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| Tony in his Cooper Bristol - Goodwood Revival 1998 |
Let me explain his connection to Hoghton. Eli Crook's father, Thomas Miller-Crook, born 1798 had nine surviving children with his wife Rachael (née Wadsworth). All were born at the family farm called Brimmicroft off Bolton Road, Riley Green, Here Thomas also founded a boatyard on the Leeds-Liverpool Canal (see separate post). For some unknown reason Eli was not given the name Miller like all their other children.
Tony Crook's grandfather, Eli, born 1844, was the youngest of these nine children.
Eli worked as an apprentice boat builder in his father's firm at Riley Green until his marriage to Ann Elizabeth Thompson - the daughter of a farmer and Innkeeper - Thomas Robert Thompson. Thomas possessed 40 acres, and the Inn, now known as the Sirloin, was situated on Station Road, Hoghton.
Eli became a coal merchant after his marriage and he established the firm of Crook & Thompson Ltd, using his wife's maiden name. Eventually he owned a colliery (name unknown) and supplied the mills and houses of the region, especially Blackburn and Burnley (on the canal link). Needless to say, he became a very rich man.
His son Thomas Roland (known as Roland) married Emily Allsup of Hoghton Hall, Hoghton Bottoms. Her father was a retired shipbuilder. Roland commissioned a large red-brick house in Hoghton at the Straits, known as Park View, which was to be the family home.
Tony Crook their second child and only son was born in Rusholme, Manchester on 16th February 1920. When he was young he sometimes went to Southport Sands where he watched cars racing. This is where his passion for motor sport began. Educated at Clifton College, Bristol he went on to study law at Cambridge.
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| Example of an MG PB |
From 1939-1946 he served as Flight Lieutenant in the RAFVR (he had been forced to leave Cambridge University, Sidney Sussex College to join up).
Barely out of his teens he owned a supercharged MG PB. He would purchase various sports cars and cannily sell them on to other officiers! He prepared for post war competition by driving his BMW328 on a Lincolnshire aerodrome.
During the war he owned not one, but two 2.9 Alfa Romeo sports cars, one of them being the car that won the 1938 Mille Miglia driven by Clement Biondetti, s/n 412031.
The car had then been sent to England for the London Motor Show of 1938 and was sold to Hugh Hunter but Tony Crook eventually persuaded Hunter to sell him the car. This car is now in the Simeone Foundation Museum. The other Alfa was 412007, which eventually ended up with Simon Moore, the author of The Immortal 2.9. (This Alfa is now with Ralph Lauren) Crook also raced one of the 1939 Lagonda team cars after the war, but he was best known for his exploits in a Frazer-Nash Le Mans Replica and it was in this car that he finished third in the Monaco Cup. (Info credit Grahame Gauld)
Whilst still in uniform he became a protégé of Raymond Mays of ERA fame and when the war ended, he won his race in the first post-war motor races, held at Gransden Lodge.
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| Programme courtesy of Michael Barton |
For ten years he took part in over four hundred, hill climbs, sprints, races and other motoring events, at first with his BMW and a 2.9 litre twin supercharged Alfa Romeo. In his own words, he won literally “literally hundreds of races”.
At the age of 27 he set up his own sales, servicing and race preparation company, Anthony Crook Motors, buying a garage with a Ford agency at Town End, Caterham.
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| 'His n Hers' Bristol 402's for Stewart Granger and Jean Simmons |
Tony was UK concessonaire for Zagato, Abarth and also agent for Aston Martin, Lagonda, Fiat, Simca and Ford. In 1948 Anthony Crook Motors became one of twenty-two United Kingdom agents appointed by the Bristol Aeroplane Company Car Division.
Anthony Crook purchased his first Bristol 400 in March 1948.
At the end of 1949 he bought a Bristol-engined Frazer Nash from H.J. Aldington, which he raced both in his own name and that of Frazer Nash. He subsequently acquired two Cooper-Bristols, using all three cars in competition to demonstrate the race preparation skills of his company. He drove in the 1952 and 1953 British Grand Prix and in 1952 "Prix de Monaco". This race was held on the Saturday and the Monaco Grand Prix was on the Sunday- which that year included Formula 2 cars. Tony raced on the Saturday in his Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica RPJ1 alongside Stirling Moss who unfortunately lost a wheel. Tony gained third position on the podium!
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The Bristol 400 now owned by Michael W Barton (3rd owner from new)
who has written Tony's biography "Mr Bristol - The Remarkable Life of T.A.D. Crook"
Butterfield Press
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At the end of 1949 he bought a Bristol-engined Frazer Nash from H.J. Aldington, which he raced both in his own name and that of Frazer Nash. He subsequently acquired two Cooper-Bristols, using all three cars in competition to demonstrate the race preparation skills of his company. He drove in the 1952 and 1953 British Grand Prix and in 1952 "Prix de Monaco". This race was held on the Saturday and the Monaco Grand Prix was on the Sunday- which that year included Formula 2 cars. Tony raced on the Saturday in his Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica RPJ1 alongside Stirling Moss who unfortunately lost a wheel. Tony gained third position on the podium!
In 1954, Tony Crook opened a showroom in Esher High Street and in 1956 expanded again in premises at Hersham, where he dealt not only in cars, but also in aeroplanes and helicopters. He greatly increased his sales of Bristol cars during this period. In 1962 he took a lease on the famous ‘Bristol’ showroom in Kensington and by 1966 had assumed the role of sole distributor of the 'Bristol' marque. When, as a result of the re-organization of the aircraft industry in 1969, Bristol Cars Ltd was threatened with closure and was purchased by Sir George White. Anthony Crook Motors acquired a 40 per cent shareholding.
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| A Bristol 401 |
Tony Crook became chairman, Managing Director and sole owner of Bristol Cars in 1973, following the retirement of Sir George White, who had suffered severe injuries in a motoring accident. Tony moved the factory from Filton to Patchway, shuttling between London and Gloucestershire in his light aircraft.
Amongst some of his more well known customers were Stewart Granger and Jean Simmons, Peter Sellers, Noel Gallagher, Bono and King Hussein of Jordan.
Tony sold half of his stake in Bristol Cars to Toby Silverton (Tavistock Group) in the late 1990's and the remainder of his holding in 2002. However he remained Managing Director until 2007. Unfortunately, the company did not survive for long after his departure and four years' later the company went into administration.
He had an amazing PA called Anne Marie who worked for him for over 46 years. He is survived by one daughter - Carole. Sadly his wife Diane died in 2011.
Tony sold half of his stake in Bristol Cars to Toby Silverton (Tavistock Group) in the late 1990's and the remainder of his holding in 2002. However he remained Managing Director until 2007. Unfortunately, the company did not survive for long after his departure and four years' later the company went into administration.
He had an amazing PA called Anne Marie who worked for him for over 46 years. He is survived by one daughter - Carole. Sadly his wife Diane died in 2011.
Goodwood (26), Silverstone (21), Snetterton (12), Castle Combe (8), Crystal Palace (7), Oulton Park (7), Boreham (5), Brands Hatch (3), Blandford (2), Reims (1), Dundrod (1), Monaco (1), Ibsley (1), Gransden (1), Aintree (1)
The full history of his career can be viewed on the Racing Sportscar website by following this link :
https://www.racingsportscars.com/driver/Tony-Crook-GB.html
His love of Goodwood and retirement from racing.
In 1948 the Duke of Richmond and Gordon who is the present Earl of March's grandfather opened the racing course in Tony's Bristol 400. Many years later the same car was used to inaugurate the revival meeting in 1998!
Tony's retirement came about due to an accident whilst racing in the 1955, nine hour race at Goodwood. Stirling Moss crashed into him and Tony was thrown from the car. He suffered head injuries but escaped with his life and only spent two weeks in hospital !
I have attended Goodwood Revival three times and seen Stirling Moss attending the prize giving with Lord March. The first time I saw Stirling (2016) I could not have imagined that he had actually raced with Tony!
My father used to mention Tony sometimes when I was young. We once visited his first family home, Park View, The Straits in the 70's with a view to purchasing it. I have also visited his grandparents former home, Woodland Grange, Private Road. In 1984 I attended Bristol Polytechnic and often passed by Filton Aerodrome, but was fairly unaware of Tony's wonderful career. Michael W Barton (author of Tony's biography - Mr Bristol - The Remarkable Life of T.A.D. Crook) contacted me a few years ago asking for information about Tony's Hoghton roots, and my research on Tony has progressed from there. Internet has allowed me to find so much information about him. There is a wonderful interview conducted by Dr Stefan Cembrowicz, recorded in May 2012 on You Tube (link below) from Bristol Owners' Heritage Trust
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wj-YSHaYsTg&t=2691s
It has been an interesting journey discovering this man's amazing career. I only wish I could have met the man in person or his daughter Carole, his PA Anne Marie.... This is my meagre tribute to him.
2012 - at 92 and still looking like a smart gentleman, Tony Crook, brought together with the Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica he raced to third place in the Monaco Cup sixty years ago. Driver John Ure gave him second place in the race for sports cars. (Credit Graham Gauld)
Tony's parents, Roland and Emily are interred at Holy Trinity Church, Hoghton. Although Tony cremation took place in 2014 at Putney Vale Crematorium, I do not know where his ashes have been laid to rest....
Thanks to Michael W Barton for some of this information!
My late uncle, Reginald Cope, was one of Mr Crook's mechanics and travelled with him to race meetings. I remember seeing a photograph of him leaning over a racing car seeming to be working on the engine. He held Mr Crook in high esteme and talked about the good old days for much of his life.
ReplyDeleteRegards
Barry Hunt
Reg Cope, an upbeat chap, was one of our team who went racing with Tony Crook around several circuits in the early 50s. Other names which come to mind are John Dennis, Frank Sharpe, John White and John Richards. Happy days!
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