Amazing what you hear on local radio sometimes. Driving back from the Chinese takeaway last night, I turned on the radio and got "BBC Local Radio for the Eastern Counties", which is a mixture of phone ins and so-called music. On the phone was a guy called Derek from Norfolk, who was reminiscing about Jim Clark - one of the phone-in topics was Jim, it being his birthday yesterday. Derek was an ex-Team Lotus mechanic in the 60s and knew Jim well - his opinion of the man was high, as you might expect.

I didn't hear all that was said as I came in part way through the conversation, but he also thought highly of Innes Ireland, particularly when Innes shinned up a pillar in a Dutch hotel and retrieved a lightbulb. Graham Hill tried to repeat the performance, but fell off the pillar and crashed on to the table below.

Now - who was Derek? He sounded very hale and hearty and seemed like a very pleasant bloke. He also said that he looked after Jack Oliver's "Herts and Essex Flying Club" Lotus in F2.

Wilde?



Paul M

We stopped in a B&B in Bognor this year, for the Revival. The owner said Derek Wilde was his cousin's ex husband...or something like that.

Not much use to anyone, I know.

Derek Wild. He sometimes sells photos he took back in the day on E-Bay. Nice guy, I bought several from him last year and he sent me a free one with his autograph.

Is it Wild or Wilde? I have seen both.

I met Derek and his wife at the Donington Lotus show earlier this year, very nice people.

Works for Van Dieman. In his seventies.

Didn't realise he was that much older than me - Blonde IIRC, good man to work with.

"Wild", unless his wife's e-mail address is wrong.