reviews A very modest celebrity
John Godfrey Parry Thomas was a very prominent figure at ‘the Track’ in its heyday. A pioneering engineer and fearless driver, he was also a celebrity and schoolboys’ hero despite being a private and modest person. Sadly, Parry Thomas has rather fallen out of the spotlight, despite winning many races and setting numerous records. There are not many books that tell his story, which is why this one is important. It was first published in 1959 as Parry Thomas: Designer-Driver, probably a more accurate title. Because it was put together at that time, before there had been much else published on the history of Brooklands, it might seem a little lacking in photos by today’s standards. It has a fact-based rather than colourful narrative style as this was one of the first times these race and record results had been re-published since they happened, even Bill Boddy’s history of Brooklands had only been published two years earlier. However, now this book has been reissued by Pen & Sword Transport with clear typesetting and well reproduced drawings and photos in a traditional hard-backed binding. Thomas really was at the heart of so much that happened at
Brooklands. He lived at the Track in a bungalow called the ‘Hermitage’ that stood in what was the Flying Village, now sadly lost under redevelopment. Reid Railton had been his assistant at Leyland and what became the leading engineering firm at Brooklands, Thomson and Taylor. This had started as Parry Thomas’ own company, Thomas Inventions, where Railton had worked. What people do know of Thomas today probably centres on his Land Speed Record car Babs, which at the time this book was written was still interred in the sand at Pendine. Thomas never made road cars and relatively few racing cars, but those that he did build and drive achieved a lot. He is buried in an unassuming grave in Byfleet churchyard, which seems fitting for this modest engineer who contributed so much to Brooklands.
Chris Bass An object lesson
Harry Sherrard is well-known for his talks at Brooklands and further afield on the Second World War. In this book, and as the title suggests, he picks 25 objects that he uses to illustrate how the summer of 1940 was so pivotal to the survival of Britain when faced with the threat of a Nazi invasion.
In less skilled hands, the device of using objects to discuss the story of this period of history could seem too obvious. However, Harry’s clear writing and vast knowledge of the topic shine through in each entry. He also chooses the objects with great consideration and many are not the ones you might first think of when looking at this part of the Second World War. Another reason this book stands out as a solid introduction to the Battle of Britain and Operation Sealion is it also looks at some objects used by the Germans. This makes is a very fair assessment of the battle. Brooklands plays a big part in the book, just as it did in 1940. The Hurricane and Wellington both are included among the objects that make up this easy to read and enjoyable book.
Alisdair Suttie
Parry Thomas – the first driver to be killed in pursuit of the Land Speed Record by Hugh Tours is priced £19.99. Published by Pen & Sword: ISBN 978-1-52675-922-1
The Battle of Britain and Operation Sealion in 25 Objects by Harry Sherrard is priced £10. Published by Harry Sherrard: ISBN 978-1-5272-4732-1
MARCH - APRIL 2020 | BROOKLANDS BULLETIN 49
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