The Brooklands Podcast

In 2024 we mark the 80th anniversary of the most infamous prisoner breakout from Nazi Germany. The Great Escape from Stalag Luft III was immortalised by the 1963 Hollywood blockbuster; but what really happened?

Our speaker is Joanna Bristow-Watkins, whose father, Squadron Leader Alec Bristow, was a Mosquito pilot who was shot down and incarcerated in the notorious Stalag. He kept a diary as a POW, from which Joanna has drawn her fascinating talk.

What was it really like for an RAF Officer in the camp? How challenging was the planning and construction of the famous Tom, Dick and Harry tunnels? What actually took place on the night of 24th March 1944? And what were the after-effects of this bold affront to the Nazi Regime?

The last episode of 2023 and we look back over the year with two reports on electric 2 and 4 wheels, and samples of live music from the year.

Richard Jenkins talks with Gareth Tarr about the making of the book and what he learnt about the family and organisation along the way.

In this episode Tim talks to Stuart Edmondson, CEO of the Bloodhound LSR project and Mike Bannister on the 20th anniversary of Concorde's last flight.

Brooklands volunteers John Bottomley and his son-in-law Phil Kirby enter a 1904 Dreadnought motorcycle and a 1901 Raleigh pushbike in the 2023 London to Brighton Veteran Car Run. This conversation looks back at how it came together and its success.

John in conversation with Harry Sherrard about his life in aviation.

John Tye’s job at British Airways was supposed to be only temporary, a way for him to pass the summer before starting university. Instead, it would kickstart a forty-six-year career in aviation and take him all over the world.

Told in an irrepressible and infectious style, Life of a Concorde Pilot is the story of how, despite a somewhat turbulent start to life in a Middlesex orphanage, John would go on to fly the world’s only supersonic airliner.

A true insight to the life of an airline pilot, with many amusing anecdotes along the way, it follows his ups and downs from his career on the ground at BA to flying with Dan Air and then back to BA, through to Covid and his reluctant retirement at the end of 2022. Full of the fascinating details only a pilot can give, this is a memorable journey to the edge of space and beyond.

British Racing Motors was founded just after the Second World War with the objective of building an all-British Grand Prix car for the post-war era as a national prestige project, with financial and industrial backing from the British motor industry channelled through a trust fund. In due course it fell to one of the partners in the trust, Alfred Owen of the Rubery Owen group of companies, to take over the team in its entirety. Between 1954 and 1970 the team entered its works F1 cars under the official name of the Owen Racing Organisation, scoring World Championship success with Graham Hill in 1962.

In celebration of BRM's 70th anniversary, the Owen family commissioned the build of an authentic new BRM Type 15 Mk 1 V16 Chassis IV, based on the design of the original 1950s race car. We welcome to Brooklands members of the Owen family who present the story of how the project was conceived and then executed, whilst also sharing artefacts and film from the extensive BRM archive.

American Car Day with Be Bop Boulevard, Gary and his 1930 Cadillac, Marnie and her 1954 Chevrolet 3100, French Car Day serenaded by Blue Boy and Toulouse with guitarist Paul Steward ex-marketing manager at Brooklands! Cressida talks about her 1927 Delage, Graham with his 1973 Citreon DS23, Martin and his 1926 Citreon B12 truck.

Allan Winn talks about how Brooklands acquired the Napier Railton as it celebrates 90 years since its first show at the track. Martin Gegg share the Bert Denley story. The Rob Walker Blue Plaque is unveiled at Dorking and Chris Roberts talks about the Hawk aircraft as it gets its new wings at Brooklands.

We are at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and BMtv intrepid reporter Fiona Easterby talks with the Brooklands team and meanders around the Cartier Style et Luxe paddock