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
US mayor John Bailhache is born in Jersey
- Although John Bailhache was born in Jersey, at St Ouen, he’ll be better remembered as the Mayor of Columbus after his appointment in 1835.
- Read more…
Potato diggers start work but end up in court
- Philippe Simon appeared in court when he refused to pay the labourers he’d employed to dig up his potatoes.
- Read more…
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…
Corbiere’s assistant lighthouse keeper drowns
- Corbiere's assistant lighthouse keeper was washed away when he set out to save a pair of English visitors in 1946.
- Read more…
