NOTICE OF DEATH - EDWARD 'TED' WORSWICK (1940 - 2019)
It is with great sadness that we have to advise Members of the death of Edward Worswick who suffered a fatal heart attack last Saturday, 23 February.
Ted, as he was generally known, did not become a BRDC Full Member until 1993 although his racing success had been in the 1960s and ‘70s. A native of Clitheroe in the north of Lancashire, Ted began racing in the early ‘60s with a Coventry Climax-engined Lotus 7, one of the early TVR Griffiths and the first of several Austin-Healey 3000s, enjoying success at Oulton Park, Aintree and Ouston. In 1965, with Alan Minshaw as co-driver, Ted entered the Big Healey (PJB 828) in the Guards Trophy 1000 mile race at Brands Hatch, a race run in two equal parts over two days, finishing 10th overall.
For 1966 the pair set their sights on the Targa Florio, and drove another of Ted’s Healeys (767 KNX) across Europe to take part. This first attempt on the great Sicilian road race was not crowned with success, the car retiring on the first lap with a broken diff. However, a year later with a different ex-works Healey 3000 ARX 91B and with the late Richard Bond as co-driver, Ted finished ninth overall in this round of the World Sports Car Championship. Again the car was driven from England to Sicily and back as was 767 KNX when called into service again for the 1968 Targa. The 1967 result attracted an entry for that year’s BOAC 500, the final round of the World Sports Car Championship at Brands Hatch, when ARX 91B was put in the same class as the race-winning Chaparral, factory Ferrari 330 P4s and assorted Porsches. Although still running at the finish, Ted and co-driver Peter Clarke were too far behind to be classified.
The Healeys were also pressed into service for various international rallies of the time including the RAC, the Welsh and the Gulf. Ted retained a great affection for the Big Healey long after he retired from front line racing. In 1968 he acquired a very quick Jaguar E-type with which he enjoyed considerable success in Modified Sports Car racing, taking numerous wins at circuits across the United Kingdom. For 1972 the E-type gave way to the fearsomely fast 5.4 litre TVR Tuscan originally built for Richard Taft which enabled Ted to continue his winning ways, ending the year as class winner in the STP Modified Sports Car Championship. Ted then reduced his racing activities although he did share Ken Coffey’s Ford Escort Twin Cam in the 1973 Spa 24 Hours and continued to have fun with his Healeys.
Ted was a very proud BRDC Member and, until the effects of Alzheimers began to take their toll, he was for many years an enthusiastic BRDC Regional Co-ordinator for the North West, the annual dinner at the Inn at Whitewell being one of his inspirations. To his partner Isobel and his many friends in the sport the BRDC offers its most sincere condolences. A funeral service, with family flowers only, will be held for Edward on Wednesday 13 March at 1.15pm at St John Evangelist C of E Church, Chuch Close nr George Lane, Read, Burnley BB12 7RL. All Members are welcome to attend.
