Brian Lewis, 2nd Baron Essendon

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Brian Edmund Lewis, 2nd Baron Essendon known as Bug (7 December 1903 – 18 July 1978) was a British motor-racing driver, company director, baronet, and peer.

Only son of first Lord Essendon, the shipping magnate, by his wife Eleanor (d.1967) daughter of R. H. Harrison of West Hartlepool.

Born in Edmonton, Middlesex . Educated at Malvern, and Pembroke College, Cambridge.

He was President of the Guild of Motoring Writers, and was motoring correspondent of the News Chronicle in the late 1930s. Director of Furness Withy (the family shipping firm), Barry Aikman Travel Ltd and Godfrey Davis & Co Ltd.

Raced Frazer Nashes in England in the 1920s. Entered a private Maserti 8CM at the Swiss Grand Prix 1935. As The Times put it in 1978:

'Along with a distinguished band that included Lord Howe, Sir Henry Birkin, and the Earl of March, later the Duke of Richmond, he was one of a bunch of titled and talented amateurs who did much for the image of British motor racing in the 1920s and 1930s, albeit mainly at the wheel of foreign cars.'

Married 1938, Mary widow of Albert Duffil, daughter of G. W. Booker of Los Angeles. Succeeded his father in the peerage and baronetcy in 1944. Died in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Member of the Bath Club, and his main recreation was golf. Lived at Avenue Eglantine 5, Laussanne, Switzerland.

[edit] Racing

• 1930 (Talbot), 1932 (Talbot), 1933 (Alfa Romeo) Le Mans (third each time).
• 1933: Mannin Moar / Nice Grand Prix / Mountain
• 1934: 1st Mannin Moar / famous TT duel with E. R. Hall on Belfast's old Ards circuit.
• 1935: 1st Mannin Moar / 5th Marne Grand Prix / Did Not Finish Nice Grand Prix / Did Not Finish Swiss Grand Prix / NC* Donington Grand Prix
• 1936: 15th Vanderbilt Cup
• 1937: 1st Mannin Moar (Alfa Romeo).

[edit] References

• The Times, July 19 1978. Obituary, page 19.