

Susan, the fairy of the compost heap

31/12/200912/04/2020 By shendyNo Comments

Another one from July 1957, and I'm sure my aunt will love me dearly for posting this one. Apparently she's currently recovering from Scarlet Fever - get well soon!...

Landing the Catch, Whitby

31/12/200912/04/2020 By shendyNo Comments

This was taken in July 1957, but something about the way they look makes it look way older than that....

Hill Crest, Cottingham

31/12/200912/04/2020 By shendyNo Comments

My father at home in Cottingham in July 1957. I see he's looking at "The Family Of Man" - a hugely important photography exhibition, first shown at MOMA in New York in 1955 - see the Wikipedia entry....