Chris Leaver Ian Richardson
Not to be forgotten The Jaguar family has lost two more very special members whose contribution to the marque will live on well past their participation. Ian Richardson was a very quiet and unassuming character, born in Melbourne, but who spent most of his life in Queensland. What signalled Ian out from other Jaguar owners was the stunning 1962 E-Type which he drove to National Rallies and other events all over the country - having owned it from brand new until the day he died in 2022! We think this was probably a record period for the continuous ownership of any E-Type anywhere in the world. Ian’s car is also the only E-Type to ever be in Fiji. It probably still holds the official record as the car driven fastest in that country - safely at the Nadi airport in 1963. The reason for the car going there is he ordered it, in August 1961, to be delivered there because he was working for a major sugar refinery and expected to be there for several years - which he was. The car was in Fiji by late 1962. He brought it home, and years later built a new house in rural Queensland not far from the old Lowood race track. He designed the house and installed a glass wall in the lounge room which adjoined the garage. He could therefore see his E-Type and Austin Healey at any time he was at home! He appreciated that was just a little eccentric, but in typical Ian fashion accepted it with a smile at his own expense. He drove to a National Rally in Adelaide during the mid-1980s during which time it was hit and a number of panels damaged. He was philosophical, but ensured the car was perfectly repaired and continued to drive and enjoy it. It won many concours prizes, but Ian was most proud of owning it for what turned out to be sixty straight years. He will be missed. At this time we don’t know what is happening to the E-Type.
EDITION 214 JAGUAR MAGAZINE
Chris Leaver died two just days short of his 85th birthday, in Sydney following a short illness. Christopher was the quintessential Englishman, raised in Brackley, and whose family was host to Giuseppe Farina for the first Formula 1 Grand Prix ever. That had a lasting impact on the youngster. After leaving school Christopher became a very prestigious Student Apprentice at Jaguar Cars - meaning he was apprenticed to every aspect of the business. He later became of a good friend of Sir William Lyons’ youngest daughter Mary. He rose to the important position of Service Manager for Jaguar Cars under Director Lofty England, and was integral to the evolution of the Lightweight E-Type. As Overseas Service Manager he came to Australia, and married Helene Fowler, Jack Bryson’s rock after son Hugh died, and who was Helene’s step-father. They were Australia’s Jaguar ‘Royal Couple’ in our opinion. He had lived in Sydney for more than 50 years, with their own Jaguar business there. Chris was a very good friend to this magazine and we will feature him in more depth in a coming edition.
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