Brian was already in his eighties and fully appreciated his own mortality. The last time we spoke was in the winter of 2019, and although he sparkled with excitement at his plan to fly to Australia in March 2020, he knew that it would be an adventurous journey, and in all likelihood the last chance he would have for such an enterprise. I am pleased to say he was able to make the trip, and get home again safely, but how ironic that the virus that caused the cancellation of the Grand Prix that he planned to watch while he was there should take him nearly a year later.
I first met Brian nearly 40 years ago, although I had heard his voice through the tannoy before that at Brands Hatch and elsewhere. It was through that initial encounter that I became involved in commentary (it’s all described here, if you’ve a mind to read it) and although it was not initially my ambition, my work as a commentator would never have developed without Brian’s help, advice and guidance. Brian had a natural skill for public speaking, an affinity with his listener that gave his narrative instant appeal and an ability to engage with his subject in a way that was informative and entertaining. Realising that these are skills valuable to racing drivers just as much as to budding commentators, he later provided formal training sessions, from which I am sure many others benefitted as well.
He had a remarkable ability to hold an audience’s attention, not only through what he said, but also through the way that he said it. He was a gifted raconteur: avuncular and urbane, with an acute understanding of humanity. His circle of friends was wider than I suspect even he realised. He really did seem to ‘know everybody’.
As I worked with him through the 1980’s, we became close friends and he provided me with plenty of opportunities to work with him as his ‘assistant’ at race meetings around the UK as well as trips to Cowes, Isle of Wight, for offshore power boats and Bristol for their inshore cousins. The people we met along the way – from Mark Thatcher to Gina Campbell – broadened my horizons, but seemed to be ‘just another day at the office’ for Brian.
He was always willing to share and he was generous to a fault. He provided me with my first income from motor-racing. Commentator’s assistants were not paid then (are they now? – please advise!) and I would not be surprised to learn that some of the money that I was being paid was coming directly from Brian’s fee. If anyone understood the perils of picking up a microphone, it was Brian, and I was glad that he saw fit to steer me away from many of those dangers. It is impossible to ignore your ego when speaking publicly, but it is possible to control it and keep it under control. I hope that is at least one of the things I learnt from him.
As my own career as a commentator blossomed and Brian did less PA commentary work, I saw less and less of him, but our paths inevitably still crossed as we were both involved in the sport for which we shared a passion and a common view – shaped by the likes of John Webb in our formative years. It was great fun, in 2018, to share the stage with him at the Formula Ford Festival Forum; where else, but in the Kentagon at Brands Hatch, when anecdotes were shared, beer was drunk and a good time was had by all.
Having received a sharp reminder of my own mortality in 2020 and even though I am twenty years younger than Brian, I can only hope that I might achieve a fraction of his reputation.
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| Brands Hatch Kentagon - 1986 |
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