sparecr Posted October 25, 2009 Posted October 25, 2009 From one of the Seven email lists. Graham Nearn passed yesterday. For those who don't knowhe founded Caterham on the Hill ( one of the first Lotus dealers) and later convinced Chapman to continue to build the Lotus 7. Finally in 1974 heboight the rights to continue to build the Lotus 7. Which he did until selling the company a few years back. He will be greatly missed.
solder_guy Posted October 26, 2009 Posted October 26, 2009 Graham Nearn of Caterham Cars appeared in The Prisoner, delivering and polishing The Prisoner's Seven in the closing episode ...
Davemk1 Posted October 26, 2009 Posted October 26, 2009 Nearn was a man of conviction who put his money where his mouth was. Can you imagine what a risk it was to buy so many Sevens that Lotus couldn't turn down the order and then to buy the rights to the Seven so he could produce a car that the world really didn't want at the time? Yet his passion drew people to him and the the Seven and all of us, as well as all the companies produce Sevens, owe Nearn a huge debt of graditude. Without him the Seven would have died a quiet death but instead it's still going decades later. Long Live Nearn. dave
catracer Posted October 26, 2009 Posted October 26, 2009 Having spent considerable time with Graham, I can attest to his great warmth and humility. A true gentleman. He, more than any other, will be credited with the creation of this icon. He lives on in each of us as we continue to delight in the results of both his vision and his life’s work.
Spaz Posted October 28, 2009 Posted October 28, 2009 Here is the write-up in the New York Times: http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/28/graham-nearn-founder-of-caterham-cars-is-dead/
fotsyr Posted October 29, 2009 Posted October 29, 2009 I am passing this on. "I am sending this out to those emails I have to let you know the details for Dad’s funeral. I know Dad touched many people so please fwd to those in your network as you feel appropriate. We will be placing an official notification in the Times where I understand there may be an obituary published later this week. The service will be held Friday 6 November at midday at St Mary’s Church, Speldhurst, Kent and afterwards the family would like to invite those that knew Dad to join us for a buffet and drinks at the Spa Hotel, Mount Ephraim, Tunbridge Wells. We request that no flowers be sent and any donations you wish to make be to the RNLI Our thoughts today are also with Eliza who is in the delivery room as I type (and has been all day!) Kind regards Simon, on behalf of Jane, Robert, Simon, Eliza and Nina"
DeanG Posted October 29, 2009 Posted October 29, 2009 There are few from the early days of of Lotus and Seven left. When one leaves us much history and passion are lost. RIP
Alaskossie Posted October 29, 2009 Posted October 29, 2009 I believe that Ted Lewis, the club racer in UK for whom the First Lotus 7 Series 1 was built, is still living. He lives on the Continent now, and he attended the big 50th Anniversary Lotus 7 gathering in England in 2007.
DeanG Posted October 30, 2009 Posted October 30, 2009 I believe that Ted Lewis, the club racer in UK for whom the First Lotus 7 Series 1 was built, is still living. He lives on the Continent now, and he attended the big 50th Anniversary Lotus 7 gathering in England in 2007. Does anyone know him? Have an idea of his abilities as a speaker? Have his contact info? Please post or send a private message.
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