Historic racer, son of Pat Appleyard and grandson of Sir Williams Lyons – unsurprisingly, he dabbles in Jaguars a bit
GEARBOX
1I loved the Giles annuals and after grandad died I found in the attic two framed originals that Giles had signed and given to him, complete with corrections. I like this 1961 image of the Aston DB4 holding up the transporter-load of E-types, destined for the US, while the lady in mink is getting stick because her husband works on night shift at Jaguar. The poster on the wall reads ‘$10,900,000 orders taken in first three days of New York show.’
2Someone must have given grandad this motorcycle constructed from watch parts. I don’t know anything about it but it was found in a briefcase of odds and ends.
3This signed copy of Stirling Moss’s autobiography thanks grandad for the ‘opportunity you gave me. I shall never forget it. Stirling’. He’s referring to the drive in Tommy Wisdom’s XK120 in the 1950 TT at Dundrod, and then being taken onto the Jaguar works team!
4This Schuco ‘Mercedes’ GP car belonged to my uncle John, who sadly died aged just 25 while driving to Le Mans in 1955. I can imagine him being just as fascinated by the working steering and the removeable spinners as I was when I used to play with it at Wappenbury.
5The cup awarded to mum for her win on the 1951 Tulip Rally, which she and Ian [Appleyard] won on their first attempt together in NUB 120. Mum was just 24.
6This set of six tablemats feature Roy Nockolds paintings depicting various Jaguar competition successes of the 1950s. I remember eating my meals on them, ever conscious of grandad watching my ta
