Burleydam Women's Institute

A talk by Stuart Graham

There were several men invited to our October meeting, friends of our speaker, Stuart Graham, who had a glittering career racing both motor bikes and cars. They came to hear Stuart’s life story which was shaped by the fact that his father became the World Motorcycle Champion in 1949, but also his death in a crash in the 1953 TT race in the Isle of Man.

The family came from the Wirral but while following his father’s career, they moved to Kent and then to Italy where he was riding for M V Augusta. The family returned to England, Stuart aged 11, his mother, and his younger brother Chris, both boys, of course mad about motorbikes! So, it wasn’t surprising that Stuart made it his career. In the 1960’s, he started racing at the local track, Oulton Park where he started winning races and getting noticed, which led to him being offered the Honda ride as deputy to Mike Hailwood, the World Champion! They were racing all over the world, it was a great time. Then he was offered to ride for Suzuki and in 1967 he won the Isle of Man TT race on a Suzuki. Life was great, but it wasn’t to last, a new law meant that the Japanese companies found it not cost effective anymore and gave up their racing section. So Stuart was out of a job, but only temporarily, he soon found that he was lent bikes on which he was able to win races.

By this time, he was married and possibly thinking he needed to do something less dangerous, and so he turned instead to cars with a lot of success. He had a 6-year sponsorship deal with Faberge Brut, and also he was druving other peoples historic and classic cars at venues around the country, including Goodwood where he established a rapport with the owner, the Duke of Richmond. It was a very busy and happy evening and Stuart was thanked by Jean.

In the business, arrangements were made for the Bridge drive on October 18th with a soup and pudding lunch. Volunteers were needed to help and for offers of prizes.

The speaker for the November 4th meeting at 7.30pm in the Community Meeting Room, Burleydam, is Kelin Hopkins who is talking about her life as a Vet. Competition is a cute picture.

New members and visitors always welcome.