FORMULA 1 DRIVER MEMORIAL UNVEILED
A memorial to honour a British motor racing driver who died more than 60 years ago has been unveiled at one of the oldest motorsport venues in the world.
It follows a year-long campaign to raise £15,000 for a permanent reminder of the skill and bravery of Peter Collins.
The Kidderminster-born racer, who drove for Ferrari, was just 26 when he was killed at the German Grand Prix in 1958.
Appeal organiser Mark Andrews said he had been "overwhelmed" by the support for the project at Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb in Worcestershire.
Mr Andrews said: "There's a dawning realisation that there is so much love for Peter.
"All these people are here because of Peter, to celebrate him and I feel very proud.
"The key thing for me is that he's not a forgotten hero."
The event on Monday was attended by members of the Collins family, with Shelsley Walsh chosen as the site for the memorial as it was Collins' "home" venue, where he honed his racing skills after World War Two.
Niece Deborah Jones said: "It's overwhelming. It's lovely to learn more about the man he was.
"What a wonderful day it has been. I feel very humbled by it.
Several people at the event knew the racing driver, including Juliet Meades-Hurdle, who lived next door to the Collins family when she was a girl.
Collins is buried at Stone Church, near Kidderminster, and each August, she places a red rose on his gravestone to mark the anniversary of his death.
"This is a beautiful thing that has brought Peter's name to the modern motoring racing who might not have heard about him," she said.
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2024-05-06T14:54:30Z dg43tfdfdgfd