Sad to hear of champ's death

Like many other motor sport enthusiasts, it was with sadness that I learnt of the passing of John Surtees last week, who was unique in being the only motorcycle as well as Formula One world champion.

I was fortunate to meet John when he opened the Elva Business Centre in July 2010. During our conversation I mentioned our then recently opened Motoring and Technology Gallery at Bexhill Museum.

Without any prompting he offered to donate two signed prints to the museum, which duly arrived a few days later.

One showing John at the wheel of his 1964 championship winning Ferrari, the other astride a 1956 Agusta motorcycle, which was the first of his seven motorcycle world championships. These prints now hang in the gallery and will always remain as our town’s memorial to a unique world champion.

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