A magnificent display of silver trophies from the heyday of the BRM of Bourne went on show at the Heritage Centre in South Street in June 2005. They were given to the Civic Society on permanent loan by David Owen OBE, chairman of Rubery Owen Holdings Limited, the engineering firm that eventually took over the motor racing company founded by Raymond Mays.

The collection comprises 63 cups, salvers and rose bowls collected by BRM and its drivers, a veritable history of the company that produced the first all-British car to win the world championship in 1962 with Graham Hill at the wheel.

They include trophies presented to BRM at racetracks around Europe where their cars were successful in Formula 1 Grand Prix events in France, Germany, Holland, Spain, Austria, Monaco, Belgium and Italy, together with three rose bowls awarded in consecutive years to top driver Graham Hill after winning the United States Grand Prix in 1963, 1964 and 1965. Other awards were won in Australia, South Africa and of course in Britain.

The collection is displayed in four specially built cabinets made from aluminium and safety glass, all floodlit to show off the trophies to their best effect and designed by society member Jim Jones, a qualified engineer who used his knowledge of technical drawings to complete the job, and when they were delivered from the manufacturers last month, he supervised their installation in the Raymond Mays Memorial Room on the first floor of Baldock’s Mill where the Heritage Centre is situated.

The result is a pleasing enhancement of the Memorial Room that was officially opened in the summer of 1999 by our M P, Mr Quentin Davies, and now perpetuates the life and times of Raymond Mays CBE (1899-1980) with photographs, memorabilia and other items related to his career as an international driver and designer of racing cars.

After winning the world championship, the fortunes of BRM declined and the last remaining cars were sold by auction at Christies in London in 1981 while the workshops where they were made are now the Bourne Auction Rooms in Spalding Road and the engine test house part of the Delaine company’s bus depot.

But the BRM memory lives on. The new display of trophies will be officially opened on Sunday 17th July when the guest speaker will be David Owen, son of Sir Alfred Owen who ran the Rubery Owen organisation when it acquired the BRM in 1952. Until now, the silverware has been on show in the firm’s boardroom at Darlaston in the West Midlands but re-organisation has meant that more space is needed and so it was decided that the collection should come to Bourne. The company has met all of the costs for the cabinets, transport and insurance, and the result is that the Heritage Centre has yet another attraction for visitors that demonstrates the prestige of an organisation that gave the town international status in the world of motor racing, an era that is remembered by the stone memorial erected in November 2003 on the banks of the Bourne Eau in South Street, just a few yards from Baldock’s Mill.

Mrs Brenda Jones, chairman of the Civic Society, who was instrumental in arranging the loan of the trophies, is delighted with this boost to the attractions of the Heritage Centre. “It has taken many months to coordinate everything but the time and effort have been well worthwhile”, she said. “We also feel sure that these wonderful silver cups will attract more visitors and help increase the knowledge of the achievements of the BRM and of Bourne itself.”

List of trophies

MAIN CORNER CABINET

Monaco Grand Prix, 22nd May 1966: Jackie Stewart 1st, Graham Hill 3rd.
Grand Prix of the United States 1963: Graham Hill 1st.
Grand Prix of the United States 1964: Graham Hill 1st.
Grand Prix of the United States 1965: Graham Hill 1st.
Australian Grand Prix at the Warwick Farm Circuit, 19th February 1967: Jackie Stewart 1st.
French Grand Prix at Clermont-Ferrand, 27th June 1965: Jackie Stewart 2nd, Graham Hill 5th.
Spanish Grand Prix Formula 1 at Barcelona, 18th April 1971: Pedro Rodriguez 4th, Howden Ganley 10th.
Austrian World Masters Formula 1 at Osterreichring 1970: Pedro Rodriguez 4th, Jackie Oliver 5th, George Eaton 11th.
The Lady Wigram Trophy for Motor Racing Clubs 100 Mile Race 1966: Jackie Stewart 1st.
Austrian Grand Prix at Graz, 16th August 1970: Pedro Rodiguez 4th, Jackie Oliver 5th, George Eaton 11th.
German Inter-Race Winners Trophy at Hockenheim, 1971: Brian Redman 1st.
Italian Grand Prix, undated.
German Grand Prix 1962: Graham Hill 1st.
Daily Express 14th International Trophy Race at Silverstone, 12th May 1962: Graham Hill 1st.
Italian Ministry of Public Employment Cup 1971: Peter Gethin 1st, Howden Ganley 5th, Jo Siffert 9th, Helmut Marko (R).
Belgian Grand Prix, 7th June 1970: Pedro Rodriguez 1st.
Belgian Grand Prix of Europe Formula 1, 20th May 1973: Niki Lauda 5th, Clay Regazzoni 10th.
Austrian Grand Prix, 15th August 1971: Jo Siffert 1st and fastest lap.
XVIII Spanish Grand Prix Formula 1, 1st May 1972.
XXI Monaco Grand Prix, 26th May 1963: Graham Hill 1st, Ritchie Gunther 2nd.
17th International Daily Express Trophy Race at Silverstone, 15th May 1965: Jackie Stewart 1st.

SOUTH CABINET
BRM Competitors Trophy, undated: Graham Hill 1st.
ARAG Formula 1 meeting in Germany, undated: Howden Ganley 4th.
XXII Monaco Grand Prix, 10th May 1964: Graham Hill 1st, Richie Gunther 2nd.
BRM Supporters Club: Graham Hill 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, Mike Spence 1967.
Dutch Grand Prix, 20th May 1962: Graham Hill 1st.
XXXI Australian Grand Prix 1966 at the Queensland Motor Sporting Club: Graham Hill 1st.
Italian Memorial Cup presented by the Ministry of Tourism, undated.
German Grand Prix at Knittefeld, Austria, 2nd August 1964: Graham Hill 2nd, Richie Gunther 7th.
Italian Presidential Cup presented by the Ministry of Culture, undated.
Austrian Grand Prix 1971: Jo Siffert 1st, Peter Gethin 10th, Helmut Marke 11th.
IX International Daily Express Trophy Race meeting at Silverstone, 14th September 1957: A G B Owen and Jean Behra.
Austrian Grand Prix at Spielberg, 16th August 1970: Pedro Rodriguez 4th, Jackie Oliver 5th.
Austrian Grand Prix, 15th August 1971: Jo Siffert 1st.

WEST CABINET
Tasman Cup 1966: Jackie Stewart.
Monaco Grand Prix 1968: Richard Attwood 2nd.
Belgian Grand Prix 1964: Richie Gunther 4th, Graham Hill 5th.
German Grand Prix at Nurburgring, 5th August 1962: Graham Hill 1st.
IX RAC Grand Prix of South Africa (Barnes Trophy), World Championship Series, at East London, 29th December 1962: Graham Hill 1st.
Austrian World Masters Championships at Osterreichring, August 1970: Pedro Rodriguez 4th, Jackie Oliver 5th.
RAC Spanish Grand Prix Formula 1 at Barcelona, May 1969: John Surtees 5th.

EAST CABINET
XXIII Monaco Grand Prix, 30th May 1965: Graham Hill 1st, Jackie Stewart 3rd.
Spanish Grand Prix Formula 1 at Montjuich, April 1971: Pedro Rodriguez 4th.
Monaco Grand Prix, undated: Jean Pierre Beltoise (fastest lap).
German Grand Prix at Nurburgring, 4th August 1953: Richie Gunther 3rd.
South African Grand Prix 1974: Jean Pierre Beltoise 2nd.
Exido International Cup (Light Car Club of Australia) at Sandown Park, 27th February 1966.
Lombank Trophy International at Snetterton: I Ireland (1960), Jack Brabham (1961), Jim Clarke (1962), Graham Hill (1963). (See poster below.)
BBC TV Sportsview Team Award for 1962.