Roy Eccles

Eccles was born at Neath, Wales. His father was Herbert Eccles, a prominent businessman who was a founder and managing director of the Briton Ferry Steel Company.^[1]

Roy Eccles's first marriage produced two children and ended in divorce in 1931.^[2][1] In 1934 he married Marjorie Quick, a fellow racing enthusiast.^[3] He died on 17 January 1938 after suffering a stroke.^[4] He left an estate of £68,275.^[5]

Eccles had owned a farm at Bordsley Park near Redditch in Worcestershire but sold his property there and moved to Staines-upon-Thames in Sussex several years before his death.^[1]

Eccles began racing in 1932, after being introduced to the sport by his younger brother Lindsay Eccles, who raced in Bugatti automobiles.^[6][7] Roy Eccles regularly raced at the Brooklands and Donington Park tracks and in Europe.^[8]

In 1934 Roy Eccles and his co-driver Charlie Martin placed fourth overall, and first in the 751 - 1100 cm3 class, in the 24 Hours of Le Mans driving an MG K3 Magnette.^[6][9] Eccles and his wife Marjorie intended to drive a Singer Nine in the 1937 24 Hours of Le Mans, but he was replaced by Freddie de Clifford due to ill health. The car had to drop out after suffering a broken magneto.^[10]

In 1935 Eccles purchased a Lagonda Rapier which he had modified into a single seat racing car he called the "Eccles Supercharged Special". It first raced at the 1935 British Empire Trophy race at Brooklands. After more modifications, the car became known as a "Rapier Special". Both Roy and Marjorie Eccles drove the car in races at Brooklands, Donington, Shelsley Walsh, on the Isle of Man, and at Brighton.^[11]

Driving the Rapier, Marjorie Eccles narrowly escaped injury in a serious accident during the London Grand Prix at the Crystal Palace Circuit in 1937. As a consequence, Eccles announced at the end of the year that the couple would both retire from racing.^[4]