It is with great regret that we must inform Members of the death of Associate Member Mike Abbott who died on Wednesday 12 March at the age of 91 after a short illness. Mike was elected as an Associate ‘General’ Member in 1988 and will be best remembered for his work as a Flag Marshal, working for the BRDC from the late 1950s when the Club was a race organiser.
From a background of working in the finance sector and enjoying model railway building in his spare time after retirement, motor sport had for many years been a weekend pastime which Mike was totally devoted to, both as a marshal and as a regular competitor in various rally and autocross events. He marshalled at almost all BRDC-organised major events since 1957, originally “on circuit” and then transferred into the pit lane in 1959. He continued marshalling “on circuit” for some minor club events until the early 1970s. After first acting as Deputy Chief of Pits for the BRDC in 1969, he was promoted to Chief of Pits in 1983 and first acted as the RAC MSA Chief of Pits in the same year. Mike also marshalled regularly for the Royal Automobile Club of Belgium at their major events such as the Belgian Grand Prix and Spa 24Hours. As well as being a proud BRDC Member, he was also a member of the British Motor Racing Marshals’ Club since 1976 and acted as one of their Regional Committee Members between 1987 and 1990.
Mike’s funeral will take place at 11am on 23 April at St John Fisher RC Church, Peppard Close, Redbourn, St Albans, Herts AL3 7EB and Members are welcome. To Mike’s daughters Julie and Jen, his grandsons Ollie and Sam the BRDC extends its deepest sympathy.