Archie Scott-Brown at Snetterton

[Andrew Kitson]

I spent a pleasurable couple of hours recently with Brian Lister at his wonderful home, fascinated with his tales of Archie. A couple of days earlier I was in the company of my old friend Jack Sears who was a very close friend of the great little Scottish driver. Infact Archie was godfather to his son David, boss of Supernova Racing GP2 team.

The reason I wanted to see them both was to show them the 40 x 30in painting below, which I have done of Archie in what Brian describes 'the' Lister Jaguar. The scene is Archie's victory in the 1957 Stanley Sears ( Jack's father) trophy race at Snetterton, in the famous MVE 303. I have shown him in the Esses, now known as the 'bombhole', with the contemporary limited amount of spectator protection, provided by the low wooden fence as was in '57. The long Norwich Straight was parallel to the hedge/trees in the distance.

This painting was commissioned by Steve Bradley, like me a Cambridge man. It was therefore a pleasure to paint a scene of this famous Cambridge marque, driven by it's famous Cambridge resident, at our local track.

Steve will publish it as a Brian Lister signed print and Jonathan Palmer will enlarge the painting to a couple of metres wide to fill one of the walls in the refurbished 'Tyrrells' restaurant at the circuit. One of the framed prints will be displayed in the new Archie Scott-Brown centre, the new scruitineering building at the circuit.

Those familiar with the old Archie memorial plaque that was displayed since 1969 on the old (recently demolished) scruitineering garage at Snett should not despair. It is safe and well at the new building. Jonathan admirably has a good sense of the history of his circuits. Brian, Jack and John Pearson were worried that it may dissappear and wanted to move it to the BRDC at Silverstone. However Jonathan said it must stay at Snetterton. John Pearson took a rubbing of the memorial stone and a replica is now placed in the grounds of the BRDC suite, unveiled at the recent HSCC classic meeting. It is placed next to the Graham Hill memorial.
The bronze face sculpture of Archie, positioned in the centre of the memorial has also been reproduced, amazingly using the original mould, which has been with the original artist Cavendish Morton on the Isle of Wight, now well into his 90s.

I hope in a small way, I have helped with this painting to keep the legend of Archie alive, as Brian says ' a real 'Boy's own' schoolboy story. Having read Doug Nye's book 'Powered by Jaguar' which certainly helped me with research and also reading 'Archie and the Listers', speaking to Brian and Jack, I could not help thinking Archie and Brian's story would make a wonderful and moving film.

I was born after Archie's death. I hope I have managed to capture the scene as some of you here may remember.