All at Petrolicious are very sad to learn that Jaguar legend Norman Dewis is not in the best of health at the moment. Dewis is widely considered as Britain’s greatest test driver, and in a career spanning 33 years he tested and developed a host of famous Jaguar cars in an era considered a golden age of Jaguar motorsport success as well as a golden age for motorsport more broadly.
Dewis developed the multiple Le Mans-winning C-type and D-types, the pioneering XK140 and 150 sports cars, the classic 2.4/3.4 and Mk2 saloons, plus the MkVII and MkVIIM models, the legendary E-type (including the Lightweight E-type), the XJ13 mid-engined prototype, the world-class XJ saloons, the XJ-S and the ‘XJ40’ models. Dewis was also co-driver to Sir Stirling Moss in a C-type in the 1952 Mille Miglia and, in 1953, set a 172.412mph production car speed record in a modified Jaguar XK120 on the Jabbeke highway in Belgium. He also drove a works D-type in the tragic 1955 Le Mans 24 Hour race and competed in the famous Goodwood Nine Hours in the 1950s.
Dewis completed more than a million test miles at 100mph-plus average speeds and survived high-speed crashes without ever breaking a bone. He also played a vital role in developing the revolutionary Dunlop disc brake. And for decades after his driving career came to an end Dewis retained his close links with Jaguar and with motorsport, acting as a global ambassador as well as remaining a familiar face at key motoring events internationally and a raconteur never to be missed. He was awarded his OBE in the early 2015 New Year Honours.
Jaguar therefore is exploring some ways to help Dewis enjoy his time ahead, and as part of this is creating a Trust Fund for Norman, so that fans and friends alike can donate £100—or whatever they can afford, be it more or less than that—to the Norman Dewis OBE Trust Fund. Dewis still lives at home by himself and the money raised will be used to provide comforts for him, such as personal care and home help to assist with housework, laundry, gardening and cleaning. The Trust Deed has been prepared and duly executed by Hopkins Solicitors LLP in their offices, which are based in Nottinghamshire, and the Trust Fund will be governed by the terms of the Trust Deed. The appointed Trustees are John Butterworth and Tony O’Keeffe. Dewis is fully aware of what Jaguar is doing and he would like to thank all the Jaguar Family for taking the time to do this.
Any donations can be paid into the Trust Fund account. The details required to make a bank transfer are NatWest Bank, account number 15094030 and sort code 010085. Please make the reference Norman Dewis OBE Trust Fund. The funds will be fully audited and managed in accordance with the Trust Deed for Norman’s personal benefit. Any surplus funds left after Dewis passes away will, in line with Dewis’s wishes, be donated to Hope House Hospice. This is a charity close to Dewis which looks after terminally ill children.
Images courtesy of Jaguar UK and Classic & Sports Car
