NOTICE OF DEATH - BOB MEACHAM OBE (1937 - 2019)
We regret to have to inform Members of the death of Life Member Bob Meacham who passed away last Saturday 31 August. He had been suffering from cancer for some time.
Bob was elected to the BRDC in 1985 after enjoying notable success in European Touring Car racing, in particular with his fellow Midlanders Bill Postins and the late Bill Pinkney in a Group 1 Volkswagen Scirocco GTI. In 1982 Bob and the two Bills won Division 1 of the RAC Tourist Trophy round of the European Touring Car Championship at Silverstone whilst in 1987 Bob teamed up with Barrie Williams and John Morris in a VW Golf GTI to finish ninth overall and win the 1600 cc class of the Willhire 24 Hours at Snetterton.
Bob began competing in the early 1960s in Sprints and Hillclimbs with a Lotus Elite before acquiring a 1-litre Terrier-Ford Mk 2 with which he was successful in early Clubmen’s Formula races as he was with its successor, a U2 Mk 5/6. From some 29 starts between 1963 and 1967 Bob won 14 times either overall or in the l-litre class. In the 1970s Bob became well known for his exploits in Modified Sports Car racing with a Jaguar E-type and the Jaguar affinity continued with a Mk 1 2.4 saloon with the introduction of the Classic Saloon Car Championship. Between 1975 and 1979 Bob and his 2.4 started 39 races and achieved 13 victories.
Between 1981 and 1983 Bob competed in fewer but longer events with the VW Scirocco in the European Touring Car Championship and the Trans Europe and thereafter continued to race sporadically in various Group A saloons until 1989.
A director of Kenilworth Daylight Centre Ltd and Industrial Rooflight Company Ltd, Bob was also active politically and with various charities including The Foundation of Lady Katherine Leveson. For 10 years between 1981 and 1991 he was leader of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council and was awarded an OBE in 1986. Bob was a proud and involved BRDC Member who for many years acted as the Club’s West Midlands Regional Co-ordinator.
A funeral service for Bob will take place at 2.00pm on Thursday 19 September at St Mary’s Church, Temple Balsall, near Knowle, West Midlands B93 0AN. All Members are welcome to attend but at the request of Bob’s family, there will be family flowers only. In lieu of flowers, charity donations are being handled by J Deeley & Son Funeral Directors, 322 Kenilworth Road, Balsall Common, Warwickshire CV7 7ER (tel 01676 534237). To Bob’s wife Carol and his family and friends the BRDC extends its most sincere condolences.
