Several thousand people attended three days of events over the weekend of April 6-8 to commemorate the 50thanniversary of Jim Clark’s death. It is testimony to the brilliant Scot’s enduring legacy that visitors travelled from New Zealand, Australia, Brazil and Japan to the Scottish Borders to pay homage.
The weekend started with a ground-breaking ceremony for the new Jim Clark Museum in Duns, carried out by his surviving sister, Isobel Henderson. Classic Team Lotus displayed iconic cars from Clark’s career, including a Type 25 and 32B all weekend. Andy Middlehurst was also on hand with his BRM H16-powered Type 43. An impressive exhibition of Clark memorabilia from private collections was displayed in Chirnside, with Bonhams on hand to provide valuations.
On the Saturday a remembrance service was held at Chirnside Parish Church, which followed the exact order of service from Clark’s funeral. In the evening guests at a dinner organized by Club Lotus included Clark’s cousin Doug Niven, mechanic Bob Dance, Clive Chapman, John Cleland and local rally ace Louise Aitken-Walker.
Then on Sunday the racing cars moved to Chirnside. Fittingly, they sat in the same spot where a stage had been erected in 1965 for the triumphant return of Clark after clinching his second World Championship.
To view a commemorative video please visit https://www.facebook.com/mattysuttonitv/videos/1266271180171688/
(All photos courtesy Kevin Guthrie)
