8th May 1947
Jersey hosts UK’s first post-war Grand Prix
British driver Reg Parnell won the 1947 Jersey International Road Race, considered to be the first Grand Prix race held in the United Kingdom following the Second World War. Like the second-placed driver, Frenchman Louis Chiron, he was driving a Maserati. There had been much speculation in the weeks leading up to the event that it would prove to be the fastest road race in Europe, with cars reaching 150mph on the straights – in particular the A2 running along St Aubin’s Bay.
The race, which covered 160 miles and had a £1000 prize fund, saw only 13 of the original 25 entrants cross the finish line. Prince Birabongse Bhanudej, better known as Prince Bira of Siam, had also entered, again in a Maserati, but dropped out at the halfway point.
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Other events that occured in May
The Occupation Tapestry is completed
- The Occupation Tapestry celebrates the 50th anniversary of Jersey’s liberation at the end of the Second World War.
- Read more…
The 95th Regiment of Foot is disbanded
- The 95th Regiment of Foot was founded on 23 July 1779 when France entered the American War of Independence on America’s side.
- Read more…
Murdered Zsuzsanna Basenyei last seen alive
- Hungarian national Zsuzsanna Basenyei was last seen alive on 10 May 2018. Six days later, her body was discovered at La Pulec.
- Read more…
Measles outbreak at the boys’ home
- Measles infected 35 residents of the Jersey home for boys in what came to be described variously as an “epidemic” or “plague”.
- Read more…
