Eileen Ellison
Encyclopedia
Eileen Ellison was an English Grand Prix racer.
Born in Great Shelford
, Cambridgeshire
, she was a daughter of Sidney and Theresa Ellison (formerly Vinter). She had a sister, Diana, and a brother, Tony.
Due to her brother's interest in motorsport, Eileen became interested in racing in the late 1920s. She befriended a racing driver of the day, Thomas Pitt Cholmondeley-Tapper
, and Eileen soon began racing herself. She was frequently noted as the entrant when Cholmondeley-Tapper raced, chiefly because it was her car(s) used; Tony Ellison invariably being the mechanic.
Her main racing achievement came in 1932 when she won the Duchess of York
's race for women drivers at Brooklands
. The competitors included Elsie Wisdom (Invicta), Fay Taylour (Talbot 105) and Kay Petre
(Daytona Wolseley Hornet Special). Eileen Ellison won from Kay Petre
, who was arguably the most famous female racing driver of her day.
With her brother and Cholmondeley Tapper, Eileen Ellison travelled throughout Europe to racing venues. Cholmondeley-Tapper wrote a book entitled Amateur Racing Driver about his exploits but Eileen Ellison is only briefly mentioned in the book.
World War 2 drew a halt to motorsport in Europe but by this time, Eileen Ellison had found another interest in life - her new husband. Eileen married Squadron Leader Brian Lane in 1940. The marriage was brief, as he was killed in action in 1942.
After a period of mourning, she moved to South Africa where she met landowner, Owen Fargus. He owned property in the United Kingdom
, in South Africa
and Jersey
and the couple led a jet-setting lifestyle. She remained with Fargus until death from illness in 1967. Owen Fargus died in Jersey in [1990]
Born in Great Shelford
Great Shelford
Great Shelford is a village located approximately four miles to the south of Cambridge, in the county of Cambridgeshire, in eastern England. In 1850 Great Shelford parish contained intersected by the river Cam. The population in 1841 was 803 people...
, Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
, she was a daughter of Sidney and Theresa Ellison (formerly Vinter). She had a sister, Diana, and a brother, Tony.
Due to her brother's interest in motorsport, Eileen became interested in racing in the late 1920s. She befriended a racing driver of the day, Thomas Pitt Cholmondeley-Tapper
Thomas Pitt Cholmondeley-Tapper
Thomas Pitt Cholmondeley-Tapper was an auto racing driver from New Zealand, the first greatest New Zealander auto driver before Graham McRae, Chris Amon, Bruce McLaren, Denny Hulme and others. He was known as "George", he came from Norwegian ancestry...
, and Eileen soon began racing herself. She was frequently noted as the entrant when Cholmondeley-Tapper raced, chiefly because it was her car(s) used; Tony Ellison invariably being the mechanic.
Her main racing achievement came in 1932 when she won the Duchess of York
Duchess of York
Duchess of York is the principal courtesy title held by the wife of the Duke of York. The title is gained with marriage alone and is forfeited upon divorce. Four of the twelve Dukes of York did not marry or had already assumed the throne prior to marriage, therefore there have only ever been eleven...
's race for women drivers at Brooklands
Brooklands
Brooklands was a motor racing circuit and aerodrome built near Weybridge in Surrey, England. It opened in 1907, and was the world's first purpose-built motorsport venue, as well as one of Britain's first airfields...
. The competitors included Elsie Wisdom (Invicta), Fay Taylour (Talbot 105) and Kay Petre
Kay Petre
-Racing Carrer:Born Kathleen Coad Defries in Toronto, Canada, she came to England in her twenties, where she married aviator Henry A Petre in 1929. Kay Petre was a star at the legendary Brooklands track, and the exploits of this 4' 10" lady caused a media sensation at the time. The abiding image of...
(Daytona Wolseley Hornet Special). Eileen Ellison won from Kay Petre
Kay Petre
-Racing Carrer:Born Kathleen Coad Defries in Toronto, Canada, she came to England in her twenties, where she married aviator Henry A Petre in 1929. Kay Petre was a star at the legendary Brooklands track, and the exploits of this 4' 10" lady caused a media sensation at the time. The abiding image of...
, who was arguably the most famous female racing driver of her day.
With her brother and Cholmondeley Tapper, Eileen Ellison travelled throughout Europe to racing venues. Cholmondeley-Tapper wrote a book entitled Amateur Racing Driver about his exploits but Eileen Ellison is only briefly mentioned in the book.
World War 2 drew a halt to motorsport in Europe but by this time, Eileen Ellison had found another interest in life - her new husband. Eileen married Squadron Leader Brian Lane in 1940. The marriage was brief, as he was killed in action in 1942.
After a period of mourning, she moved to South Africa where she met landowner, Owen Fargus. He owned property in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and Jersey
Jersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
and the couple led a jet-setting lifestyle. She remained with Fargus until death from illness in 1967. Owen Fargus died in Jersey in [1990]
Further reading
- Anthony Forbes Whitmore, A Cambridge Life: the biography of Eileen Ellison. Whitmore is her only living relative.
External links
- www.historicracing.com