David Purley, a lasting memorial

David Purley, a lasting memorial

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Discussion

m8rky

Original Poster:

2,090 posts

166 months

Wednesday 7th December 2011
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Living near and having many connections in Bognor I feel strongly that the person I regard as the greatest F1 driver of all time should have a lasting tribute to his memory.Seeing the LEC factory (The company of which he was a director and started by his father)being demolished to make way for a Sainsburys store really brought home to me that his memory is slipping away.
I have wished that a memorial could be placed on the seafront at Bognor but failing that I was wondering if Sainsburys could be persuaded to have something in the entrance to the store to commemorate his career and bravery.I really do not how to go about starting this off and also would seek approval from his wife but hopefully it would be something that people would be happy to see.
Where do I go from here I don't know,suggestions please.

For those that are not familiar with David Purley,all I will say is look him up on Wikipedia but his PH credentials stack up pretty highly,Company director,pilots licence,ex paratrooper and bravery by the bucket load.
David I salute you I hope others wish to do so.


Steffan

10,362 posts

235 months

Wednesday 7th December 2011
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I admire the man and I admired him at the time of his George Medal winning attempts to save a fellow racer.

He is, in many ways, the archetypal English, self effacing, hero.

Good luck with you efforts. He should NOT be forgotten. Nor should his bravery.

chevronb37

6,471 posts

193 months

Wednesday 7th December 2011
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Nice feature in Octane about him. I understand Tom Pryce has a memorial in Rhuthin which I keep meaning to visit. I think something remember Purley would be fitting. Good luck!

Chunkychucky

6,083 posts

176 months

Wednesday 7th December 2011
quotequote all
Purley, Pryce, Williamson, all three seem to be the forgotten names that were some of the unfortunate British fatalities of F1 frown

Would be great if Sainsbury's were to oblige, however i'm afraid I am unable to help other than to provide my moral support, great idea yes

Steffan

10,362 posts

235 months

Wednesday 7th December 2011
quotequote all
Chunkychucky said:
Purley, Pryce, Williamson, all three seem to be the forgotten names that were some of the unfortunate British fatalities of F1 frown

Would be great if Sainsbury's were to oblige, however i'm afraid I am unable to help other than to provide my moral support, great idea yes
I think David Purley died as a result of an air accident in which he was piloting a biplane. He retired from Formula One after a massive wall shunt racing.


tombar

479 posts

216 months

Thursday 8th December 2011
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I live in Ruthin and the Tom Pryce memorial is great. I think it helped to have the support of Dave Richards of Prodrive fame, as he is from the town too. Purls deserves just the same - if anyone is in doubt, a read of the excellent book "The Lost Generation" by David Tremayne will open your eyes.

In terms of getting it off the ground, I'd suggest the Town Council is a starting point. Sainsbury's will have had to pay a hefty Section 106 planning fee to support infrastructure in the town, and may well want to contribute.

Have a look at this http://www.tomprycememorial.com/home

Good luck - it is a good thing to do, memories fade and heroes need to be remembered

Count Johnny

715 posts

204 months

Thursday 8th December 2011
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Tom Pryce's grave is in Otford, in Kent.

Eric Mc

122,855 posts

272 months

Thursday 8th December 2011
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Purley died in 1985 when his Pitts Special biplane crashed whilst he was carrying out aerobatics.

gaz132

292 posts

249 months

m8rky

Original Poster:

2,090 posts

166 months

Monday 2nd January 2012
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Just came across this on motorsport retro http://www.motorsportretro.com/2012/01/david-purle...

Cheese Mechanic

3,157 posts

176 months

Monday 2nd January 2012
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If you want to start it off, I would firstly find out who the local councillor is and inform him/her of your aim. If you can get them onside they may make application to Sainsbury's themselves , or may be able to give you advice on how or who to approach at Sainsbury's.

That's what I would do.

Little Droogie

39 posts

194 months

Monday 2nd January 2012
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You have PM.

tyrrell

1,687 posts

215 months

Monday 2nd January 2012
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Great idea let us know how you get on

Sam_68

9,939 posts

252 months

Monday 2nd January 2012
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m8rky said:
...I was wondering if Sainsburys could be persuaded to have something in the entrance to the store to commemorate his career and bravery.I really do not how to go about starting this off and also would seek approval from his wife but hopefully it would be something that people would be happy to see.
Where do I go from here I don't know,suggestions please.
Apart from a direct approach to Sainburys or to the Town Council, you might wish to consider going via the Council's Planning Department.

It might be a bit late mind you - if they're demolishing the old factory, it tends to imply that the Planning process is done and dusted - but you need to speak to the Planning Officer who dealt with the planning application (referred to as the 'case officer') and you need to be suggesting some sort of public memorial as part of the (note buzzwords) public art element of the Section 106 package.

Basic explanation: every major development usually has a package of financial contributions/enabling works attached to it by means of a legal agreement called the Section 106 agreement. The original intention of this legal structure was to ensure that if additional infrastrcuture was needed to make a new development work (eg. off-site road improvements to cope with the traffic from a new shopping centre, or a new school to serve all the kids who will live in a new housing estate), then the developer could be made to contribute toward the cost.

These days, it tends to be abused, with all sorts of public bodies demanding cash from developers as a sort of legalised extortion for permitting the development, and one of the favourites is the provision of 'public art' associated with the new development.

It's just about possible that a sum of money has been agreed in the Section 106 for the new Sainsbury's, but that there is still some degree of flexibility on what this money should be spent on.

You idea isn't outlandish, by the way - early in my career, I was involved in the design of a Morrisons supermarket on the site of the old Jowett factory in Bradford, which has a bronze relief commemorating Jowett cars within the entrance to the building, and the Morrisons I now use near Bristol (Cribbs Causeway) has a similar relief commemorating the city's connection with Concorde.

ETA: sorry, I've just noticed that Tombar has mentioned the Section 106 too; never mind - hopefully the above expands a little on how to use that particular avenue.

m8rky

Original Poster:

2,090 posts

166 months

Monday 2nd January 2012
quotequote all
Thanks all above,following some advice from Little droogie and the post above I have emailed the developer and will enquire with Arun DC about the section 106.Thanks all and a good starting point for this idea in 2012.I will keep you all updated.

buzzerm3

40 posts

222 months

Tuesday 3rd January 2012
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Chunkychucky said:
Purley, Pryce, Williamson, all three seem to be the forgotten names that were some of the unfortunate British fatalities of F1 frown

Would be great if Sainsbury's were to oblige, however i'm afraid I am unable to help other than to provide my moral support, great idea yes
The wonderful (and moving) book Lost Generation by David Tremayne documents the lives of Tony Brise, Tom Pryce & Roger Williamson.

A lasting memorial to David Purley is a very good idea; perhaps try using Ten Tenths forum and twitter to gain support @andrewbusby

Graham

16,369 posts

291 months

Tuesday 3rd January 2012
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iirc the big supermarkets usually like to include so e local flavour in a new store, and having a prominant pereon linked to the site of the store id have thought they'd be well up for it... id go to them first before trying to get them hamstung by the planning dept...


rigga

8,753 posts

208 months

Tuesday 3rd January 2012
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gaz132 said:
Thanks just ordered thumbup

Presuming Ed

1,493 posts

215 months

Tuesday 3rd January 2012
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I can add nothing more then to say I hope that your successful in your mission. David was clearly quite an outstanding individual.

zeb

3,235 posts

225 months

Wednesday 4th January 2012
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As above really. Not enough 'real' hero's about anymore so would do no harm to celebrate the ones we had.