NEW - photos from 22nd January 2208.

After the Fatal Accident in which he was killed, Mike Hawthorn's Funeral took place on 28th January 1959 at West Street Cemetery in Farnham, Surrey - his home town - after a service in the Parish Church. Mike's Mother wanted a private funeral - despite this, the church was occupied by more than two hundred mourners with a similar number outside. The images show that over 240 wreaths were laid for Mike with an additional one thousand people coming to look at them and pay their respects over the coming days. The crash site itself was chaotic as people came to view the spot and lay many wreaths in tribute.

A collection for Mike

Paul Roach recently recounted that Ted Papsch (one of Mike's mechanics) said that a considerable sum of money was collected for Mike after his death both locally and nationally, especially via race meetings.

An invite went out to Mike's mother requesting that his Alfa Romeo be bought to the 1959 GP at Silverstone to parade around the track after which a collection was taken. It was always his mother's wish that an arch be erected by the Tourist Trophy Garage but it never happened.

The monies collected were handed over to the Borough Council and in the end, a road off East Street (Mike Hawthorn Drive) was named after him and the very impressive 5 feet high headstone erected at the graveside by the council. It was inscribed,`A gay and gallant sportsman' The rest of the monies were reputedly donated to charity.

As part of Farnham in Bloom, the grave of Mike Hawthorn in the West Street Cemetery is to be "adopted" by SMC (Stoughton Motor Company), who have bought the old Tourist Trophy Garage in East Street, owned for many years by the Hawthorn family.

"At about the time of the South East in Bloom judging last July, the Farnham in Bloom committee planted up a container of summer bedding plants for the grave," said chairman Madge Green.

"Ever since, we have been seeking someone to 'adopt' the grave, permanently keeping it looking as though we in the town really do care about the past and about this famous son.

"Many visitors and townspeople go out of their way to visit the grave and there is still much interest in the place that holds Britain's first motor racing world champion.

"So we were delighted to be contacted last week by Rod Barrett, sales director of the new garage, which is to open in August and to be called Hawthorns.

"The firm is to adopt' the grave, and the garage will carry a memorial plaque and a photographic record of Mike's career, and we are particularly pleased that there are plans for colourful shrubs, baskets and flowerbeds at the garage."

From the Farnham Herald 1994

The headstone as added, funded by donations given to the County Council - this is seen as it was back in 2002

Here is the headstone in early 2002

After the local council had asked for a sponsor, the grave and headstone were 'adopted' and restored by the owners of 'Hawthorns', the TVR sports car dealership, when they first occupied the old Tourist Trophy Garage premises in 1994. Later, we think around 2004, the lettering/wreath/central car had the dark highlights added. Flowers are renewed regularly on the grave as befits our World Champion.

Here are a series of photos taken between November 2006 and February 2007...

Above, we temporarily removed the flowers (with apologies) so you can see the complete headstone. Back in 1959, 'Gay' had its only meaning then of 'happily carefree'. There have been suggestions of removing the word to avoid misinterpretation but it has never happened - and hopefully never will.

Leslie Hawthorn's Grave

Close by is the grave of Leslie Hawthorn, Mike's father who was killed in 1954 in another road accident not dissimilar to Mike's. The headstone is located to the left side of Mike's, immediately across the other side of the tarmac parking area at the left of Mike's grave.

One group that regularly remember Mike's death are the 'Farnham Flyers'. Here they are led by Tim Ely, a friend of Mike Hawthorn who still owns Mike’s first race car, a 1934 Riley Ulster. The ‘Farnham Herald’ carried the picture below and a report in its 25th January 2002 issue. Pictured are Ray Southon, Terry Kitson, Tony Haynes, Tim Ely, Tim Miers & John Markey.

Mike is buried in West Street Cemetery in Farnham, Surrey. The cemetery entrance you need is at the western end of the road, near the roundabout with the A31 - the entrance is just by the red car on the left of the road on the lower image. The grave's location is marked above with an X and the entrance leads straight to it. We have more Google Earth images of the location where Mike was killed.

Mike's Funeral
You might want to check out our extensive coverage of Mike Hawthorn's Funeral with a full report and photos.