Alfred Owen
Sir Alfred George Beech Owen(1909–1975) of Rubery Owen and Co
1909 Born the son of Alfred Ernest Owen.
He was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge
1923 His father bought the New Hall Manor estate in Sutton Coldfield. New Hall remained the Owen family home until his son's death in 1975.
1929 After the death of his father Alfred became, jointly with his brother, managing director of Rubery Owen.
Sir Alfred was a lay preacher for much of his life
Proprietor of the BRM motor racing team from the early-1950s to 1974.
He was knighted in 1961.
1960s Owen was impressed by Donald Campbell's courage and became a leading sponsor of the world land speed record attempt at Lake Eyre, South Australia. Rubery Owen supplied Bluebird's advanced monocoque body.
1963 The relationship between Owen and Campbell was uneasy. In the course of a business visit to Australia Owen appeared to criticize Campbell for delaying the record attempt and wasting time by exhibiting the car. Furious, Campbell sued for slander claiming damages of £80,000. The matter was not pursued; with Owen's continued support, Campbell went on to break Sir John Cobb's seventeen-year-old record in July 1964.
Sir Alfred was prominent in the local affairs of his home town serving as a Councillor (1937–1974) and Mayor (1951)
See Also
Sources of Information
- Wikipedia
- Biography of Sir Alfred Owen, ODNB